Embiid on Simmons’ return: ‘It doesn’t need to be awkward. We’re a better team with him on the floor

Joel Embiid talked about Ben Simmons’ return to Philadelphia.

Per Philly Voice,Has Ben Simmons been a distraction? Are the Sixers prepared to accept him back into the locker room? Can you know the answers to these questions when he hasn’t spoken to certain power players in the organization since the season ended? Fair questions to ask, especially when Joel Embiid is one of the people who has been boxed out, as he admitted himself on Monday night. “I personally haven’t talked to him since the season ended. Obviously, I tried, but it wasn’t successful as a lot of my teammates have. It’s unfortunate the whole situation happened, but we’re a better team with him on the floor. I think there are going to be some adjustments, but it doesn’t need to be awkward,” Embiid said. “We are professionals, we want to win. I want to win. He gives me the best chance to win, so that’s what I’m going to go with.”

“But as far as coming back and all that, we’ve made a few adjustments, and he’s just got to come in and buy in and we’re going to be fine. Last year we were the No. 1 seed. You just got to buy in and we’re going to be fine.” Save for Embiid’s extended rant on how the team has catered to Simmons with their roster-building moves, the Sixers’ players have said all the right things about welcoming Simmons back. There has been no mystery about their stance — the players have stated firmly that Simmons coming back is good for the organization and gives them a better chance to win than if he spends the season sitting in his new L.A. home