After losing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the fourth time in five years, the 76ers again have many unanswered questions heading into the offseason, and very few have easy answers. But the main questions are who should stay and who needs to go. To help break down the answer to these questions, lets take a look at each player and the reasons to keep them and the reasons to get rid of them.
Joel Embiid
Why the 76ers Should Keep Him: Embiid is a generational talent. He was the first center win the scoring title since Shaq did it in 1999/00, the first center to average 30 PPG since Moses Malone did it in 1981/82. Embiid averaged the fewest minutes per game (33.8) by a scoring title winner since the shot clock was introduced in 1954, and he broke the record for most 40 point and 10 rebound games in a season (13). The big man averaged the 11th most points per minute (0.905) in a season ever. Those are a few great accomplishments Joel added ro bis resume this year. He also averaged 11.7 rebounds, good for fifth in the league, while greatly improving his passing, posting a career-high 4.2 assists per game. He’s a great leader and his teammates love him while also being a very hard worker. And finally, his toughness and will to win is unquestioned.
Why the 76ers Should Move On: Embiid is injury prone, hasn’t proven he can win in the playoffs (has failed to get past the second round), and at 28 he’s only getting older.
So Should the 76ers Keep Him? Yes. What did you expect?
VERDICT: Stays
Tyrese Maxey
Why the 76ers Should Keep Him: Maxey improved drastically this year, increasing his numbers in nearly all statistical categories and more than doubling his points per game. Maxey is a great three point shooter. He averaged 42.7% from beyond the arc, good for third in the NBA. He has an incredible work ethic. John Calipari, Maxey’s college coach at Kentucky, has said that he had to kick Maxey out of the gym frequently because he just would not leave. And he hasn’t worked any less hard in the NBA. Joel Embiid called him “the hardest worker I’ve ever seen,” while Glenn Rivers said that Maxey was in his top ten favorite players to coach ever. Maxey is only 21 years old and has many years left of elite basketball in him.
Why the 76ers Should Move On: Maxey is an average defender, will likely want a big contract soon, and the 76ers will struggle to fit in under the cap with Harris, Harden, and Embiid’s huge contracts.
So Should the 76ers Keep Him? Maxey took a huge leap in his sophomore season. He was asked to fill Ben Simmons’ shoes during his dramatic hold out, and he did better than anyone could’ve asked. His amazing work ethic carrier over immensely onto the court as the 21 year old ran circles around the league. The Sixers would be crazy to get rid of him.
VERDICT: Stays
James Harden
Why the 76ers Should Keep Him: Harden was once the league MVP, and obviously still has some of that talent, which he showed by putting up 22 points per game. He’s elite at creating separation off the dribble, as well as shooting off the dribble. Harden is one of the best passers in the game, as he averaged 10.3 assists per game, second best in the league. He is a great rebounding guard, as he snagged 7.7 rebounds per game. He is also a good mentor for Philly’s young guards, specifically Tyrese Maxey.
Why the 76ers Should Move On: Harden is nowhere near what he used to be. His scoring is down (his 22.0 PPG are his lowest PPG since his 2012/13 season in Oklahoma City). His shooting percentages are down (his 41.0 FG% is his lowest FG% since his rookie season in 2009/10 season in Oklahoma City and his 33.0 3P% is his lowest 3P% ever). He is a defensive liability as he is horrendous on the defensive end. He does not play with hustle and is not in very good shape. He had a poor playoff run other than one game, and has nights where he looks like an average high school player, chucking up bricks left and right, just as much, if not more, than he has nights where he looks like vintage James Harden.
So Should the 76ers Keep Him? When Daryl Morey traded for James Harden at the deadline, he made a gamble. Morey believed that Harden could still perform at the incredibly high level he displayed night in and night out in Houston. But it has since become quite apparent that the James Harden, who finished first or second in MVP voting in four out of five years in Houston (2015-2019), is a mere shell of himself and what he once was. Obviously, Morey knew that Harden was no longer an MVP candidate, but he figured that if Harden could be half the player he was in Houston, he could make Philly legitimate contenders. Harden was not, and he could not. Additionally, Harden is most certainly not worth a supermax deal, which he is rumored to be asking for. With all that being said, James Harden is still a well above average NBA player. He can contribute on the floor if he focuses more on facilitating than shooting, and he can help Maxey and other young players continue to progress. If the 76ers can keep him in Philly on a smaller contract, and he stops playing like Houston Harden and becomes more of a true passer, he would a solid piece to the puzzle.
VERDICT: Stays, unless a younger star (like Bradley Beal) becomes available to trade for
Tobias Harris
Why the 76ers Should Keep Him: Harris had a great playoff run, arguably the most consistent player for Philadelphia. He can be a solid third or fourth option. He is good at getting inside and finishing. Great free throw shooter.
Why the 76ers Should Move On: Had a poor regular season. There were times where Embiid clearly didn’t trust him with the ball and didn’t pass it to him, even if Harris was unguarded. Often passes up an open look for three to drive in for a contested midrange shot, a low percentage shot for Harris that consistently comes up short off the front of the rim. Lastly and damningly, Harris has a HUGE contract (a 5 year $180 million max deal that pays an average annual salary of $36 million).
So Should the 76ers Keep Him? If Harris plays like he did in the playoffs, he can help win a title. If he plays like he did in the regular season, he can’t. Obviously there’s no way for the 76ers to know which Tobias Harris will show up next year, which is the problem. The 76ers can’t take that risk. They should look to move him for a player like Beal. If they can’t find someone, bring him back for the start of the year. If he plays like he did in the playoffs, and the 76ers still can’t find a star to trade Harris for, he can stay. But if the 76ers do find a star, or Harris played like he did in the regular season this year, he needs to go.
VERDICT: Goes
Matisse Thybulle
Why the 76ers Should Keep Him: Thybulle is already an elite defender, one of the best in the league. He is still young (25 years old) and he has plenty of potential to improve. He’s on a small contract through the next two years. And if he can become just average offensively, he can be a very, very good player.
Why the 76ers Should Move On: Matisse Thybulle is a liability on offense, plain and simple. I don’t care how good your defense is, you can not be a good player in today’s NBA without being a competent offensive player.
So Should the 76ers Keep Him? If the 76ers find a team that views Thybulle as an up and coming young star and are willing to pay for him as such, Philly needs to move him. But if not, Philly should hang on to him and let him develop.
VERDICT: Stays (for now)
No one wants to read paragraphs about Philly’s non-starters, so here are my takes on everyone else.
STAYS: Shake Milton, Georges Niang, Paul Reed, Jaden Springer, Charles Bassey, Isaiah Joe, and Danny Green (if the injury he suffered in game six isn’t too significant)
GOES: DeAndre Jordan, Paul Millsap, Furkan Korkmaz, Myles Powell, and Glenn Rivers – obviously not a player but probably the worst part about the team.
