The Philadelphia 76ers may not realistically be in championship contention next season thanks to the huge question marks surrounding the team, but they are definitely not one to be counted out in the title race. After all, this squad has the raw talent and potential to be one of the betters clubs in the league in the upcoming season.
That is more so the case considering the current state of the Eastern Conference. It is far from a dud, of course, and probably even better than in recent years, but it definitely pales in comparison to the brutal nature of the Western Conference which could have up to 14 teams actively vying for a playoff spot next season.
Thanks to a couple of title contenders in Boston and Indiana already presumably being out of the running from the championship race following ghastly injuries to their respective best players, the East is considered to be wide open. Of course, there is still New York, Orlando, Detroit, and Atlanta which could all make noise, but those are but four teams reckoned to be formidable.
Usually, Milwaukee would be in that list, but due to the exit of Damian Lillard and the not-so-convincing way they tried to retool the roster, nobody is really picking the Bucks to win the title anytime soon even with Giannis Antetokounmpo still in the fold.
The 76ers could see a key rival in the Bucks falter next season
The Bucks saw their future start to crumble when the Giannis trade rumors kicked up at the start of the offseason, but as everyone knows, nothing really materialized on that conjectural front. The two-time MVP remains with the franchise, but there is no telling if that would remain to be the status quo moving forward.
Right now, Milwaukee does not have what it takes to lord over the league as it once did not so long ago. And their immediate future also does not look very appealing, especially if the Greek Freak ultimately asks for a trade, which a lot of people anticipate happening sooner than later.
The 76ers need every edge they can get over their competitors in the East, and if Milwaukee’s downfall comes in the form of losing Giannis, that would be real sweet for Philly for reasons that go without saying.
Should the Bucks struggle next season, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade circuit could ripen into a real, official one — something the Philadelphia 76ers should watch out for not as an active participant, but merely on the lookout for which teams they have to take seriously in the future.