Embiid

[Carlos Danger]

Sheesh. It's almost like there is a smear campaign going on against this kid. This morning I think I've seen three different stories on Yahoo (negative) about him. This one claims he had a bad attitude and threatened a coach: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/10/16/report-joel-embiid-physically-threatened-sixers-coach-last-season.html

The other stories claimed he wasn't wearing his protective boot enough as instructed and that's why he had to have the second surgery. And another article said something about him going to Las Vegas Summer games against team's advice to party.

Wonder what's going to happen to this guy?

[Monster]

That doesn't sound good. This reminds me of some of the stuff I believe Slim had said about Oden a few years ago.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Who knows, but now I have more fuel to my argument on why a team shouldn't have drafted or traded for Embiid. Red flags everywhere with that guy. He'll probably fizzle out of the league in several years.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Can somebody put together a list of top 10 picks who were centers drafted since 2000 and how many games they played in the NBA? Somebody more ambitious than me.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Until teammates start getting in on the campaign it's hard to fully trust what's coming from seemingly just the organization with no other viewpoints. Saying he re-broke a bone specifically because he didn't wear his boot "enough" seems way speculative and an easy blame on Embiid. Everything sounds like they're trying to run his entire life which just has too much of an ownership of his life vibe to me. He may be crazy and difficult to work with, but the other common denominator in these stories are these issues are coming up when the team is trying to tell him to do something and that card can only be played so many times before someone's gonna lose it. They have Noel and Okafor. If Embiid is that big of an issue then trade him. Otherwise I would recommend stop trying to run his entire life. Bill Self managed him for a year of college basketball through injuries as well with the worst report coming out being Embiid saying Kansas girls are a bunch if ho's so that tells me Philly isn't doing the greatest job managing him.

Edit: I read an article that said they stock his mini-fridge at hotels he stays at to try to control his eating (he ends up getting room service). Also that they were told by doctors to keep him out of Vegas for his surgery and two guys told each other to deal with it and nobody handled it. It sounds like Embiid's responsible for a lot, but so is the team for their complete lack of ability to manage him at all while still trying to control everything he does. He's 21, a multi-millionaire and the one thing he can't do is play basketball. Maybe give him some rope with the only requirement being he keeps the boot on. Insubordinate people don't respond to more rules and control.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

1. Nobody's trading for an expensive big with an injury history, especially one that sounds not 100% focused on his basketball career. Nobody was willing to take on Anthony Bennett from us and he had a good reputation when it came to character.

2. Embiid needs those rules and some structure in his life because clearly his own routine didn't work at all. He's not just some regular employee of the Sixers. He's their No. 3 draft selection in a year they clearly tanked. They have a lot invested into him and want to get him back on the court as good as possible. The Sixers intentions are good; sounds to me like Embiid's being a bitch about the rehab process.

3. It also seems like Embiid's one of those guys that don't love the game as much as they love everything that comes with the game. He's not fully invested. That's such a shame too because he has the tools. Guy's going against a really problematic injury history and his own questionable desire to be great.

[Carlos Danger]

Khans, as someone who's managed people for a long time, I completely agree with your statement that insubordinate people don't respond to more rules and control. However, I also agree with Cam...if you are part of management in an organization you have a duty to implement structure and enforce accountability. Ultimately, the organization will almost always win. They are paying you to perform. If you don't want to do what they ask...they will show you the door and find someone else. Perhaps that's what's going on here with all these stories coming out. I can't imagine Embiid will be part of that team when he's ready to play again. BTW, every time I go to Yahoo home page, I see another story. Here's the latest (which I think you referenced): https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/10/16/eating-too-much-and-avoiding-rehab-may-lead-to-a-premature-end-to-joel-embiids-nba-career/

My favorite part was that he reportedly was dunknig in Vegas when he was supposed to be wearing a boot - HA!

[Monster]

His 13 year old brother died last October maybe that is part of the issue. A big man with injuries and having issues with rehab does not sound good for a guy that quite frankly has the odds stacked against him staying healthy and therefor making it.

[Carlos Danger]

In related news....Greg Oden is back!

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2015/10/17/greg-oden-posts-23-points-14-rebounds-in-chinese-debut-video/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs