Philadelphia 76ers rumors: 76ers holding off on signing Joel Embiid to 'maximize flexibility'

All but two of the 30 first round picks – Philadelphia 76ers’ center Joel Embiid and Charlotte Hornets’ swingman P.J. Hairston – have been signed. In fact, four 76ers’ draft picks – Embiid, swingman K.J. McDaniels, forward Jerami Grant and guard Jordan McRae – remain unsigned.

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Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors believes the 76ers may wait until September to sign Embiid and the rest of their rookies to “maximize flexibility.’

"Embiid won’t be hitting the court for a while, no matter when he signs. The latest timetable for his recovery from a broken foot would put him back in action sometime between November and February, so while it’s possible he plays a majority of the season, there’s a decent chance he won’t be back until after the All-Star break. In any case, it seems he’ll miss time, but probably not the entire season, as the highly drafted Nerlens Noel did for the Sixers last year. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sixers held off on signing Embiid until late September, the time of year when they inked Noel in 2013. Keeping him unsigned maximizes Philadelphia’s flexibility, since the Sixers could exceed the salary cap to sign him if they find a way to use their ample room beneath the cap."

Embiid was ranked second among all prospects by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express (behind former Kansas teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins). Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 62.6% from the field, 20.0% from beyond the arc and 68.5% from the free throw line.

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Philadelphia 76ers rumors: 76ers holding off on signing Joel Embiid to ‘maximize flexibility’

By Andrew Melnick | Aug 21, 2014