No matter what the Philadelphia 76ers build in 2024-25, it will immediately be restructured once Joel Embiid returns to the rotation. It's the quietly haunting truth that's due to act as something of a cloud hanging over Philadelphia's head.
Sustainable progress can still be made in some regards, but the 76ers are effectively in a holding pattern until one of the most dominant players in the NBA returns.
Embiid underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Apr. 11, thus putting an official end to one of the most frustrating seasons of his career. He appeared in just 19 games for the 76ers, thus continuing a concerning trend after he played a mere 39 in 2023-24.