Why the Philadelphia 76ers Should Have Hope Moving into Next Season
Following the Game Six loss to the New York Knicks, the 76ers are looking toward the future. With superstars like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, this offseason could be the turning point for the franchise if they make the right moves. For the last several years, the 76ers have been viewed as a daunting team to face in the Eastern Conference but have consistently underperformed in the playoffs. However, unlike many other teams in the NBA who have flamed out early in the playoffs, the 76ers have hope for the future. With lots of salary cap room and draft capital, the 76ers can reshape the team this offseason to challenge the top teams in the NBA.
With several expensive player contracts expiring for the 76ers like Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, and Nicolas Batum this would open up around $60 million of salary cap room. By letting go of these aging role players, it would make room for another star player on the team. A potential third star for the 76ers next season is current Los Angeles Clipper, Paul George who is set to become a free agent this offseason. George averaged 22 points, five rebounds, and three assists this season and would fit in seamlessly with the current 76ers players because he is an off-the-ball player who can impact the game due to his highly effective shooting. Additionally, the 76ers need a true point guard to help settle down and orchestrate the offense while working together with the other talent on the team. This is why trading for Malcolm Brogdon from the Portland Trail Blazers or acquiring free agent Tyus Jones would benefit the team because they would make the offense operate more efficiently. By adding some new complementarity players to help Maxey and Embiid, the 76ers could finally start making strides toward advancing further in the playoffs next season.
In this past series, Tyrese Maxey really stepped into the spotlight, showing he is capable of great playoff performances with a dominant Game Five at Madison Square Garden with 46 points. Joel Embiid showed he is still a force to be reckoned with against the Knicks averaging 33 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in the six-game series. If these two stars were to team up with another all-star and get an orchestrator at point guard, the 76ers would pose a threat to the stronger teams in the Eastern Conference like the Boston Celtics.
