Jared McCain’s rookie season led to mid-December of final yr, however he nonetheless managed to play extra minutes (592) than Joel Embiid did (574) for the 2024-25 Philadelphia 76ers. The identical is true of reserves Jeff Dowtin Jr. (621), who was on a two-way contract and in addition performed 17 video games for the Sixers’ G League staff; Kyle Lowry (659), who barely performed for the ultimate three months; and Jared Butler (682), who joined the staff on the commerce deadline.
In all, 15 gamers logged extra minutes than Embiid did for final season’s Sixers. The man who performed the fifth-most minutes, Ricky Council IV, is just not at the moment on an NBA roster. (The Brooklyn Nets have been reportedly going to carry him to camp if not for an harm.) Paul George missed half the video games, too, and, by the tip of the common season, they have been in full tank mode, making an attempt to hold on to their top-six-protected decide. For a franchise that had invested about $400 million in Embiid and George the earlier summer season, it was an absolute nightmare.
Excellent news, although: 2024-25 is over. The late tank labored, and, in the event you’re a Sixers fan who hasn’t already bought a V.J. Edgecombe jersey, you’ve got probably no less than thought of it. McCain will miss the beginning of the season due to a thumb harm, and neither George nor Embiid has performed within the preseason, however, in idea, Philly will quickly get a correct take a look at the staff it has put collectively. The hope is that the ceiling is simply as excessive because the Sixers envisioned after they’re at full well being and that the ground is nowhere close to as little as it was final season.
The State of Play
Final yr: Nearly all the pieces that would do incorrect did go incorrect till the evening of the lottery. The depressing, 24-win season did have some silver linings, although: Tyrese Maxey improved his point-of-attack protection, McCain seemed just like the Rookie of the Yr throughout the temporary interval by which he was wholesome and Quentin Grimes, acquired for Caleb Martin on the deadline, performed just like the man the Knicks did not need to commerce for Donovan Mitchell 4 years in the past. Guerschon Yabusele changing into a fan favourite and Justin Edwards rising late within the season have been small victories, too.
The offseason: They grabbed Edgecombe with the No. 3 decide, used the No. 35 decide on stretch massive Johni Broome and re-signed Edwards for 3 years and $7.1 million with a staff possibility. Additionally they re-signed Eric Gordon and Lowry and signed Trendon Watford away from Brooklyn, all on minimal contracts. Yabusele left for the Knicks, and so they used two of their two-way slots on Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow, who might need an opportunity to take a few of his minutes. After a protracted standoff, Grimes signed the one-year qualifying provide.
Las Vegas over/below: 42.5 wins, per BetMGM
The Dialog
Sixers believer: Nothing about final season was enjoyable in Philadelphia, however, except for profitable a championship, it was the most effective factor that would have occurred to the franchise. By bottoming out, the Sixers have been capable of draft V.J. Edgecombe, who might be a future star and undoubtedly going to assist them instantly. Daryl Morey’s entrance workplace additionally realized from all of the issues that went incorrect in 2024-25, as they’ve put collectively a considerably youthful, extra athletic roster than that they had a yr in the past. Everybody besides Tom Ziller appears afraid to say it, however the 2025-26 Sixers could be contenders if they’re comparatively wholesome this time round. I do know you are about to hit me with the identical drained, boring “Joel Embiid cannot be relied upon anymore” take that I’ve heard one million instances, however as soon as he is again on the courtroom and looking out like himself once more, you will change your tune.
Sixers skeptic: The rationale you’ve got heard so many individuals say Embiid cannot be relied upon anymore is just not that there is some kind of anti-Philadelphia conspiracy going round. It is simply the reality, regardless of how a lot you and I want it weren’t. The Sixers drafted Embiid 11 years in the past, and the one time he has ever completed a season wholesome was 2019-20 within the bubble. Embiid himself has acknowledged that enjoying via his knee harm — and Bell’s palsy — within the 2024 playoffs was not the wisest determination. What scares me essentially the most about Embiid is just not that he barely performed basketball final season, however the way in which he moved when he did play. At this level, I do not perceive how anybody could possibly be assured that he’ll get again to an MVP stage, not to mention maintain it.
