Joel Embiid, Sixers agree to 5-year, $148 million extension

Joel Embiid just got paid. The Philadelphia 76ers center and the team have agreed in principle to a five-year, $148 million extension, the maximum based on the designated rookie scale.

Embiid was scheduled to arrive in Boston on Monday night to join his teammates. The Sixers had said that he was training at the team’s practice facility in Camden.

We all know Embiid’s injury history. He’s still hasn’t played in a game after having what the Sixers called “minor” surgery more than six months ago to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee.

Embiid played in only 31 games last season before the team announced on March 1 that he would need season-ending knee surgery. His last game was Jan. 27.

He missed the previous two seasons because of two surgeries to repair the navicular bone in his right foot. He also suffered a stress fracture in his back that kept him out of the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments during his lone season at Kansas in 2014.

But no other Sixer possesses Embiid’s total package of size, toughness, shot-blocking ability, strength, athleticism, quickness and competitiveness.

He’s the most important part of turning “The Process” into what the Sixers hope is a championship team. Without Embiid, the Sixers will have to rethink everything about the plan they’ve been working on for the last few years.

The Sixers will get some salary-cap protection should the center miss significant playing time because of injuries.

M.J. donates $7 million

Hornets owner Michael Jordan is donating $7 million to launch medical clinics that he hopes will help at-risk communities in Charlotte.

It’s the largest philanthropic donation ever by the former NBA champion.

The donation will fund two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics, which are projected to open in 2020.

Jordan’s spokeswoman Estee Portnoy told The Associated Press Monday that the Hornets owner “feels so great about being able to impact the Charlotte community and help people who really deserve it. Michael and Novant are really excited about this project.”

Portnoy said Jordan, 54, was motivated by a study that found poor children in Charlotte have the worst odds of those of any of the top 50 cities in the United States to lift themselves out of poverty.

Lue chooses Wade over Smith as starting shooting guard

By moving center Tristan Thompson to the second unit, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue already served notice there would be more emphasis on scoring this season.

But that point became even more clear Monday when Lue announced he will start Dwyane Wade at shooting guard over J.R. Smith when the regular season opens Oct. 17.

Actually, the new starting five of Derrick Rose, Wade, LeBron James, Jae Crowder and Kevin Love at 1 through 5, respectively, will be on display for the first time Tuesday night when the Cavs host the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. James has been sidelined since turning his left ankle in practice on Sept. 27. That was the day the Cavs signed Wade to a one-year veteran minimum contract after he received a buyout from the Bulls. For a few days, Wade ran the point with the second unit.