Will the 76ers give Joel Embiid a contract extension before the Oct. 16 deadline?

That's one of the biggest questions heading into training camp, which begins Tuesday. The Sixers would love to lock up their franchise player. However, they don't want to commit to a potentially costly deal for the organization."I'm cautiously optimistic that we can find common ground," Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said Wednesday. "But it will take common ground in order for something to get done."But what is common ground at this time?We all know Embiid's injury history. He's still unable to participate in five-on-five scrimmages 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.All that came after Embiid had missed the previous two seasons because of two surgeries to repair the navicular bone in his right foot. And don't forget the stress fracture that kept him out of the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments during his lone season at the 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.So why hasn't he signed an extension?Both sides are trying to protect themselves. And in the process, they're perhaps doing their best poker-face impressions.Who are they fooling? It would benefit both sides to get a deal done now as opposed to trying to get a free-agent contract signed next summer.But again, they are trying to protect themselves.Embiid could sign an extension for a maximum of four seasons in excess of $100 million. If he doesn't sign an extension, the Sixers would most likely give him a qualifying offer that would make him a restricted free agent next summer.In that scenario, they would have the right to match any free-agent deal another team offers Embiid. Assuming he stays healthy, Embiid could demand a five-year, max-contract deal.Or he could decide to take the Sixers' qualifying offer, in which he would receive $8 million for the 2018-19 season and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.It would be a risky move for Embiid to wait until next summer to get a contract, based on his injury history.One would think that Embiid would want the money now, due to his history.If Embiid takes a one-year qualifying offer next year, he would be betting on his health. But that move would strike fear in the Sixers organization because he could go anywhere he wants next summer.So it would benefit both sides to get an extension.