I think on top of the issue of biological rarity most people are mentioning, who players idolize and model their games after isn’t being mentioned enough. A lot of the most iconic and popular players are all known for their on-ball skills so impressionable players will want to copy them.

Shot creation is still crucial to a roster.

The issue now is just that guys that were only borderline max players can’t justify that contract under the 2nd apron era.

In the 2nd apron era, if you want a real contender with longevity, you need a genuine #1a, #1b dynamic with your max guys. Ingram might not even be a real #2 on a contender so he’s going to struggle to get a max contract.

I think it’s just the direct comparison to AD that makes Embiid look so bad on this team since AD fits so much better in any line-up that doesn’t need on-ball offense which is basically every line-up for team USA.

Personally, I also just think it’s sad how much slower and less nimble Embiid is in recent years compared to when he was younger. He honestly doesn’t need to carry the amount of weight that he does.