Sixers will keep Joel Embiid on a minutes restriction

The Sixers will have center Joel Embiid on a minutes restriction. Embiid also isn't expected to play on back-to-back nights.

They won't know if he'll start at center against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the season-opener until after consulting with the medical staff.

Embiid was expected to be an elite player since the time the Sixers selected him third overall in the 2014 draft. However, two operations on the navicular bone in the 7-foot-2, 275-pounder's right foot prevented him from playing in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.