Joel Embiid did not receive your average contract extension

The Philadelphia 76ers obviously trust the process. With Joel Embiid agreeing to a contact extension they also trust their medical staff.

Joel Embiid will technically be entering his fourth professional season in a few weeks, even if he’s only played 31 games total. Embiid has been the focus for the Sam Hinkie disciples shouting “Trust the Process” since he was drafted third overall in 2014.

The top two players in that draft, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, have played more games than Embiid. The towering center holds a distinct advantage over the other two, his contract. The Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a contract extension with Embiid worth the maximum a player coming off a rookie deal may earn. The deal is for five years and worth $148 million.

Fans around the NBA and media members were shocked by this deal. Embiid has only played in 31 games, all of which had a minute restriction. Giving an injury prone guy this much money is fairly unprecedented.

The deal may not be as black and white as it seems on paper though. Zach Lowe of ESPN, among others, are being told the deal is incredible complex.

There have been reports that only 50 percent of the deal is guaranteed should Embiid suffer injuries like he has the previous three seasons. Brook Lopez and the Nets had a similar situation on their hands with his extension only a few years ago.

Embiid joined fellow 2014 draft class players Gary Harris, T.J. Warren and Bogdan Bogdonavic, in signing an extension prior to the Oct. 16 deadline. The other three players did not receive the maximum allotted salary as Embiid did.

Next up on the extension list are the first two picks of the 2014 draft. Wiggins and the Timberwolves are working on a deal that should pay him the max. League expectations are that deal gets done.

The second pick, Milwaukee Bucks’ Jabari Parker, is coming off a second knee injury. Aside from injuries, Parker has showed talent and potential to be worth similar to what Wiggins and Embiid will receiver. Word around the NBA is that no deal gets done with Parker prior to the deadline. He will enter restricted free agency after this year with all expectations pointing to Milwaukee matching any offer he receivers.

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As we await more details about the specific language in  Embiid’s contract, one thing is for sure. Philadelphia will have a lot riding on the talented, oft-injured center.