Joel Embiid just got paid.
The 76ers center and the team have agreed in principle to a five-year, $148 million extension, the maximum based on the designated rookie scale.
Embiid was scheduled to arrive in Boston on Monday night to join his teammates. The Sixers had said that he was training at the team's practice facility in Camden.
We all know Embiid's injury history. He's still hasn't played in a game after having what the Sixers called "minor" surgery more than six months ago to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee.
Embiid played in only 31 games last season before the team announced on March 1 that he would need season-ending knee surgery. His last game was Jan. 27.
He missed the previous two seasons because of two surgeries to repair the navicular bone in his right foot. He also suffered a stress fracture in his back that kept him out of the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments during his lone season at Kansas in 2014.
But no other Sixer possesses Embiid's total package of size, toughness, shot-blocking ability, strength, athleticism, quickness and competitiveness.
He's the most important part of turning "The Process" into what the Sixers hope is a championship team. Without Embiid, the Sixers will have to rethink everything about the plan they've been working on for the last few years.
The Sixers will get some salary-cap protection should the center miss significant playing time because of injuries.
