ESPN’s feature might help explain why the Sixers extended Joel Embiid

After shelling out max contracts to Paul George and Tyrese Maxey during the 2024 offseason, the Sixers weren’t done quite yet. Shortly before training camp began, they signed Joel Embiid to a three-year max contract extension that will begin in 2026-27.

At that time, Embiid still had two guaranteed years left on his current contract, along with a $59.0 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign. Had they not extended him before the start of the regular season, he wouldn’t have been eligible to sign an extension until this offseason, but he still would have had one fully guaranteed season remaining.

Just about the worst-case scenario unfolded from there, as Embiid seemed to never fully…