The Philadelphia 76ers are, as they often tend to be, at a crossroads. This one doesn't feel as bleak as crossroads of the past, though. Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a superstar and the team is winning games — still, two of the three best players remain question marks to play every night, and their precarious injury statuses likely won't change throughout the year.
So the question quickly emerges: with Maxey playing like an MVP, and the Sixers makeshift supporting cast producing more than anyone expected, should the Sixers go all-in and pair Maxey with another star before this year's trade deadline?
If said trade is available, yes they should. If there was ever a year to throw caution to the wind, it's 2025-26. Because it's windy. Throw that caution.
Is there a win-now trade the Sixers can make?
The most obvious one, of course, is acquiring Lauri Markkanen for a combination of Paul George, a young player (or two) and every first-round pick for the rest of time. Markkanen has been on a heater to start the season, and he won't average 30 points per game all year, but he is the perfect 3-point shooting and play-finishing forward who would thrive next to Maxey.
Again, I don't know if Maxey's early play has caused the Sixers front office to start thinking about big-time, win-now trades. But I kind of think it should. Because, really, what else are the Sixers waiting for? Maxey has arrived, VJ Edgecombe is ahead of schedule, and the Eastern Conference is as weak as I can ever remember it being. This is the time to strike. Kicking the can down the road would do nothing but alienate fans.
It won't take a behemoth to win this conference, and these Sixers with Lauri Markkanen and some more center depth would be good enough to at least get the burden of an ECF berth off this franchise's back.
The best way for the Sixers to show Tyrese Maxey that they care about building a competitive team around him is by actually doing it. Claiming that this current roster, when healthy, could be that roster is no longer enough. Leave no doubt, and don't let the injury gods decide how this season ends because they are clearly still mad at the Sixers franchise.