Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night after missing nearly three weeks due to contracting COVID-19. Embiid said he was hit hard by the virus.

“I really thought I wasn’t going to make it. It was that bad. So I’m just thankful to be sitting here," Embiid said. "I struggled with it, but I’m just glad that I got over it and I’m here doing what I love with some good people.”

Embiid played 45 minutes in the Sixers double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He scored 42 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. 

The All-Star center said it was good to be back, even if his conditioning still needs work. Embiid said that while he was out he "couldn't breathe" and had headaches "worse then a migraine".

Joel Embiid could return as early as Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves following a three-week absence due to a positive COVID-19 case.

Embiid has been ramping up his activity this week ahead of a return. 

Embiid is averaging 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 30.9 minutes per game this season.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings are not currently holding significant discussions on a trade centered on Ben Simmons.

The Kings have deemed De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Halliburton as unavailable, while Tyrese Maxey has emerged this season as a legitimate starting point guard.

Heading into the season, there was chatter that a slow start by the Kings could intensify their pursuit of a trade for Simmons.

While some have speculated that the Philadelphia 76ers are operating under the February 10th trade deadline to find a deal involving Ben Simmons, some believe the front office is comfortable resuming discussions again next offseason when a new set of opportunities become available. 

By waiting that long, the 76ers' list of targets could expand due to sign-and-trade possibilities, stars finally requesting trades, or simply new management hires.

The downside of not trading Simmons by the deadline, however, is they will effectively lose a possible playoff run in which their roster is maximized. 

There could be some acceleration of talks beginning on December 15th when players signed to new contracts become eligible to be traded.

The Philadelphia 76ers do not have Jerami Grant on their list of approximately 30 players they would trade Ben Simmons for across the league. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported this week that the 76ers have had discussions with the Detroit Pistons on Grant, outsources say those talks are old and were of little interest to the team.

Grant represents a positional overall with Tobias Harris and is not enough of a difference maker for what they seek.

The Philadelphia 76ers reportedly have a wide list of targets they'd consider in a trade for Ben Simmons. That list includes a couple of old friends of those in power in Philadelphia.

A year after the Sixers tried to trade Simmons to the Houston Rockets for James Harden, the team is considering making another run at the star guard. Harden, a Daryl Morey favorite, did not sign a contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets. That has some in the 76ers organization wondering if a package built around Simmons could entice Sean Marks and the Nets to make a deal.

Another target is former Philadelphia forward Jerami Grant. The Sixers have held talks with the Detroit Pistons that were built around a Simmons for Grant swap. Grant started his career with the 76ers before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016.

The Philadelphia 76ers believe rival teams have become even less motivated to trade for Ben Simmons than they were previously due to the "escaping uncertainty that surrounds him," sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic. 

Simmons has cited mental health issues as why he is not ready to play for the 76ers currently and it has led to speculation that it could go beyond his trade situation.

Simmons and his representatives have recently reiterated his strong desire to be traded.

The number of players across the NBA who can be traded will be expand in December as offseason signing restrictions are lifted. 

The Philadelphia 76ers have a list of approximately 30 players who would satisfy them in a trade of Ben Simmons and there's internal belief that approximately five to 10 of them could be available within the next year or two, a source tells Sam Amick of the Athletic. 

The list represents six percent of the league and is the rough equivalent to the number of All-Stars selected every season. 

“This is like a multi-year thing,” a Sixers source said.

Simmons cannot become a free agent until 2025, which the 76ers believe gives them time to be patient.

The Philadelphia 76ers have fined Ben Simmons for failing to travel with the team on their six-game road trip.

Simmons and the 76ers have continued in their standoff as both sides seek a trade.

Simmons believes the 76ers have disregarded his mental health issues by trying to get him back on the floor.

Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Dave Joerger is going to leave the team for several weeks to undergo treatment for cancer. Joerger has been diagnosed with a "head and neck" cancer.

Joerger informed the other assistants and the players of his need to step away after their game on Saturday night. He had already spoken with head coach Doc Rivers, the Sixers front office and Sixers ownership.

The diagnosis for Joerger is a positive one, because of early detection.

"We have caught it early," Joerger told ESPN. "I'm very lucky. I've got over a 90% chance of cure rate, but it's very scary and it's not enjoyable going through. ...I can't go on the road and do radiation and chemotherapy in different cities around the country. To continue my treatment, I need to step away from the team."

Joerger said he wanted to get the news out to encourage others to undergo early detection screenings.