The Philadelphia 76ers are struggling without Joel Embiid. There is no guarantee the reigning MVP will return, and the Sixers are fighting to avoid the Play-In Tournament. Daryl Morey and the front office wanted to maintain cap space this summer, which has them relying heavily on Kyle Lowry. Massive changes could be on the horizon as Embiid is the only player with a guaranteed contract for next season.
Morey will chase another marquee talent this summer. He has been targeting one since James Harden requested a trade. Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are stars, but the Sixers need more talent if they plan on jumping into title contention. The reigning MVP is 30 years old and won’t wait forever, so the pressure is on Morey and the front office to nail this offseason.
There will be a ton of 76ers hot takes floating around, especially if they miss the playoffs or suffer another early exit. They are not firing Nick Nurse or bringing back James Harden, but these spicy opinions could become reality this summer.
5. 76ers gut depth to land 3rd star
This is the least spicy and the most likely to come true. If the Sixers plan on landing a third star, they will have to let multiple players go. Embiid is on the books for $51.4 million, and the franchise has $171 million in cap holds. They are not dumping Maxey. His maximum contract will be five years at $142 million. If they plan on adding even another $30 million salary that will put them at $119 million for only three players.
If the 76ers add a marquee free agent, they will have to renounce the cap holds on several current players. Philly likely tries to re-sign De’Anthony Melton and Nicolas Batum, but the rest of their roster could be out the door with only minimum contracts to round things out.
Acquiring a third star will be costly. The Philadelphia 76ers could do it via free agency or trade, but the toll will be most of the franchise's depth and potentially a hefty amount of draft capital.