Daryl Morey may have been shown the exit door by the Philadelphia 76ers, but Nick Nurse has been shown mercy and will continue to lead the team in what feels like a final opportunity to make his tenure a success. In Nurse’s defense, he has been forced to navigate an injury-riddled roster throughout his time in Philadelphia, which makes his roster decisions for the 2026-27 season all the more critical. Meaning, Kyle Lowry can't take up a roster spot if he has no intention of playing.
Kyle Lowry cannot offer the 76ers what he once could
There is no doubt that Lowry has become a beloved figure within the organization. Born and raised in Philadelphia, the veteran has embodied his hometown in every performance throughout his career: hustle, determination, and leadership. However, as he does with all athletes, Father Time has caught up with Lowry, limiting the physical output that he can offer Philadelphia.
Despite it being obvious that Lowry was in the twilight of his career, the 76ers re-signed the 40-year-old to a one-year contract. It is now clear that Nick Nurse did not retain Lowry's services to contribute on the floor; he wanted a veteran voice in the locker room who could have a positive influence on the roster's younger players. Lowry featured in just 14 regular-season games, averaging 8.4 minutes each appearance.
While some may argue that an experienced veteran who may not play is essential in any team with ambitions of making a deep postseason push, given Philadelphia's recent injury record, it would be fair to say that this decision would only increase the workload for other players. Tyrese Maxey may have expressed his love for Lowry throughout the year, but he was the biggest victim of the decision to keep him in the squad.
Tyrese Maxey must be rotated next season
Maxey had an extraordinary year for the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging a career-high 28 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. His elite performance levels propelled him to All-Star recognition, but it was clear as the Sixers' season fizzled out against the New York Knicks that the prestigious accolade came at a cost.
Due to the lack of backcourt depth on Philadelphia's roster, Maxey was asked to play an arduous role in the rotation. The 25-year-old averaged 38 minutes per game during the regular season, the highest total in the entire NBA.
Despite recording impressive numbers, Maxey's fatigue levels became obvious as the 76ers' season came to a disappointing end.
Nick Nurse clearly trusted Tyrese Maxey to carry Philadelphia’s offense in the absence of Joel Embiid, but relying on him to that extent was never going to end well. However, the head coach had few options to rotate, as the departures of Eric Gordon, Jared McCain, and Cameron Payne decimated the squad. Being so shortsighted as the season began, and opting to sign a veteran voice rather than an effective role player to the roster, Nurse left the door ajar for disaster to ensue.
Kyle Lowry’s championship experience could give the Philadelphia 76ers an edge that could benefit a healthy roster late in the season. But that is the central issue; the Sixers have given little reason in recent years to believe they will be healthy once the playoffs arrive. Nick Nurse can't afford to leave his roster short on playable options again. If Lowry’s leadership is truly that valuable to Nurse, Philadelphia should assign him to the coaching staff rather than using a crucial roster spot on him.
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