The center's contract becomes more of an albatross with every game he misses, every night that he happens to suit up and ends up hobbling from one end of the court to the other.

In the second half, the Sixers showed signs of the team they were supposed to be without Joel Embiid. But their dreadful first half sunk them to 15-24.

As the Philadelphia 76ers now move forward with their season, one has to wonder about what comes next for Joel Embiid. The big fella has not played since Jan. 5 due to a left foot sprain that he suffered before a Christmas Day win over the Boston Celtics.