USA Today
76ers
The Sixers are taking no chances with Joel Embiid. According to Chris Haynes of NBA TV, the reigning MVP may or may not play in Friday’s preseason finale against the Timberwolves. But there’s optimism he’ll be ready for Philadelphia’s opener next week.
Haynes added that the Sixers will be “very cautious” with Embiid all season and that he’s unlikely to play in back-to-backs in 2025–26. The team’s priority is keeping him healthy for the stretch run, not October wins.
Meanwhile, Paul George is expected to miss the opener against Boston as he continues recovering from offseason knee surgery, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
The good news: Charania reports George has made “significant progress” and isn’t expected to be out long. The 34-year-old forward will return once he feels fully ready.
Knicks
The Knicks are once again shuffling their camp roster. In a flurry of moves, the team signed and waived Romeo Langford, Adama Bal, and Ibrahima Diallo, per team announcements.
All three received Exhibit 10 contracts, making them eligible for up to $85,300 in bonus money if they spend 60 days with the Westchester Knicks.
Langford, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, last played in the NBA with San Antonio two years ago and spent last season in the G League. He averaged 10.2 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Salt Lake City Stars.
Bal, a 6-foot-6 French guard, went undrafted out of Santa Clara after averaging 13.7 points and 3.1 assists over two seasons.
Diallo, a 6-foot-10 big man from Senegal, played for three colleges before joining the Austin Spurs of the G League, where he averaged 5.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.
Suns
Don’t expect the Suns to lock up Mark Williams just yet. As John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reports, Phoenix is unlikely to offer the 23-year-old center a rookie-scale extension before Monday’s deadline.
Williams, who came over from Charlotte in the offseason, has battled injuries throughout his young career, appearing in just 106 games over three seasons. The Suns plan to evaluate his fit this year before making any long-term decision.
If no extension is reached, Williams would become a restricted free agent next summer, assuming Phoenix extends a qualifying offer, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
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