The Philadephia 76ers already have a star-studded lineup, but so far, they have not been able to capitalize on their armory of talented players. Their shallow depth is one thing, but another big reason why has been their predilection to living and dying with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And with the former often out due to injuries, the team has sputtered.
Having said that, it seems like the 76ers brain trust is eyeing to change the status quo, at least going by what was reported as of late. Reports say that Daryl Morey tried to trade for Kawhi Leonard before the deadline, which is probably a huge hint about the kind of direction the front office intends to take in the upcoming summer.
Morey, always the big-name hunter out in the open, is not shying away from the prospect of having another elite player landing in Philly. But more importantly, this rumored plan to go after Leonard is an indication that he is desirous of a bona fide star who can further easen the load on Embiid, who clearly needs a lighter load.
76ers look set on giving Joel Embiid a new co-star
The prevailing — and rightful — sentiment is that Paul George has been a disappointment for the 76ers since stepping foot in Philly. He has taken a nosedive in his production, and to make matters worse, he has been unavailable for long stretches due to injuries. He has been relegated into a complementary piece.
George is no longer capable of permanently easing up the load on Embiid, which is probably the compelling impetus behind the front office wanting a different star around their two-headed monster up top.
Kawhi would be fantastic, but it does not have to be strictly him. While it is much easier said than done, the 76ers would revel in having someone who can take over games and make the offense less predictable. After all, the team does have the assets to be an enticing buyer for those looking to detach themselves from their stars.
Going after the most sterling names is not always the most sensible direction to take, but the 76ers can afford to go all-in right now. They already have an overarched win-now edict cast on them, and it is incumbent on the front office to push as hard as they reasonably can, especially if it means preserving Joel Embiid and extending their championship window that has been slightly shut.