The Sixers Need to Start Prioritizing the 2025-26 Season Before It Slips Away
In the throes of the 2025 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in a precarious position. Sitting at 20-30 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, the team's president, Daryl Morey, remained optimistic, declaring to reporters that they could still have a "special season." However, losing games to the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, and two rebuilding teams left the Sixers struggling.
As they approached the All-Star break, the Sixers had hit a five-game losing streak and were teetering on the brink of the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Their saving grace was the league's fourth-easiest remaining strength of schedule, which could potentially propel them on a late-season surge.
However, the Sixers faced an uphill climb with a 8.5-game deficit from the Detroit Pistons for a guaranteed playoff spot in the East. Their best-case scenario remained a play-in tournament appearance, with a potential first-round matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, or New York Knicks if they managed to advance.
Despite their struggles, the Sixers remained hopeful due to their 2025 first-round pick contingency with the Oklahoma City Thunder. If the pick fell outside the top six, the Sixers would be obligated to send it to Oklahoma City. The team's hesitance to throw in the towel could potentially jeopardize their outlook for the 2025-26 season.
The Struggles of Embiid and George
Morey addressed the left knee injury that had sidelined franchise center Joel Embiid for much of the season during a post-trade-deadline press conference. The injury, which often caused Embiid's knee to swell and cause pain, had led to multiple periods where he appeared on the cusp of returning to the court, only for medical advice to pull him back.
Two days later, Embiid himself confirmed that he was "hopeful" of overcoming the knee swelling but admitted that another surgery and a prolonged recovery period might be necessary. The strain on Embiid was evident in his declining performance, with injury-related absences leaving an indelible mark on his play.
Concurrently, forward Paul George had struggled with his own physical ailments, including a lingering groin injury. The injury had sapped his effectiveness, culminating in a poor performance in the 76ers' loss to the Brooklyn Nets. ESPN's Kendrick Perkins even questioned George's desire to play basketball.
George's injuries had extended beyond the groin, with a finger issue contributing to a nosedive in production. While the 76ers refrained from providing additional information about his injury, they could not afford any prolonged absences if they sought to remain in the play-in tournament race.
The Future: Salvage or Rebuild?
The Sixers faced a difficult decision: should they endeavor to salvage the disastrous season with a miracle playoff run or prioritize their chances of keeping their first-round pick?
The team's actions at the trade deadline may have provided a clue. By trading veterans Caleb Martin and Reggie Jackson for younger players Quentin Grimes and Jared Butler, they indicated a focus on the future rather than the remainder of the season.
However, team governors David Adelman and Josh Harris expressed confidence in the Sixers' ability to make a late-season charge for the playoffs. With a hobbled Embiid and George, the likelihood of a deep run remained limited, but the Sixers persisted in their pursuit.
If Embiid did require another surgery and a prolonged recovery period, it would be prudent to seek treatment as soon as possible to minimize any impact on her 2025-26 outlook. George's lingering groin injury also necessitated focused attention to ensure he could regain his form.
With each passing game and injury, the trio of Embiid, George, and rookie Jared McCain appeared more and more like contractual albatrosses. The Sixers may have little choice but to persevere with this core in the hope of better health in the following season, potentially facing larger overhauls at the 2026 trade deadline or offseason.
Should the Sixers succeed in restoring McCain's health and securing a top-six pick in the draft, they could potentially bounce back in a big way in the 2025-26 season. Despite their current struggles and injury woes, they arguably had a better chance at contention in the following year before their litany of injuries set in.
In the worst-case scenario, losing a member of their Big Three to a long-term injury could jeopardize their availability for the following season. The Sixers might be better off abandoning their 2025 campaign, potentially sending a lottery pick to Oklahoma City, and focusing on their long-term prospects instead. They should treat this as a sunk cost and prioritize their future as they hoped to avoid prolonging their period of struggle into two dismal seasons.
- Paul George's performance with the Philadelphia 76ers was affected by his lingering groin injury, as well as a finger issue, which left the team concerned about his prolonged absences affecting their play-in tournament hopes.
- In a post-trade-deadline press conference, 76ers president Daryl Morey discussed Joel Embiid's left knee injury, which had caused him multiple periods of swelling and pain, potentially jeopardizing his availability for the 2025-26 season.
- According to PBPStats, Tyrese Maxey's usage rate increased significantly in Embiid and George's absence, emerging as a potential catalyst for the team's late-season surge, despite their current 20-30 record and 11th place position in the Eastern Conference.
- Recently confirmed, Embiid admitted that he was "hopeful" of overcoming his knee swelling, but acknowledged that another surgery and a prolonged recovery period might be necessary. This decrease in Embiid's performance had been evident in his play, with injury-related absences leaving an indelible mark.
- In light of the Sixers' current struggles, NBA analysts have begun discussing potential trade scenarios involving Embiid, George, and McCain, with some suggesting that sending a lottery pick to Oklahoma City and focusing on the future might be the team's best course of action for avoiding a prolonged period of struggle into two dismal seasons.
