Analyst Compares NBA Star’s Contract To Deshaun Watson Deal

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a tough spot right now.

Their decision to acquire Paul George was supposed to lift their ceiling, but he hasn’t been the same player of old this year.

On top of that, Joel Embiid has looked like a shelf of himself because of a nagging knee injury.

He’s barely been able to play this season, and even when he’s playing, he has struggled to establish himself on the floor.

That’s why former NFL player Chris Canty believes he’s got one of the worst – if not the worst – contracts in sports right now.

Talking on ESPN Radio’s “Unsportsmanlike,” Canty pointed out that Deshaun Watson’s contract will run out in two years, whereas Embiid’s will run through the 2028-29 season.

The Joel Embiid contract is right up there with the Deshaun Watson deal.

– Deshaun Watson's deal is over with in two more seasons.
– Joel Embiid's contract runs through 2029. @ChrisCanty99 https://t.co/KbuHoqGr3p pic.twitter.com/brwyk4gXqD

— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) February 24, 2025

He thinks that the Sixers should shut him down for the season, as they’re a long shot to make the playoffs anyway.

Even if they made the playoffs, he doesn’t see them getting past the first round.

Canty argued that the Sixers were a ‘championship-or-bust’ team, and as such, given their financial long-term commitment to Embiid, they must manage his injury better.

It’s hard to disagree with any of the things he said.

Of course, it’s not Embiid’s fault that he can’t stay healthy, and, unlike Watson, he earned that contract extension on the court.

Then again, this has certainly put the Sixers in a tough spot for years to come.

There’s no clear way out of this situation, and if Embiid never gets back to full strength, this contract will severely hamper their ability to compete.

The post Analyst Compares NBA Star’s Contract To Deshaun Watson Deal appeared first on The Cold Wire.