After another embarrassing playoff exit, the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in a familiar predicament. After firing general manager Daryl Morey, the front office will assess the 76ers’ championship window and see if they can keep their roster intact for another title run. There are plenty of issues that need to be addressed, including the salary cap situation. The organization finds itself at a crossroads as they have to make decisions this offseason that could largely affect their future.
The search for a new general manager is ongoing, and the front office hopes to have him in place before the NBA Draft. According to Yahoo Sports, former Warriors executive Bob Myers is temporarily in charge and will lead the search for Morey’s replacement. One of the first major decisions the new GM must make is whether to trade Joel Embiid, Paul George, or both. If the team loses both stars, will the backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe be enough to keep the team competitive? The Sixers also have several key free agents they may want to try and bring back, but it will be difficult, since they are over the salary cap.
The New GM Will Have His Hands Full
Once the Sixers find their guy, he will have a lot to figure out. The first major challenge will be determining whether to continue building around Embiid and extend the team’s championship window. The former NBA MVP’s durability has been a longstanding problem, but when healthy, he’s still a threat. The new GM also has to deal with limited ability to add depth to the roster. With the new CBA restrictions in place, it may be difficult to sign established veterans who can come in and provide immediate help. Signing undervalued role players may be the way to go. The roster lacks quality depth, and the bench needs an overhaul.
The Sixers averaged 32.4 points per game off the bench, good for 27th in the NBA. That has also been the team’s downfall during their past playoff runs. According to NBA.com, the Sixers’ bench only produced 19.5 points per contest in the postseason. One of the main components of a championship roster is a solid bench, and the new GM must come in and prioritize that area of need. The organization owns the rights to the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft, which is projected to be one of the deepest in years, and the Sixers could find a quality college player capable of contributing off the bench immediately.
Trading Embiid and George Is A Strong Possibility
The new GM will face a major decision regarding the team’s two aging superstars. Persuading a contender to give up draft capital or a few decent role players would be ideal. That would bring much-needed flexibility to the salary cap, allowing the team to add free agents who fit around Maxey and Edgecombe while continuing to build for the future. Embiid may be easier to move since he is four years younger than George. The former Kansas Jayhawk is a menacing presence and still produces when healthy. The availability of the seven-time NBA all-star may be the only issue with the Sixers moving his contract.
Another possibility is that the new GM asks both players to renegotiate their contracts and take pay cuts. The San Antonio Spurs used a similar strategy with Tim Duncan late in his career to help with roster flexibility. Both stars are in the twilight of their careers, and Philadelphia may represent their best opportunity to keep the championship window open a few more years. If the team can get both of them to shed some salary, they can add the bench help they desperately lacked in the postseason. Will the money be more important than the chance to win a championship? That’s the question Embiid and George may face during the offseason.
The Best of VJ Edgecombe Is Yet to Come
The development of Edgecombe will be critical this offseason. He became a vital cog in the Sixers’ offense during the regular season and was even more impressive in the playoffs. The First Team All-Rookie selection recorded 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the team’s Game 7 win against the Celtics. That kind of game in the postseason is rare for a rookie, especially in that atmosphere. Edgecombe’s performance ranks among some of the best playoff displays by a first-year player.
That playoff performance said a lot about Edgecombe. It showed that he was ready to accept a bigger role, handling the moment with confidence and never wavering on the big stage. Pairing him with Maxey in the backcourt creates a tough matchup for any opposing team. During the team’s postseason press conference after the elimination, Edgecombe shared his plans for the offseason and what he will do to improve.
“I’m going to be honest. There’s been a lot of ups and downs throughout this whole playoff. Even for me, personally; playing against the Celtics and New York, it was tricky. I was guarded differently, so I’m going to take some time and look back at it in a couple of weeks or so and just get better. Coming into next year, a team won’t ever leave me open.”
Those are the words the new GM should want to hear from the up-and-coming star.
