The Sixers thought they could manage Joel Embiid’s knee issues by giving him a few games off here and there, but let’s be real—that plan isn’t working. Now, they’re consulting doctors and scrambling for alternatives. His knee was clearly bothering him during Thursday’s game against the Celtics, and it showed in his numbers. Playing 27 minutes, he put up just 15 points on an ugly 33% shooting night. After the game, he didn’t sugarcoat it—his knee was a problem.

Philly’s medical staff wasted no time. Embiid underwent tests on Monday, with more scheduled the next day. And the Sixers ruled him out against the Bulls, marking his 38th missed game this season. At this point, there’s no clear answer. Whether it’s more rest, surgery, or just battling it out, everything is still on the table.

Meanwhile, the Sixers are barely clinging to playoff hopes, sitting at 20-36 heading into Monday. Let’s be honest—it’s not looking good. Joel Embiid’s absence hasn’t helped either. Out of 57 games, he’s only played 19, and when he has suited up, his usual dominance just hasn’t been there.

Scoring titles? Back-to-back seasons of 30-plus points per game? That feels like a distant memory right now. This season, he’s averaging just 23.8 points—his lowest output since the 19-20 season, and in his last two outings, he barely cracked 29 combined. Stephen A. Smith didn’t sugarcoat his words when talking about Embiid.

On First Take, Smith went as far as to suggest Embiid should consider stepping away from the game for good.

“With Embiid, I think that he looks—you got to get him… I don’t give a d—, you got to find out what Kobe did when—you know, God rest his soul—when he used to go over there to Germany, you know, do something, because Embiid looks like he can barely move,” Smith said. He continued, “His health is awful, and I’m just saying, he’s on the verge where I—I, if you almost get to a point, Shannon, and I’ll hand it to you with this. You almost got to a point where if you’re Embiid, you’re kind of wondering, should you consider retiring and taking the insurance money?”

Smith continued, emphasizing that the Sixers should shut down both Embiid and Paul George for the remainder of the season. Arguing that playing him and George any further would only add unnecessary wear and tear on their bodies.

Should the 76ers shut Joel Embiid down?

Joel Embiid isn’t himself. Anyone watching can see it. The guy who once dominated on both ends? Now he’s dragging his injured knee up and down the court, barely able to keep up.

Philly needs to shut him down. Period.

That left knee has been a problem since last season, and it’s only getting worse. Swelling, pain, slow recovery—it’s clear he’s not moving like he should. He can’t explode offensively, so he’s settling for jumpers and free throws. Defensively? It’s brutal. Opponents are targeting him nonstop, and Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton was outrunning him all game. Nick Nurse benched him in crunch time because the Sixers had no chance with him out there. Ultimately losing to a buzzer-beater by none-other than Claxton, who outsized Paul George on the offensive rebound. Somewhere Embiid could have helped if he was healthy.

Meanwhile, the Sixers are stuck in no-man’s-land. They’re not winning a title, but they’re also sitting on a top-six protected draft pick. If they tank, they might keep it. If not, they’re handing OKC a lottery selection for nothing.

And let’s not forget, this year’s draft class is exceptionally strong. There’s even a tiny shot at Cooper Flagg. The Sixers nailed last year’s draft too—Jared McCain, Justin Edwards, Adem Bona? All promising pieces.

Philly has a choice: keep forcing a broken season or let Embiid heal and set up a real comeback. The answer is obvious. Sit him. Secure the pick. Move on.