There is rarely ever a time when an NBA player signs a lucrative contract, and it isn't met with cries of overpay from fans all over. The Philadelphia 76ers have three players on max-level deals, and each of them has been accused of being overpaid.
Joel Embiid surely gets it more than anybody at this point. With a fresh extension finally kicking in, the Sixers' superstar center was recently deemed one of the most overpaid players at his position, according to Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes. At this point, who really cares?
LeBron James saves the narrative
I can't really argue with the idea that Embiid is getting paid an absurd amount. Not necessarily due to how he plays--it's more about when he plays--since it's not really often.
Year one of the three-year deal that Daryl Morey offered the big man starts with a whopping $57.9 million. Year two is for $62.6 million. If Embiid wants year three, he could make $67.2 million at 34 years old. I'm just going to assume that he's taking that deal when the time comes in 2028-2029.
Embiid signed that deal after a 39-game showing in 2023-2024. He dominated that year before a knee injury, averaging 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. In his first season since that knee surgery, Embiid appeared in just 19 games during a lost season. Last year, he played in 38 games, as the knee was just one of several setbacks he battled.
At first, it seemed Embiid's extension would suffocate the Sixers and make it difficult for them to improve because so much money was owed to him. Then the Sixers moved one overpaid deal (Paul George) to an expensive, yet better-looking Jaylen Brown deal. Then, LeBron James made the Sixers feel like they hit the lottery. Last year's Western Conference All-Star was willing to come play on a minimum, erasing those worries about Embiid's deal for the time being.
Want to know how much worse it could be?
Embiid tops the list because he might not play in 40 games in 2026-2027. When he does play, he can still give you 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Game-changing production on a roster that's built to win now.
The others on the list? Domantas Sabonis and Jakob Poeltl. The Toronto Raptors big is making just under $20 million for next season. It's a head-scratching deal for 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He's serviceable, but replaceable.
As for Sabonis, the Kings' center will earn $45.4 million next season. He might've been a rebounding champ in three out of the last four seasons, but the Kings have been just paying for empty stats at this point.
The Sixers are paying a lot, for sure, but it no longer matters. As long as they are able to trot out a championship-level roster, there have to be sacrifices made in the financial department.
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