The sooner the Philadelphia 76ers come to the damning realization that monumental change is needed, the better. Under their current guise, the Sixers will never sniff success and will forever languish in a wasteland of mediocracy. A serious roster reconstruction is needed, and Joel Embiid's injury record would suggest that he cannot be safe from the risk of departure.
Whether fans like it or not, this current era of the Philadelphia 76ers has been nothing short of a disaster. Wasted years. Wasted talent. Wasted opportunities. Embiid is far from the problem in this franchise. For several years, the Sixers' superstar has repeatedly averaged astounding numbers despite battling through numerous fitness problems. However, the latter matters, and it has affected the 76ers' ability to compete.
General manager Daryl Morey has made countless decisions that have hindered Philadelphia's chances of being successful. From refusing to hand James Harden a max contract to constructing an entire roster around a star who cannot feature regularly, Morey must shoulder a significant portion of the blame for recent failures.
Now, the Sixers must rip up the playbook and start over while they still possess two budding stars that can help change the trajectory of the franchise.
Philadelphia must build around Maxey and Edgecombe
Tyrese Maxey's ascent to stardom has been stunning. Despite being surrounded by chaos, Maxey has continued to record outstanding numbers and has shown the league that his name is one they must fear. The 25-year-old has averaged a career-high 29 points, 6.7 rebounds, and two steals per game to establish himself as the 76ers' leading light.
Maxey has not been the only bright spark for Philadelphia this year, as his spectacular rookie counterpart, VJ Edgecombe, has created a telepathic partnership with his teammate to provide an insight into what the franchise's future could look like. Edgecombe has recorded 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
Due to the extreme success the Sixers have boasted with this partnership on the floor, it is time for the roster to be constructed to allow the two young stars to thrive. Currently, each player has been carefully selected to elevate Embiid's attributes when he is healthy -- without Joel on the floor, the 76ers' lineups look unbalanced and incohesive, dismantling any chances the team has of being effective.
For the open heart surgery on the roster to work, Philadelphia must truly reset and find any value in assets they can -- whether that be by accruing draft picks or finding other players for a similar value that will complement both Maxey and Edgecombe. The issue is finding where this value comes from.
One positive to come from this year is that Joel Embiid has displayed signs of the dominant figure he once was, with mobility in his knees improving with every performance. Daryl Morey would have to lean into this position if he were willing to negotiate a deal that would sadly end an era in Philadelphia that deserved more success. On the other hand, finding the assets to match the salary that Embiid's contract would be a significant issue.
It is a truly heartbreaking conversation to have, but at some point, the Philadelphia 76ers must admit that a change in direction is needed. Not to take advantage of such a devastating partnership in the form of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe would be criminal and another opportunity squandered.