For several years, the Philadelphia 76ers have been hamstrung by building around superstar Joel Embiid, whose career has been defined by persistent injuries. Pursuing an ideology that repeatedly fails, but expecting a different outcome each time, defines insanity and describes the Sixers' recent history. The Atlanta Hawks have shown that moving on from a star like Trae Young and focusing on a different talent like Jalen Johnson can yield instant success; maybe Philadelphia should follow suit.
Moving on from an organisational cornerstone can be more difficult than breaking up with a toxic ex-partner. Despite this decision making your life easier, all the good memories come flooding back, completely altering your perception of the relationship. Nevertheless, the Hawks had the bravery to pull the plug on Young. This is a star who had the potential to devastate opponents offensively, but his defensive frailties negatively affected the Hawks' ability to make a tilt at a championship.
Philadelphia's Eastern Conference rivals have now handed the keys of the franchise to more versatile players in the mould of Jalen Johnson. Due to this cut-throat decision, Atlanta's roster signifies a different beast entirely. Making a similar move may prove risky for the 76ers, but Tyrese Maxey has shown is capable of shouldering the future of this team when Embiid's era finally comes to an end.
The 76ers can draw parallels to the Hawks' transformation
Comparing Joel Embiid and Trae Young as players may be like comparing apples and oranges, but the overriding situation is not too dissimilar. Embiid is not holding his employers back through ability or mentality, and can also boast a 2023 MVP title to his name. He is a dominant figure on both ends of the floor, and when available, Embiid still overbearingly contributes to winning. However, the issue is that Philadelphia has constructed a roster around a star who has had torrid luck with injuries.
In comparison, Atlanta had created a set of players around Trae Young that would benefit from his genius playmaking ability and potential to tally up an impressive number of points. Young's issue was not so much injuries, but a shift in the perception of basketball in general. Teams now build rosters that can boast a wealth of two-way talent, leaving few weaknesses when matching up with different oppositions.
Young's career numbers tell a story of success on paper; in reality, they are empty statistics that have often led to the Atlanta Hawks settling for an annual position in the Play-In Tournament. The 27-year-old has averaged 25.1 points and 9.8 assists per game throughout his career. Nevertheless, after sanctioning a trade to the Washington Wizards, the Hawks have discovered a new lease of life and look like a much more dangerous proposition.
Hawks are thriving after Young's departure
Atlanta is in the midst of an 11-game winning streak and is just half a game back from the Orlando Magic, who currently occupy the sixth and final playoff seeding. With a record of 38-31, the Hawks have the opportunity to clinch an automatic playoff place for the first time since the 2020-21 season. A prospect that may not have been possible with Trae Young on the roster, as the franchise's record with him in the lineup this year is a lowly 2-8.
By switching allegiances and focusing their future on Jalen Johnson and Jonathan Kuminga, the Hawks are already reaping the rewards. On the season, Johnson has recorded 22.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. Kuminga has averaged 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game since moving to Atlanta.
It would take a brave soul to green-light a move that would see the Joel Embiid era in Philadelphia come to a devastating end. However, in Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers have an exciting partnership that could define the future of the franchise. The Atlanta Hawks have proven that moves of this nature carry an overwhelming risk factor, but the reward could be groundbreaking.