Sixers believer: I am assuming you agree with this assertion about Embiid: “Everybody has to contemplate the likelihood that no surgical procedure and rehabilitation, regardless of how cautious and thorough, will ever be sufficient to maintain him on the courtroom for lengthy.”
Sixers skeptic: Yeah, clearly.
Sixers believer: Nice. It is from a Philadelphia Inquirer article that’s greater than 10 years outdated. Earlier than you write off Embiid, please do not forget that, earlier than he had performed a single second within the NBA, loads of individuals have been doing the identical factor. His harm historical past has all the time been a trigger for concern, however he has already overcome it to be named an All-Star seven years in a row and win an MVP award. Please do not act shocked if and when he makes this sentiment appear silly once more.
Sixers skeptic: Can we discuss the remainder of the staff? There are solely so some ways to say that Embiid is an enormous query mark, and declaring that the group has been strolling this tightrope for greater than a decade undoubtedly does not make me really feel any higher about it. Weren’t you a little bit spooked when, with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey out of the lineup, Paul George scored a measly two factors on 1-for-7 capturing in 36 minutes in Brooklyn in February? How do you’re feeling about George having arthroscopic knee surgical procedure in the summertime and Jared McCain vlogging about one other harm? I get the Edgecombe pleasure, however aren’t you a little bit upset that the Sixers did not maintain Guerschon Yabusele or re-sign Quentin Grimes on a long-term contract? It is laborious for me to flush final season when this season’s vibes are already bizarre.
Sixers believer: Really, I’ve some questions for you concerning the San Antonio Spurs: Weren’t you spooked by how inefficient De’Aaron Fox was within the 17 video games he performed for them final season? How do you’re feeling about him lacking all of preseason — and doubtless some actual video games — due to a hamstring harm? It isn’t a terrific signal that Stephon Citadel is already coping with a bruised knee, is it? Are you certain that Victor Wembanyama goes to remain wholesome after lacking virtually half of final season? To be clear, I am not severely saying that everyone needs to be freaking out concerning the Spurs, nevertheless it’s annoying that McCain had thumb surgical procedure simply three weeks after No. 2 decide Dylan Harper did and solely the previous is handled like a nasty omen. Let’s respect the Sixers’ historical past of genuinely insane stuff taking place by not overreacting to minor snags! And by the way in which, San Antonio’s crowded backcourt and collective lack of capturing are larger issues than any non-health-related difficulty with Philly’s roster, and the Sixers get pleasure from enjoying within the East. George is 35, however the truth that he remained an elite defender final season signifies that his decline has been significantly exaggerated (as has the significance of that one recreation by which he was coping with three separate accidents). McCain will not miss many video games that matter. Grimes can nonetheless re-sign subsequent summer season, and, as a lot as I will miss Yabu, I anticipate Trendon Watford to kind of make up for his absence.
Sixers skeptic: If each single Spurs participant besides Wemby tears his Achilles subsequent week, I would nonetheless really feel higher about their future than Philadelphia’s. There is not any double customary right here; certainly one of these groups has the brightest future conceivable and the opposite one will probably be paying Embiid and George about $120 million mixed in 2027-28. What sucks essentially the most concerning the place the Sixers are in is that, in the event you ignore these two signings, they’ve made some superb strikes over the previous couple of years! They obtained Maxey with the No. 21 decide, McCain with the No. 16 decide and Edgecombe with a decide they weren’t actually imagined to have. The Grimes commerce was freeway theft, the Kelly Oubre Jr. signing (and re-signing) labored out in addition to they might have hoped and Justin Edwards appears like a pleasant discover. Adem Bona is perhaps, too, and, after Yabusele (one other good signing) walked, it made sense to select up Watford. Sadly, although, there isn’t any mechanism for a clear transition to the post-Embiid period, so the Sixers are caught doing the two-timelines factor. This has already value them. Whereas it is comprehensible that they needed to remain below the primary apron and keep their means to get below the tax with a commerce, these constraints prevented them from paying Yabusele and Grimes what they’re price. Compromising in that method was a inform: It doesn’t matter what Morey says, the group is not actually all-in on this group anymore.
