Philadelphia 76ers Offseason Outlook: Run it Back or Rebuild?
Can fans still “Trust the Process”?
The Philadelphia 76ers had it made. Joel Embiid finally won the MVP award, James Harden found his groove with a full Philly season under his belt, and other Sixers, such as Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, excelled in their roles to a tee.
Still, it wasn’t enough to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, as they were knocked off in the semis by the Boston Celtics for the second time in five years.
Another Sixer second-round exit has led many to ask: is there still “Trust” in “The Process”?
“The Process” was first coined by former Sixers GM Sam Hinkie in 2013, who said in his introductory press conference, “We talk a lot about process — not outcome — and trying to consistently take all the best information you can and consistently make good decisions. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t, but you reevaluate them all.”
In the last decade, Philly has managed to make the playoffs each of the last six seasons, falling in the second round five times in that span. The only time they didn’t make it to the semis was the 2019–20 playoffs, when they were swept by…you guessed it, Boston.
With all of this taken into account, it’s time for the Sixers to reevaluate their previous decisions, and basically pick between two pivotal options: run it back (with some changes) or blow it up.
Run it Back
Here’s the good news for Philly fans: aside from Harden’s $35.6 million Player Option, the rest of the core — Embiid, Harris, and Maxey — are all under contract for next season. The same goes for glue-guy veteran P.J. Tucker and backup point guard De’Anthony Melton. With the majority of Philly’s rotation intact, it’s concceivable that they’ll keep the same group around.
This is a team that went 54–28 in the regular season and finished as the no. 3 seed in the East. They had the third-best offense (117 OFF RTG) in the regular season as well as the eighth-best defense (112.7 DEF RTG), and they finished the playoffs ranked tenth in both categories (110.2 OFF, 112.1 DEF). All of these metrics hold promise in the eyes of Sixers fans, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the players, at least, stick around.
But what if the front office sees the same thing as everyone else? A team that succeeds in the regular season only to leave the playoffs in disappointing fashion. In that case, it just might be time to…
Blow it Up
Sixers Head Coach Doc Rivers became the only coach in NBA history to lose 10 Game 7s. James Harden may have averaged 20 points and eight assists per game this postseason, but outside of 45 and 42-point outbursts against the Celtics, he remained largely inefficient from the field. And Embiid, despite his MVP campaign, put himself on the wrong side of history:
Rivers’s playoff blunders and Embiid’s subpar postseason are overshadowed by the fact that Harden might jump ship to return to the Rockets.
Harden could decline his aforementioned Player Option if the interest in a Houston reunion is real and mutual, as Woj reported. It doesn’t make sense given Houston’s current direction, but Harden leading a younger core of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and (potentially) Victor Wembanyama is certainly intriguing.
On the Sixers’ side, it’s growing likely that Rivers could finally get the axe — arguably the most deserving when other coaches (who won championships more recently) have been dismissed.
All of these are telltale signs that, if they wanted to, the 76ers could make major changes this summer. If these two factors happen — Rivers gets fired and Harden leaves — could the Sixers trade Joel Embiid?
It’s incredibly unlikely that this option is on the table for Philly. Embiid is the franchise cornerstone and he just won MVP after two years of being the runner-up. However, as Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
The New York Post is reporting “whispers” that Embiid could request a trade if Harden goes back to Houston. Every other team in the league would have interest in the big man if he asks out, and the Sixers would have to receive an offer they can’t refuse to move on from their franchise player. Luckily, Embiid remains committed to Philly in an example where a superstar’s loyalty is actually laudable.
Moving on from both Embiid and Harden would be an aboslute last-ditch effort by GM Elton Brand, especially when considering the former is under contract for three more years. Even if the Sixers pull off such bold moves, their fans will not be patient enough to wait any longer for a successful season.
Other Options to Improve
Instead of a full-on rebuild, which the Sixers and their fans are not ready for, there are other avenues for Philadelphia to retool their roster.
The first would be to finally trade Tobias Harris. He is entering the final year of an abysmal five-year, $180 million contract, making $39 million next season. Attaching his contract with several picks could net some role players who would make a difference for the Sixers.
Aside from trades, the Sixers could also finally give some younger players a shot at earning rotational minutes. Paul Reed exemplifies this perfectly, as the 23-year-old big man made the most of his opportunities when Embiid was out. It’s a task that Reed is certainly up for:
“I keep the same mental preparation, physical preparation as I would even if [Embiid] was playing. I don’t change up what I’m doing any differently. I keep my same mental focus.”
-Paul Reed following his 10-point, 15-rebound performance in game 4 of the first round (Via Sixers Wire/USA Today)
Developing Reed and other young guys, such as Jalen McDaniels and Jaden Springer, would prove beneficial for a Sixers team searching for answers. After six seasons of mediocrity, maybe the solution isn’t a blockbuster trade. It’s bringing in role players through smaller trades or free agency and, more importantly, developing the ones you already have.
The Sixers’ chances of a rebuild are slim to none, but nonetheless, some key changes will have to be made. Philadelphia as a city already holds a ton of history. Here’s to hoping the Sixers can add to it sooner rather than later.
How can the Sixers improve? Is it through a blockbuster trade or some more retooling around the edges? Comment your thoughts below.
