The 2019-20 season has been one wild ride for the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only are they still trying to figure out the awkwardness of their roster, but they also had to do so under the climate of a pandemic causing the league to shut down in March.
So, with that comes a lot of change. For example, they will have to finish up the season in a “bubble site” down in Orlando to keep everybody safe and that also means a change in contract status has to come as well.
All-Star big man Joel Embiid had a minutes trigger in his original 5-year $148 million contract extension signed in 2017 that would make his contract fully guaranteed. It was a financial protection for Philadelphia to ensure that they will get the most out of the big man after he missed the first two full seasons of his career due to injuries.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Romona Shelbourne are reporting that even though the full 82 games will not be played, that Embiid will hit that minute threshold due to an agreement between the NBA and NBPA.
Woj and Shelbourne:
Embiid signed a five-year, $148 million deal extension in 2017 that included financial protections for the Sixers had Embiid suffered career-ending injuries involving his back or feet. Those protections are moot now; Embiid has shown his durability and his All-NBA production has actually outsized his contract.
Embiid needed 1,650 minutes this season to fully guarantee the contract, but prorated over the Sixers’ 65 games that lowered the requirement to below the 1,329 minutes he had played this season.
The All-star big man is set to show out when the season does resume on July 30 and he will be looking to lead the title run that the team believes they are built for. [lawrence-related id=33072,33059,33052]