Joel Embiid appears to now be in much better shape than he was in five weeks ago when a report indicated he weighed close to 300 pounds.

Embiid was working out before the Philadelphia 76ers' game on Friday and he was moving well, executing jump hooks with either hand and exhibiting good mobility.

Embiid has missed the entire season with a right foot stress fracture.

The Philadelphia 76ers have placed a waiver claim on Thomas Robinson.

Robinson was prepared to sign with the Brooklyn Nets if he cleared waivers.

The Denver Nuggets released Robinson this week.

Claiming Robinson allows the 76ers to exceed the salary cap floor.

The Philadelphia 76ers were trying to trade up for a top pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and indicated a willingness to discuss Joel Embiid or any player on their team, an NBA source told Forbes.com's Mark Heisler.

While the souce is unnamed, Heisler has long covered Phil Jackson, and the New York Knicks will have one of the top selections in the draft. Heisler also has close connections to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Embiid was drafted third overall last June and has been out for the entire season following surgery on a broken bone in his right foot.

Andrei Kirilenko has officially signed with CSKA for the remainder of the season.

Kirilenko said in a statement that at 34, "the time has come to think about ending my career at the professional level" and that he wants to do that at CSKA.

Kirilenko spent the 11-12 season with CSKA before returning to the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kirilenko then signed with the Brooklyn Nets before the 13-14 season.

JaVale McGee would like to remain with the Philadelphia 76ers for the duration of his contract and beyond.

McGee is signed through the 15-16 NBA season.

"I don't want to get bought out," said McGee. "That's not a positive thing. When you think about it, you don't get all of your money when you get bought out.

"So it doesn't make sense why someone would want to get bought out unless they are older - older and they want to go to a contender or something. I'm not that old. I just want to play basketball."

McGee was acquired by the 76ers from the Denver Nuggets, who included a future first round pick in what was essentially a salary dump.

"We are coming into this whole thing with an open mind," Brett Brown said Sunday. "He is around a bunch of genuine people, coaches that care. That will give him every chance to keep moving and to be as good as he can be.

"And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But it's not going to be on us."

McGee also sees this as an opportunity to mentor rookie centers Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid. In addition to backing up Noel, McGee said he can help with the young players' confidence.

"When I was with the Wizards, I think it was my sophomore year, we won like 19 games," he said. "So I've been in the same situation. I've just definitely got to get these young guys' heads into it where they stay positive, keep playing hard, just look for wins and [learn] how to win."

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Ish Smith after claiming off his waivers.

Smith has appeared in 221 career NBA games and owns career averages of three points, two assists and over one rebound per game. He was selected by the Delaware 87ers during the team's expansion draft in August, 2013.  

Smith finished at Wake Forest as the first player in school history to record 1,000 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds in a career.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived Malcolm Thomas.

Andrei Kirilenko will sign with CSKA Moscow when he clears waivers.

Kirilenko and the Philadelphia 76ers agreed upon a buyout this weekend.

Kirilenko was traded to the 76ers by the Brooklyn Nets in December.

Andrei Kirilenko has been waived by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Kirilenko came to the 76ers via trade from the Brooklyn Nets.

The Philadelphia 76ers have already taken a liking to Emmanuel Mudiay, according to Larry Brown. 

"[Michael Carter-Willilams] was rookie of the year and I know they have been interested in Emmanuel, and I thought, man, that is a backcourt made in heaven because they are both long and athletic," Brown said. ". . . I want to help in any way I can because I am sure it is obvious [Mudiay] is on their radar, and when the time comes I know the kid as well as anybody and would be happy to help." 

The 6-foot-5 point guard, 18, had committed to SMU before deciding to play in China.

With Michael Carter-Williams traded, Isaiah Canaan moves forward as the Philadelphia 76ers' point guard.

"Isaiah Canaan is our point guard," said Sam Hinkie. "Trade won't clear tonight, but by Sunday. He is an interesting prospect."

Hinkie helped explain his strategy in trading away Carter-Williams and K.J. McDaniels for draft picks.

"We will not bat 1,000 in the draft. We're going to miss some. But we have a bushel-full of them.

"I believe a lot in optionality. I believe a lot in flexibility. I believe a lot in making a decision as late as you can."

RealGM Note: Optionality was made popular by author Nassim Taleb.

“Optionality is the property of asymmetric upside (preferably unlimited) with correspondingly limited downside (preferably tiny).”