The  Philadelphia 76ers are about to take the show on the road to face the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Despite winning their last match-up against the Washington Wizards, there’s a possibility they may not repeat that feat against the second seeds in the Eastern Conference without Joel Embiid. Meanwhile, the consensus around the league seems to be that the reigning MVP won’t return at all this season after his surgery for the torn meniscus flap, no matter what the front office hopes for. And that isn’t good news for anyone.

As a result of the Embiid situation, fans and management in Philly, whose dreams of once capturing a championship after securing the first-overall pick with Ben Simmons almost a decade ago, now seem to be dwindling. The prolonged rehabilitation window for the seven-foot center might be a major reason for his exit from the city of brotherly love. That casts a huge shadow on not just him but also the future of the franchise itself.

In a post on X, an excerpt from Sixers GM Daryl Morey’s reply to the same concerns sheds light on the team’s mindset right now, especially regarding Joel Embiid. “I know there’s a portion of Sixers fans thinking the team should part ways with the often-injured seven-time All-Star. But when healthy, Embiid is one of the league’s best players. You just don’t get rid of players like that,” he said.

Morey believes that, although Embiid’s absence may not be the best for the Sixers’ immediate future, the seven-time All-Star is an indispensable part of the team. “I’ll [take] more talented, out more, than less talented, always available [players]. It’s nice to have both sometimes, but you want the best team, and sometimes, that means you’re going to take some risk on the injury front. And we’re feeling that right now.”

Despite what Daryl Morey had to say, the central question of whether or not Embiid’s window has closed on the Sixers remains a complex one. The reigning MVP has made his stance abundantly clear by saying, “I just want to win a championship — um, you know, whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s going to be, whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else.” However, it’s not that simple.

For now, the unforeseen injury has become a speed bump in both the Sixers and Embiid’s championship aspirations, putting a stop to one of the most dominant offensive seasons in league history.

Joel Embiid would have likely won back-to-back MVP’s

Before Jonathan Kuminga’s landing ensured Joel Embiid’s trip to the surgery table, he was having one of the greatest runs in the NBA. The seven-time All-Star had an average of 35.3 points a game, leading the league in scoring, with 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks and steals per game to go with it. He was a shoo-in to repeat the MVP honors this year.

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However, now that’s a distant dream as the new rules clearly demand a player be available for 65 games to be eligible for the award. According to the current four-week re-evaluation schedule shared by the Sixers, no further updates on Embiid will come before March. And it would be wise not to mark your calendars with a potential return date any time soon.

Read More: Joel Embiid Update: Draymond Green Pulls Curtains On NBA Superstar’s Return Citing 76ers Franchise’s Trade Movement