[ad_1]
Joel Embiid had a strong offensive showing on Friday. On defense, the Sixers started experimenting a bit with how they used him. An Embiid-centric look at another brutal loss for the Sixers in Chicago:
[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link
Tag: Paul George
-
Joel Embiid doubtful for Sixers-Mavericks on Saturday; Paul George out
[ad_1]
Joel Embiid (illness; right knee injury management) is doubtful for the Sixers’ home contest against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, according to the team’s initial injury report for the game unveiled on Saturday afternoon. The report also lists Paul George as out on the second leg of the team’s back-to-back:
The Sixers have an injury report for tonight’s game vs. Dallas:
Joel Embiid – illness; right knee injury management – DOUBTFUL
Paul George – left knee injury management – OUT
Kelly Oubre Jr. – left knee sprain – OUT
Trendon Watford – left adductor strain – OUT
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) December 20, 2025
Embiid, initially listed as questionable for Friday’s game in New York due to an illness, was later ruled out with the additional tag of right knee injury management applied. It was the first time Embiid’s right knee has been officially reported as an issue in over two weeks, when he returned from a nine-game absence. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse provided the following comments on Friday evening:
George, meanwhile, has yet to play in both legs of any back-to-backs this year. The nine-time All-Star logged 33 minutes for the third consecutive game on Friday at Madison Square Garden; he only shot 2-for-10 from the field but was a team-best +16, largely because of his continued defensive impact.
The expected absences are the same: Kelly Oubre Jr., who has been out for well over a month with his left knee LCL sprain and still does not have a timeline to return, and Trendon Watford, who is coming up on a month-long absence due to a left adductor strain and also does not have a timeline to return.
For Dallas, Anthony Davis is probable with an illness and Klay Thompson is questionable due to left knee soreness.
MORE: VJ Edgecombe meets the moment in Madison Square Garden debut
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
The Sixers’ Biggest Problem That the Box Score Can’t Explain – Philadelphia Sports Nation
[ad_1]
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Third-Quarter Woes and Late-Game Struggles
Another heartbreaking loss for the Philadelphia 76ers, this time a 120-117 thriller against the Atlanta Hawks on December 14, 2025, left fans reeling from familiar frustrations. A controversial missed backcourt violation in the closing moments sealed the defeat, but the issues run deeper than one call. As of December 17, 2025, the Sixers sit at 14-11, a respectable record on paper with a potent offense ranking among the league’s top 10 in points per game. Yet, subtle flaws continue to undermine this talented roster, problems that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.
Early in the season, third-quarter collapses plagued Philadelphia, with the team routinely outscored coming out of halftime. Adjustments seemed to pay off recently—they won the third quarter in their victory over the Indiana Pacers—but lapses persist. Defensive miscues, struggles to control the pace, and late-game execution have cost them in tight contests. The recent Hawks game highlighted over-reliance on hero ball down the stretch, even as Paul George erupted for a season-high 35 points on efficient 11-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three.
What’s holding back the Sixers?
Integrating Joel Embiid and Paul George back into the lineup has been a process. Both stars are flashing vintage form: Embiid dropped a season-high 39 points against the Pacers, while George has looked increasingly explosive. But health remains a concern. Tyrese Maxey missed the Hawks game with an illness, and Kelly Oubre Jr. continues recovering from a knee issue, though he’s progressing with on-court activities. Depth players like Trendon Watford are also working back, thinning the rotation at times.
On the surface, the Sixers look fine—loaded with talent, high-scoring, and rebounding well. Their young core, including standout rookie VJ Edgecombe, adds athleticism and potential. But chemistry is still building around Embiid, George, and Maxey. Roles are being defined, and the transition from individual brilliance to cohesive team play takes time, especially with a mix of veterans and youth.
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Late-game decision-making stands out as a recurring culprit.
Too often, the offense devolves into isolation plays that work in spurts but falter when opponents clamp down. Defensively, rotations lag, and pace control slips, allowing runs that flip momentum. These intangibles—execution under pressure, defensive communication, and halftime adjustments—are the hidden drags on this team’s ceiling.
The good news? The pieces are there for a deep playoff run.
Embiid and George are turning back the clock with high-level performances, and as health stabilizes, the Sixers should climb the Eastern Conference standings. If they iron out third-quarter woes, sharpen late-game poise, and let chemistry gel, this group has championship upside.
