To say that the Philadelphia 76ers have had a disappointing offseason is a sheer understatement. In reality, the franchise has not only failed to add pieces to bolster its championship odds next season, but it has also seemingly embarked on an ugly road toward a lack of sustainability and a strong winning framework for the foreseeable future.
Aside from the ceaseless James Harden conundrum, which will only percolate well into the season at this rate, the 76ers have a mountain load of roster gymnastics to be done to be able to truly trot out a team that will bring them close to contention and maximize their window with reigning MVP Joel Embiid while he is at the peak of his powers.
The Philadelphia 76ers have an ugly, but doable road to recovery ahead of next season
Admittedly, Philly’s chances of maneuvering enough to upend other contenders in the league — much less in their own conference — are slim. After all, their rivals will not only parade more experienced squads, but also a stronger sense of chemistry and continuity. In a league with much more parity, those aspects can be the deciding factor on which team can clinch the title.
But all hope is not lost — at least, not yet. With still more than a month before training camp opens, the 76ers still have some time to engage other teams and potentially acquire players who can expedite their recovery as an organization. In fact, here is one trade proposal that has the team snagging a young MVP candidate to pair with Embiid next season.
The 76ers snag an MVP candidate in this blockbuster trade proposal with the Pelicans
In this blockbuster trade proposal, the Philadelphia 76ers acquire All-Star forward Zion Williamson from the New Orleans Pelicans for Harden, an unprotected first-round selection in 2029, the right to swap first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2030, and a 2024 second-rounder via the New York Knicks.
Williamson, despite becoming more synonymous with the injury report than almost anyone in the league after missing a staggering 194 games over the last four years, remains an elite player in the association when healthy. In fact, he managed to carve out MVP-worthy seasons last year when healthy and in the 2020-21 campaign before he went down due to injury.
Still having just turned 23, there’s no doubt that Williamson is still a widely coveted foundational block for any franchise looking to win now and build for the future. Hence, as a franchise that should be eyeing to do the same, the 76ers could find the prospect of landing Zion as a dream scenario as they attempt to move on from the disparaging Harden saga.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the nuances of this deal.
Is Zion Williamson the answer for the 76ers in their desperate title chase?
The mandate to win a championship in Philadelphia is stronger than ever before. With Embiid having already shown morsels of willingness to relocate to a better situation, winning will be the best thing that can dissuade him from ever leaving the Sixers’ confines.
If so, dangling a disgruntled Harden who has absolutely zero motivation to win with the 76ers for a young powerhouse like Williamson will be a massive win. If managing to move Harden will already be tossed up as a win, swooping in Zion in return would be like winning the lottery for the franchise.
Williamson, one of the league’s most intriguing athletic specimens, touts mind-boggling career numbers of 26 points, seven rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on a stout 60.8 percent shooting from the field, which includes a respectable 36.8 percent slip from downtown on small volume. Clearly, an Embiid-Williamson frontline would decimate defenses and give the 76ers the best frontcourt in the league that can swiftly expedite and fasten them to contention when healthy.
Also, including the upcoming season, Williamson is inked for five more years. That in itself is a plenty attractive detail that should be able to overshadow perhaps any red flag that Zion brings or can bring alongside him.
Lastly, flinging an unprotected first-rounder, two draft pick swap rights (which will most likely be in the 20s for Philly), and a forgettable second-rounder should not make the front office sweat one bit. After all, seizing an MVP-level player in Williamson is a massive win in itself.
What are the downsides to the 76ers trading for Williamson?
The narrative with Zion starts with his health. Having missed more games than played casts a massive question mark on whether the longevity his contract presupposes is truly imbued with the perceived shelf life at face value.
With Embiid already having a stature as one of the less durable superstars in the league, adding Williamson will undoubtedly macerate the 76ers’ glass bridge with even more delicacy. Oh, and have we already forgotten that Philadelphia does not have the most conducive environment for exhibiting patience? The lack of durability, despite the elevated ceiling, only gives the 76ers a slimmer margin of error in building the roster and providing insurance beneath them.
Aside from his injury history, expecting an Embiid-Williamson frontcourt to simply flourish seamlessly borders on overt optimism. Both players are most effective when isolating in the post, and while Zion has a good amount of experience playing alongside a conventional big man, he’s never played with a center who commands the sort of defensive focus the reigning MVP garners on a nightly basis.
Ultimately, given the turmoil around the Philadelphia 76ers organization, a high-risk, high-reward move like trading Harden for Zion Williamson may not be a safe option at all, but it could be just what the franchise needs to truly escape from yet another toxic saga that could easily start a domino of bad things if left untended for too long. After all, the pros of this deal far transcend the cons, despite how similarly lofty they are.
And that speaks volumes.
Grade: A-