After a brutal 24-58 season that saw the Philadelphia 76ers fall to 13th in the Eastern Conference, the team once again finds itself at a crossroads. Managing an aging roster, glaring weaknesses on both ends of the court and ensuring their players stay healthy, Daryl Morey and the front office must avoid falling back into the “Trust the Process” timeline.
Coming off one of the most anticipated seasons in 76ers history, the franchise has $65 million in salary cap and a shot at a top five pick in the upcoming draft. However, this comes with the major downside of their two stars’ aging timelines, with both Embiid and George inching closer towards the end of their primes and injuries getting in their way. This makes the objective clear: Do not stretch the process — fix it.
Retention is key. After Grimes’s standout season as a 3&D Wing, keeping him in Philadelphia is critical. As Paul George nears the end of his prime, Grimes can eventually step into the starting role. Additionally, bringing back the core group, which includes standout role players such as Guerschon Yabusele, Jared Butler and Justin Edwards is a no-brainer after their strong season.
On the more controversial end, Joel Embiid’s time as the prized jewel of the team is coming to its end. When healthy, he is a top 10 player in the league. However, recently his window has been shut off more than ever before with reported leadership issues rising in practice and injuries raising the question of whether he is fit enough to play back-to-back games. Keeping the youth movement within the starting core would be in the 76ers’ best interest.
Passing the torch to their younger stars, like Maxey and McCain, could prove worthwhile and spark a culture shift in the City of Brotherly Love. Additionally, doing this while building around Embiid to make sure his absence in games would not disrupt business as usual.
This season, the Sixers ranked 26th in defense and 23rd in offense, marking improvement in rebounding, and playmaking their top priorities for the upcoming season.
To address the problem, the 76ers can look into the free agent market. Clint Capela, who is on an expiring contract with the Hawks, could offer the Sixers much-needed rim protection and bolster their defense, especially in games when Embiid is unavailable.
Another aspect where the Sixers can improve is their playmaking. Currently, the Sixers heavily rely on an individual player to dictate ball movement throughout their lineup. Hence why signing a sixth-man caliber player like Tyus Jones, Russell Westbrook or Dennis Schroeder could help fill the offensive gap while additionally providing veteran depth off the bench.
The goal is to build a rotation that can switch, defend and run without depending on aging starters. Philadelphia finds themselves dangerously close to squandering the very foundation they spent years building. This offseason marks a reset of the 76ers’ identity.