After more than a decade of trusting the process, the stars have finally aligned for the Philadelphia 76ers to define the Joel Embiid era with a positive outcome. Embiid has been one of the most remarkable players of the modern era, producing in generational ways when healthy.
Failed attempts to build a three-star system have been complemented by an abundance of injuries, however, and the team's results have inevitably underwhelmed.
On the strength of the 2024 offseason, Daryl Morey has finally put the pieces around Embiid to remove all doubt about what the team can realistically achieve. He landed a steal at No. 16 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by selecting Jared McCain, and maintained that momentum in free agency.
WIth six-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defense, and nine-time All-Star Paul George joining the team, the 76ers have taken the final step toward truly contending.
Morey has managed to move on from pieces that were in place when he arrived, including former Embiid co-stars Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons. He's replaced them, as well as the role players he no longer felt were a match, with the individuals who ideally fit his vision for the team.
The end result could be the most dominant season of Embiid's career—and it all comes down to the simple acts of improving spacing and limiting unnecessary movement.
The 76ers have created more space for Joel Embiid to score within
By signing George, the 76ers made a commitment to simplifying the game for Embiid in two crucial areas. The more obvious manner in which that's been achieved is on the offensive end of the floor, primarily due to George's status as one of the best shooters in the NBA.
George boasts a career average of 2.6 three-point field goals made per game on 38.5 percent shooting, and is coming off of a season in which he tallied 3.3 on a mark of 41.3 percent.
Philadelphia has also added McCain, who converted at 41.4 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman with the Duke Blue Devils in 2023-24. It later brought in Eric Gordon, a career 37.1 percent shooter from distance, and Reggie Jackson, who shot a respectable 35.9 percent in 2023-24.
Caleb Martin isn't known for his three-point shooting, but even he boasts a career mark of 35.7 percent from beyond the arc—a number that jumps to 40.1 percent in the playoffs.
With shooters in abundance, including sharpshooting co-star Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia should improve from ranking No. 22 in the NBA in three-point field goals made in 2023-24. In turn, Embiid should have even more space to post up and ample opportunities to kick the ball out to an open shooter.
That should help the preeminent post scorer of this generation to put together yet another dominant season down low.
76ers have made Joel Embiid's job more manageable on defense
One of the most impressive aspects of what Embiid brings to the table is also one of the most concerning. The 7'0" and 280-pound Goliath covers as much ground as just about any center in the NBA, often coming out to the perimeter to pick up slashers and shooters alike.
By bringing in George and Martin, two players known for their perimeter defense, the need for Embiid to defend outside the paint has been greatly limited.
Embiid will still have opportunities to make his presence felt along the perimeter, but depth on defense has been a rarity in Philadelphia. There have been competent defenders, but George and Martin are among the best at their respective positions on that end of the floor.
With that two-headed monster contesting shots and funneling slashers into Embiid in the paint, the 76ers should have one of the most devastating defensive units in the NBA.
In addition to simplifying Embiid's role, this should also prevent him from having to take chances that could result in an injury. He certainly won't be stationary, but being able to prioritize rim protection will mean conserving energy for offensive dominance and limiting unnatural movements for a player his size.
In turn, Embiid could turn in the best season of a career that already includes an MVP award, two scoring titles, and five All-NBA nods.