The 76ers could be without Joel Embiid for a while.
The one-time MVP dealt with left knee swelling and inflammation in January. He returned from a two-game absence at the end of the month, only to suffer a different knee injury in his first game back.
After some initial confusion, Embiid has been diagnosed with a displaced flap of the meniscus in his left knee and is considering surgery, The Athletic reported Saturday. If he does undergo a procedure instead of going the rest and rehab route, he would miss "extended time."
Here's how Embiid's injury impacts the 76ers, Eastern Conference standings, trade deadline plans and MVP race.
MORE: Everything we know about Joel Embiid's meniscus issue
76ers record without Joel Embiid
Embiid has missed 13 games this season. Philadelphia is 26-8 with him and 4-9 without him.
It should come as no surprise that the 76ers have been a much better team on both ends of the court with Embiid in the lineup, averaging 120.6 points per 100 possessions while holding teams to 110.5 points per 100 possessions. Those marks are equivalent to the second-best offense and defense in the league.
The 76ers have still performed at an above-average level on offense and defense with Embiid on the bench, but they haven't been nearly as dominant overall.
| Situation | Offensive Rating | Defensive Rating | Net Rating |
| Joel Embiid on court | 120.6 | 110.5 | 10.1 |
| Joel Embiid off court | 117.3 | 114.1 | 3.2 |
Embiid is averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Before his injury, he was on pace to lead the league in scoring for a third straight season. He's also one of the best defenders at his position.
Without Embiid, the 76ers will have to turn to Paul Reed and Mo Bamba to soak up the center minutes. Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, meanwhile, will absorb the bulk of his touches and shots.
In the 10 games he has played without Embiid this season, Maxey has posted averages of 27.8 points and 5.2 assists on 43.2 percent shooting from the field and 32.5 percent from 3. He had a 42-point game in a win over the Rockets and a 51-point game in a win over the Jazz.
In the 11 games he has played without Embiid, Harris has averaged 21.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from 3. Two of his three 30-point games this season came with Embiid on the sideline.
The 76ers will likely need Maxey and Harris to step up to keep their heads above water. They have a bit of a cushion to work with — they're currently five games clear of the Play-In Tournament bracket.
MORE: Ranking All-Star injury replacements for Joel Embiid and Julius Randle
How Joel Embiid's injury impacts trade deadline, Eastern Conference standings
The 76ers entered next week's trade deadline as a team to watch. They've been one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference this season and, thanks to the James Harden trade, have the assets to make a big move that could close the gap between them and the Celtics at the top of the standings.
Without knowing when exactly Embiid will return and what kind of shape he will be in, do the 76ers still look to make a win-now move or focus more on next season by waiting until the summer?
The Eastern Conference isn't wide open, but it's more open than it initially seemed. Dominant as the Celtics have been, they're still dealing with some of the same issues that have plagued them the last couple of seasons. The Bucks just replaced their head coach and have been a mess defensively. The Heat are in Play-In territory following a recent slide. The Knicks, Cavaliers and Pacers feel like they're a piece away from truly competing.
Maybe Embiid's injury motivates one of those teams to make a win-now move since one of the biggest contenders in the conference is now on shaky grounds. We're less than a week from finding out.
What Joel Embiid's injury means for MVP race
Because of the NBA's 65-game rule, Embiid, who had appeared in 34 of 47 games on the season before the news of his injury, almost certainly won't be eligible for Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year or All-NBA honors.
With how he was playing before his injury, Embiid was considered by many to be the leader in the MVP race. He's now second to Nikola Jokic in Basketball Reference's MVP tracker, which ranks candidates based on a model built using previous voting results, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic.
It's a shame because Embiid was putting together a truly special season, setting the stage for another razor-thin MVP race, but his long-term health is far more important.
