In the thick of the eventful 2025 All-Star weekend in San Francisco, the Philadelphia 76ers are nowhere to be found. Completely lacking any representative in any of the events (not counting the injured Jared McCain, who was conferred with a spot in the Rising Stars Game and is just winging it out there), the franchise has certainly become an afterthought, at least for this year’s edition of the festivities.
Anyone who would express some puzzlement over this would be highly disingenuous, though. The 76ers, after all, have not shown anything all season long to compel anyone to pay them much positive attention, and their lowly 20-34 record heading into the break is too big of a pull-down baggae to warrant any player participating therein.
The moment the games resume, the 76ers have to not only exhaust everything they can to sniff the playoffs, but also start evaluating the future of their many players on the roster for next season and beyond. Here are four names who only have a few games left to prove they are worthy of staying in Philly.
4 Players who only have 28 games to make their case to stay with the 76ers after this season
4. Jeff Dowtin
The 27-year-old guard, who remains on a two-way contract with the 76ers this season, has been barely felt this season. Even when called up, he has shown very little to warrant staying in Philly. And following the quick emergence of Jared Butler, it may only be a matter of time until Dowtin is forced to move elsewhere.
3. Andre Drummond
The former All-Star center has not been as good as advertised this season on all facets. Outside of his rebounding, his contributions have been marginal, and his lack of an offensive game and rim protection has only exacerbated his individual fit with the 76ers moving forward. He still has a year in his current deal, but that could evaporate via trade if he doesn’t play up to par to end the season or continues to miss games due to injury.
2. Paul George
Not counting pipe dream scenarios, no reasonable team is trading for Paul George during the offseason, especially given the season he’s had. Not only is he a walking injury risk, but his decline has been so steep that this could be the trend for him moving forward. The 76ers would likely be enthused at the possibility of moving on from him, but the more realistic solution is for him to just play much better.
1. Ricky Council IV
Ricky Council IV has been an enigma this season. Despite early season prognostications, he has remained an afterthought in the rotation, and the entry of Quentin Grimes only gives him another hurdle to clear to get playing time. Give that he could be better off elsewhere, the 76ers should consider moving on from him entirely unless he starts playing the way everyone expected him to do so.