A Look at Joel Embiid’s Backup Depth After Montrezl Harrell Injury

The Philadelphia 76ers found out that their veteran big man Montrezl Harrell could miss the 2023-2024 NBA season. As Harrell’s been ramping up the action and preparing for training camp, the veteran center suffered a setback.

On Wednesday, Sixers officials confirmed that Harrell underwent an MRI after experiencing knee soreness and swelling after a series of offseason workouts. The MRI results revealed Harrell had suffered a torn ACL and medial meniscal tear.

The Sixers haven’t ruled out Harrell for the entire season and won’t put a timeline on his recovery just yet. However, one could assume that Harrell’s second season in Philadelphia could be spent on the sidelines after a tough blow.

Fortunately for Philadelphia, they loaded up on big man depth this summer. In fact, many were surprised to see the Sixers retain Harrell after he initially declined his player option, which was attached to the two-year contract he signed last summer.

At the start of the 2022-2023 season, Harrell was the Sixers’ top center option behind Joel Embiid. Eventually, he swapped with Paul Reed, who took over as the primary backup come playoff time. Harrell was set to have another go-round after re-signing on a one-year deal with the Sixers, but the injury makes the situation more complicated for the former Sixth Man of the Year. As for the Sixers, they have other options to consider behind Embiid.

Joel Embiid’s Backup Depth

Paul Reed

After nearly losing Reed to the Utah Jazz, the Sixers matched a three-year offer sheet to ensure their former second-round pick continues to develop as one of Philly’s very few homegrown prospects. With Reed set to return, it seemed obvious that the backup center spot was his to lose, and Harrell would be issuing more competition at the spot. However, Reed seems to be under the impression that he might finally serve as a hybrid, similar to PJ Tucker’s role last season.

With Doc Rivers out and Nick Nurse in, there is a lot of talk about Reed being developed into a Pascal Siakam-type of player. That could mean fewer minutes behind Embiid and more playing time alongside the superstar center. The Harrell injury definitely shakes up Reed’s role, but the Sixers have options beyond the fan favorite.

Mo Bamba

Joining the Sixers as one of their few signings in free agency this offseason, Mo Bamba is looking to bounce back after a tough year. Despite being a full-time starter for the Orlando Magic two seasons ago, Bamba spent an average of 17 minutes on the court in 34 games off the bench with the Magic last season. At the trade deadline, he was dealt in a four-team trade, landing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Things didn’t take off for Bamba in LA. Down the stretch of the regular season, he appeared in nine games and saw the court for fewer than ten minutes on average. In the playoffs, Bamba was limited on playing time, appearing in just three games. Fortunately for Bamba, he gets a fresh start and unites with a mentor of his, Joel Embiid. His recent track record isn’t great at the moment, but Bamba has a solid opportunity in front of him to land some backup minutes at the five.

Filip Petrusev

The former Gonzaga standout will get his first crack at the NBA this season. Although the Sixers drafted Petrusev the same summer they selected Jaden Springer and the San Antonio center Charles Bassey, Petrusev has been stashed away overseas. His Summer League appearances over the last two runs didn’t inspire a ton of hope for him to become an everyday role player, but Petrusev will be waiting in the wings and moving up the pecking order now that Harrell’s down and out.

PJ Tucker

You can put an asterisk on this one simply because Tucker’s natural position is at the four. While the Sixers will have an entirely new system and game plan next year, there is a chance they could run some small ball with Tucker at the five again. Therefore, Tucker is considered a depth option if the roster sees a shake-up due to injuries. While the Sixers likely don’t want to repeat Rivers’ previous gameplan, which favored Tucker over Reed more often than not, Tucker’s defense in key situations at the five last season certainly leaves him as a valuable option in certain situations.