Fate never plays fair with Joel Embiid. This season, Philly fans clung to hope—maybe this time, the injury curse would break. But hope is fragile. After weeks of waiting, the worst has come true. Just 19 games in, Embiid’s season is over. For two straight years, the 2023 MVP has fought through pain—physically and mentally. It’s a harsh reality many NBA big men know too well. Yet, despite medical advances, his latest setback and advancing age raise a painful question—what comes next?

Well, Embiid’s path is no stranger to pain, and his latest meniscus injury is just another brutal reminder. However, he wants to do anything that will help him to get back in the game. The Philadelphia 76ers are actively discussing medical procedures, and they surely need them for The Process. But, there’s more Joel wants to do. And former NBA player Chandler Parsons seems to know it all.

Speaking on Run It Back, Parsons talked about Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a renowned orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. “The big-time knee doctor,” the player-turned-analyst noted. Meanwhile, he also mentioned how most teams would want to consult more before going into procedures. They could take a second, third, fourth, or even fifth opinion. However, after interacting with Joel Embiid, Parsons understood, that the star wanted to take rigorous steps. “He’s thought about going to Germany and doing the Kobe shots,” Chandler Parsons admitted.

Kobe Bryant turned to cutting-edge treatments to save his knees. He received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Orthokine injections—both using his own blood to heal damaged tissue. While PRP is FDA-approved, Orthokine isn’t allowed in the US. However, for Kobe, nothing was off-limits in the fight to stay on the court. Thus, feeling inspired by the Black Mamba’s drive to survive in the league, Embiid too envisions a similar path.

But an absent Joel Embiid doesn’t mean a relief for the 76ers’ pockets. He is about to make $248 million in the next few seasons. That’s the value that 29 NBA franchises need to keep in mind before bidding for The Process. So, there seems to be an air of skepticism around this because without contributing to the team, remaining sidelined and injured surely cannot fill your pockets, right?

Joel Embiid’s $248 million trade emerges for the Philadelphia 76ers

A healthy Joel Embiid’s dominance isn’t just on the court—it’s in his paycheck too. His latest three-year, $192.9 million extension pushes his future earnings past $248 million. It’s a massive bet on his talent and what he still has left to give. “First of all, I’m stoked for him that he’s getting like that that’s a lot of money. And again, let’s not forget how good this dude is,” Parsons noted. Embiid is an MVP, when he’s healthy he is the most dominant force on the court.

“He’s got to prove to the Sixers first of all to himself the right fan base and then to 29 other teams that he can be healthy and stay healthy when he’s healthy. He’s gonna dominate. There’s no doubt about it. He is a top-two player in the NBA like when he is healthy. It’s just a matter of his size. He’s aging his injury history,” the ex-NBA player added. “Can he sustain that in $248.1 million? That’s a lot of money for a guy that’s been through the stuff. He’s been through.”

At the same time, Chandler Parsons believes that Embiid deserves a chance with the Sixers. The franchise shouldn’t trade him away, as that might steal its joy. Joel Embiid could help the team bring a championship home. However, after missing more than 40% of the games in his career, all thanks to his injuries, that nearly $250M deal seems like a huge risk.

Thus the sad reality now is that Joel Embiid is medically unfit to play basketball. This has thrown Philly into the probability of missing out on the playoffs this season. Without their driving force on the court, it might be a bit too difficult for them to make it past the tough threshold. Meanwhile, the latest conversation on Embiid’s $248M valuation in the NBA market could simply mean a trade in the future. But, should the Sixers’ front office do it? Well, only time will tell.