It’s been a rollercoaster start—ups highlighted by dominant wins, downs marked by agonizing close losses. The talent is undeniable; now it’s about clarity and consistency. With the core intact and emerging youth contributing, Philadelphia has everything needed for a strong second half and a legitimate playoff push.
Trust the process—again—but this time, the payoff feels closer than ever.
Categorized: Sixers
[ad_2]
Jake Mayson
Source link -
Five Realistic Trade Targets for the 76ers at the Deadline – Philadelphia Sports Nation
[ad_1]
Credit: MSN-Sean Kennedy Potential Deadline Additions to Bolster the Sixers’ Roster
The NBA trade rumor mill is buzzing, with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee dominating headlines. While a superstar like Giannis remains a long shot, the heating market gives the Philadelphia 76ers opportunities to upgrade for a playoff push.
Coming off a frustrating 112-108 loss to the Lakers—where they blew a double-digit lead in the fourth—the Sixers sit at 13-10, sixth in the East. Tyrese Maxey (31.6 PPG) is carrying the offense, and Paul George adds two-way stability. Still, third-quarter slumps, Embiid’s load management, and occasional depth issues highlight areas to address.
As we pass the quarter mark of the season and the February 5 trade deadline approaches, here are five realistic targets (and one dream) that could fit Philadelphia’s timeline and needs:
Credit: MSN-Sean Kennedy
1. Daniel Gafford, C, Dallas Mavericks
A proven rim-runner and shot-blocker (8.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG), Gafford would be ideal insurance behind Embiid and a complement to Andre Drummond. Dallas is reportedly open to moving veterans, and Gafford’s affordable extension makes him attainable for second-round picks and salary filler. Low-risk depth with lob-threat upside alongside Maxey.
2. Herbert Jones, SF, New Orleans Pelicans
With the Pelicans mired in a 3-20 disaster, Jones—an elite 3-and-D wing and 2024 All-Defensive selection—has surfaced in trade talks. His ability to guard 1-through-4 would bolster Philly’s perimeter defense and let George play more off-ball. A package built around Kelly Oubre Jr.’s expiring deal and a protected first could get it done.
3. Trey Murphy III, SG/SF, New Orleans Pelicans
The bigger swing from the same struggling Pelicans roster. Murphy, 25, is averaging 20.5 PPG with strong three-point shooting and athleticism. He’d provide spacing and scoring punch off the bench or in the starting lineup, addressing third-quarter lulls. It would cost a first-rounder plus assets, but he’s a win-now and long-term fit.
4. Keon Ellis, SG, Sacramento Kings
A low-cost, high-upside bench spark. The 25-year-old undrafted guard shoots 38.5% from three, defends tenaciously, and can handle secondary playmaking. Sacramento’s rough start makes him available for seconds and a minimal salary match. Perfect for stabilizing second-unit offense without breaking the bank.
5. Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies
The blockbuster dream. If Memphis pivots into a rebuild—especially with ongoing Ja Morant questions—Jackson (DPOY 2023, 22+ PPG, elite rim protection) could become available. Pairing him with Embiid would create a terrifying defensive frontcourt while adding spacing. It would require Paul George or significant assets, but landing a 26-year-old two-way star in his prime would vault Philly into true contention.
The Sixers need consistency and health more than anything, but a smart deadline addition could solidify them as Eastern Conference threats. They return to action Friday against a shorthanded Indiana Pacers squad—a prime bounce-back spot before a tough December stretch. – Get your cheap tickets at Ticketx
Trust the Process: one calculated move could make all the difference.
[ad_2]
Jake Mayson
Source link -
Joel Embiid out for Sixers-Nets on Friday in ninth straight absence; Paul George questionable and VJ Edgecombe out
[ad_1]
Joel Embiid (right knee injury management) will miss his ninth game in a row when the Sixers face the Nets in Brooklyn on Friday night, according to the team’s injury report for the game issued on Thursday evening, while Paul George (right ankle sprain) is questionable, Adem Bona (right ankle sprain) is probable to return and VJ Edgecombe remains out for the third consecutive contest:
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow’s game @ Brooklyn:
Joel Embiid — right knee — OUT
Paul George — right ankle — QUESTIONABLE
VJ Edgecombe — left calf — OUT
Adem Bona — right ankle — PROBABLE
Kelly Oubre Jr. — left knee — OUT
Trendon Watford — left adductor — OUT
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) November 27, 2025
Embiid has not played since Nov. 8, when he posted season-highs in points and minutes in a victory over the Toronto Raptors. Embiid had a scripted absence the following night as the Sixers managed his left knee, the subject of an arthroscopic procedure in April and other work in recent years. Embiid seemed to be making considerable progress.
