“The Process” Has Failed…Again
What’s Next for the Philadelphia 76ers?
Well, it happened yet again. Another Sixer second-round exit.
This year was probably supposed to be “the one” for Philly fans — Embiid was playing at an MVP level, Tyrese Maxey broke out, and then the Sixers went out and swapped Ben Simmons for James Harden at the deadline.
A year that was supposed to end in an ECF or Finals appearance in the eyes of Sixers fans ended up the same way it has been for the last several years: a grueling postseason exit, this one at the hands of the Miami Heat.
A Notable Sixers Season
Before we get to their future, let’s continue recapping how the 76ers got here.
Joel Embiid was a monster this season, leading Philadelphia while averaging 30.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.5 BPG on 49–37–81 splits. According to StatMuse, he had two triple-doubles, 46 double-doubles, 13 games with 40+ points, and 40 games with 30+ points. Statistically, it was an incredibly dominant season from the big man.
Tyrese Maxey, as mentioned earlier, broke out with averages of 17.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 4.3 APG on 48–42–86 splits, effectively taking over as Philadelphia’s lead facilitator to begin the season. That was until The Beard showed up.
James Harden played 21 games for his new team — his third in two years — and put up 22 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 10.3 APG on 41–33–87 splits. Though many, including Stephen A. Smith, argued that Harden is way past his prime and is no longer a max player, both of which are agreeable, he still played a great second fiddle next to the MVP candidate Embiid.
The Sixers were still helped immensely by the usual guys, Tobias Harris and Danny Green, and were also assisted by younger players in Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, and Furkan Korkmaz. There were even contributions from the new guys, Georges Niang and DeAndre Jordan. All told, each of these role players did their best to support Embiid, Harden, and Maxey, staying ready when their number was called and performing effectively (most of them, anyway).
The Sixers were in a tough first-round series against the Raptors that almost saw them pull off a classic Doc Rivers choke job, but they held on to beat Toronto in six. They then had to face the beginning of the Heat series without Joel Embiid, who suffered a right orbital fracture and concussion in game 6 of the first round. Embiid returned and was right back to dominating, this time with a face mask, but it wasn’t enough. Former Sixer Jimmy Butler and co. steamrolled through the City of Brotherly Love, eliminating the Sixers in six on the anniversary of Kawhi Leonard’s game-winner in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It must’ve been a brutal night for Sixers fans.
Where Do They Go From Here?
The Sixers have several questions to answer this offseason, mainly centered around the futures of James Harden and Tobias Harris, the latter of whom they picked over Jimmy Butler, a decision the front office surely regrets right now.
First off, Harden has a one-year, $47M Player Option on the table. If he accepts it, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2023. It’s up to him whether he wants to become a former-MVP-turned-league-journeyman or if he wants to settle down in Philadelphia and run it back with Embiid and continue to “Trust the Process.”
Speaking of Philly’s free agents, DeAndre Jordan, Paul Milsap, and Myles Powell will all be waiting to hear if the Sixers want them back or not. Aside from Harden’s Player Option, there is also Shake Milton’s Team Option that the team can pick up by June 29. The Sixers are slated to have $153.4 million on the books for next year, according to Boardroom, and whether or not they choose to free some of that money up remains to be seen.
Finally, Tobias Harris has two years and $76.9M remaining on the five-year, $180M behemoth of a contract signed back in 2019. It will be very tough to move a guy who has not been playing to the level of his contract — 17.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 3.5 APG on 48–36–84 splits — and even more so for a good enough return package that undoes the damage caused by Jimmy Butler’s departure. The Sixers began shopping Harris next to Simmons at the February deadline but were only able to do the Nets trade. The latest Tobias trade rumor is from two months ago when Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective Podcast that NBA execs expect Harris to be available in trade discussions this summer.
Overall, the Sixers have a long offseason ahead with very important decisions to make. Do they hope that Harden accepts his Player Option or do they renegotiate a better deal with him? Will they move Tobias Harris, and if so, for who? The answers to these and plenty of other questions will shape the Sixers’ future and whether or not they are serious championship contenders.
