The Philadelphia 76ers were never going to get back from being down 0-3 in their semifinals series against the Knicks, but people at least expected them to win one game and try to mount a respectable performance with their season on the line. Instead, New York remained unfazed and went ahead to completely dismantle them with a 30-point beatdown, putting the bow on an embarrassing exit for the hosts.
The franchise won't bet getting any semblance of consolation nor relief, though. After all, suppressed by all the noise is the fact that it is only after this season when the contract extension of Joel Embiid kicks in, reminding them of the scathing reality they voluntarily assumed a couple of years ago when they signed him to a mammoth extension.
To refresh everyone's memory, the 76ers signed Embiid to a three-year, $187.8 million contract that will kick in at the start of the 2026-27 season. Even when they executed that deal, the prevailing sentiment was that it was too risky of a move for the front office, although the team was basically handcuffed into securing that contract anywat. Still, that does not change the fact that it will severely hamper them moving forward.
Joel Embiid contract extension will start to become a real headache for the 76ers
After yet another exit in the second round of the playoffs, many are calling for the 76ers to finally commence a hard pivot by testing the waters for Joel Embiid. However, it tends to get glossed over that such an escapade is much, much easier said than done.
There is no reasonable front office in the NBA that will voluntarily trade for an aging and injury-prone Joel Embiid who is on an albatross deal. The truth of the matter is that the 76ers are stuck with their current configuration and they have no other choice but to keep augmenting what they already have and just roll with it.
Of course, with Embiid making so much money, and Tyrese Maxey and Paul George likewise sapping so much of their cap space, the 76ers will be hampered when it comes to bringing in quality role players. Really, the only bright spot in their payroll right now is the fact that they have VJ Edgecombe, their next franchise centerpiece, on a rookie-scale deal.
The 76ers will just have to learn to live with the fact that Joel Embiid is here to stay. For now, he is still good enough to carry the burden of being the No. 1 guy, but moving forward, that will no longer be the case. And at that point, his current deal will only hurt more.
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