NBA Rumors: 76ers 'Hope' Joel Embiid Can Return from Knee Injury in 2-3 Weeks | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly hoping to have superstar center Joel Embiid back in the lineup by the start of the playoffs.

According to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, sources have said the Sixers "hope" Embiid will be able to make his return in two to three weeks after having missed the past 23 games due to surgery to repair a meniscus injury in his left knee.

Clark added that 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said Thursday that Embiid has been on the court "almost every day" as of late.

Philadelphia's last game of the regular season is against the Brooklyn Nets on April 14, meaning that if Embiid does indeed return in two to three weeks, he will be back just in time for the postseason.

At 38-31, the Sixers are currently outside the top six in the Eastern Conference. They are the No. 8 seed, and if they are unable to make up the 1.5-game deficit between them and the sixth-place Indiana Pacers, they will have to go through the postseason play-in tournament.

While that wouldn't be an ideal path, a healthy Sixers team led by the reigning NBA MVP in Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey would be heavily favored to make it through the play-in and into the playoffs.

When healthy, Embiid has been a dominant force again this season, averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.8 blocks per contest in 34 games.

That is on the heels of Embiid leading the NBA in scoring average in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns.

While Maxey is a budding star in his own right, the Sixers have not been the same during Embiid's absence, as the vast majority of the offensive burden has fallen on Maxey's shoulders.

Since Embiid last played on Jan. 30, the Sixers have tumbled in the Eastern Conference standings, going 9-14 over their past 23 games.

Even with Embiid, the Sixers have not been able to get the job done in the playoffs in recent years, getting eliminated in the second round or earlier in each of the past six seasons.

That suggests there is no guarantee Philadelphia will go on a deep run if Embiid returns, but without him, it is difficult to envision the 76ers making it out of the first round if they can even manage to get through the play-in tournament.

Maxey, Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr., Buddy Hield, Cameron Payne, Kyle Lowry and Paul Reed make up a solid core when Embiid is out, however, it doesn't compare to some of the other star-laden lineups in the Eastern Conference on teams like the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.

Time is running out for Embiid to get back in the fold this season, but Clark's report suggests there is at least some belief within the organization that there is still a chance for him to return and make an impact come playoff time.