“There’s still a lot of work to be done. You all deserve a championship, and I believe we’re just getting started!” Joel Embiid made his ambitions clear after signing a historic contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers in September, setting his sights on a major goal for the upcoming season. Despite a decade in the league, during which the Cameroonian has earned an MVP title, seven All-Star appearances, and All-NBA team honors, he has yet to claim the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy. But despite his earlier enthusiasm, Embiid has yet to make his preseason debut. According to a recent update, 76ers fans may have to wait until the regular season to see their star in action.

Earlier today, NBA reporter Mason Williams gave an update on the upcoming matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic. Being the last game before the 76ers head to the regular season, expectations would have been for the entire main roster to be present. Unfortunately, Williams reported that Joel Embiid will not be present and new veteran acquisition Paul George, and rookie Jared McCain won’t play. Currently possessing a 2-2 record, being without two of its potential lead scorers may not help increase the odds for a 76ers win.

Even before the Philadelphia franchise kicked off its preseason run, NBA reporter Keith Pompey revealed that Joel Embiid was set to “undergo evaluation”. 76ers head coach Nick Nurse expanded upon the report when asked about the player’s availability during the road games. “He’s not here. He’s at a scheduled assessment of his knee. That was always on the schedule. We are still waiting for what’s next.”

The mention of the ‘knee’ would remind fans of the 2023-24 season, when Joel Embiid had to undergo surgery to treat a left knee meniscus injury he had developed during the series. Due to the recovery period keeping him benched for several months, Embiid could only appear in 39 regular-season games. His absence had a huge impact on the 76ers’s standing, as the squad could only secure a 16-27 win record without him.

While Embiid’s condition was well enough to allow him to compete in the Paris Olympics, the 76ers management may not want a repeat of the previous season. As a result, the player may have been benched so that his energy and efforts are devoted only to the regular season. In a recent interview with ESPN journalist Tim Bontemps, the Cameroonian himself admitted that “If I had to guess, I would probably never play back-to-backs the rest of my career.” After all, as Embiid also revealed, “We got to do whatever it takes to make sure that in the postseason I’m healthy.” If keeping the player off the court for the entirety of the preseason is the price to pay for the 76ers to keep him available for the later part of the tournament, then they seem willing to pay it.

Unlike Embiid, Paul George was there from the first game of the preseason. However, he saw the bench in the aftermath of the Atlanta Hawks game, during which he developed a left knee hyperextension. Not being the first time that he has suffered from hyperextension, George may know what to expect, but his availability status remains uncertain. As for Jared McCain, the Injury report places him under a ‘Day-To-Day’ status alongside Kyle Lowry. While both may be away from the action during the Orlando Magic game, their condition is not as severe as that of Embiid and George, meaning they can return to the court during the early part of the regular season. For now, however, each of the four players’ absence will noticeably affect the main lineup for the upcoming game.

What will the Starting Lineup and Depth Chart for the Philadelphia 76ers-Orlando Magic clash look like?

During Joel Embiid’s absence throughout the preseason, Andre Drummond’s on-court minutes have seen a noticeable increase. During the matchups against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Atlanta Hawks, the player played for 24 minutes in each of them! Therefore, he is certain to again be present to cover for the 2023 MVP. As for Paul George, the small forward position seems to be in good hands when Kelly Oubre Jr is playing. After all, he has managed to average 13.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists during the 4 preseason games. The player himself has indicated that he is willing to cover for his players in any required position. “I try to be water. Just go with the flow of each game.”

Since Kyle Lowry and Jared McCain are not the primary starters on the lineup, their absence would not have as big of an effect as that of Embiid and George. Therefore, in light of the recent updates, the starting lineup for the Philadelphia 76ers, when going up against the Orlando Magic, will look something like this:

The Philadelphia 76ers or the Orlando Magic? Who will you be rooting for a couple of hours from now? Let us know in the comments down below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.