But on the morning of Nov. 11, Embiid came to the team’s pregame shootaround and reported soreness in his right knee. Of his eight consecutive absences, the last seven have been caused by the right knee issue. He has mostly been practicing fully during his absence, and for more than two weeks the Sixers have been adamant that the former NBA MVP was still merely day-to-day. He was initially questionable for Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Orlando Magic, but was ruled out a handful of hours before tip-off. He did not practice on Wednesday, instead going through what the team called an “individual strength and conditioning session.”
George, who missed the first 12 games of the year due to his own left knee surgery recovery, went from probable to out on Tuesday due to a right ankle sprain. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said that night that it was not yet clear whether or not the nine-time All-Star was going to miss more time, but George was a full participant in the team’s practice on Wednesday.
Edgecombe also participated in that practice, a positive sign after the rookie missed his second game in a row due to a left calf issue. His designation on both injury reports for those absences was “left calf tightness,” but Nurse referred to it as a “strain” on Tuesday. Edgecombe had imaging come back clean, and Nurse acknowledged that the team is inclined to be especially cautious given the links between calf injuries and Achilles injuries. Now he is out once again, but this time a designation of “left calf injury management.”
Bona told PhillyVoice earlier this week that he was “feeling great” as he recovered from a right ankle sprain which has sidelined him for five games. On Wednesday, Bona said that being available to return on Friday was his “big goal,” and he felt like he was “right there.”
The expected absences: Kelly Oubre Jr., whose re-evaluation for a left knee LCL sprain is about a week away, and Trendon Watford, out for at least two weeks due to a left adductor strain the 25-year-old suffered on Tuesday.
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
Instant observations: As he leads Sixers to overtime road win against Bucks, Tyrese Maxey sure looks like a superstar
[ad_1]
Tyrese Maxey’s sixth NBA season is quickly becoming historic.
[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
Sixers soundbites: Paul George talks ‘rusty’ season debut and next steps after ‘challenging’ recovery process
[ad_1]
PHILADELPHIA – It was probably not the season debut that Paul George would have drawn up on paper, but for the nine-time All Star, getting back into NBA action for the first time in over eight months was enough to create some relief.
Getting a win against his former team is a nice bonus.
The Sixers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on their home floor on Monday night, erasing another double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to come back and win. They did it despite a middling performance from George, who scored the first five points of the game and then struggled to find any sort of scoring groove.
George totaled nine points, seven rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes, shooting 2-for-9 from the field and 1-for-4 from beyond the arc while on a pretty tight minutes restriction. “Not bad,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said after the game, but everybody knows George has much more to give.
In the latest edition of Sixers soundbites, hear from George at his locker after his first appearance of the 2025-26 season:
• George on how it felt to finally get back on the floor:
“It felt great. It felt great to finally play basketball again. It’s been, like, eight months since I’ve played. So it was a long journey, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of hiccups, but it felt good to finally get out there and I felt good. Just rusty, but I felt good.”
• George on the difficulty of playing shorter stints:
“It’s the balance of letting the game come to you and then trying to – I’ve got to push it a little bit from a cardio and conditioning standpoint, but then before you know it five minutes is up and you’re getting subbed out. I’ve always let the game come to me. I thought today I was a little rushed trying to make the most of that five minutes every quarter. A lot of possessions were kind of uncomfortable… I’ve got to kind of do that a little bit, just to get the cardio and conditioning back.”
• George on what he knows about the plan to handle his minutes moving forward:
“I’m sure it’s just as my body tolerates it… This is the most I’ve done up until this point, so we’ll see how I feel tomorrow and just gradually build on it.”
MORE: Sixers-Clippers recap
• George on how it felt to see his first shot go down:
“It felt great. It felt great. Man, I watched it and there were so many emotions inside, there was zero emotion outside. I was just trying to focus on the game, staying locked in and engaged. But it felt great to make the first shot, and just do it for this city.”
• George on how he felt moving his feet defensively:
“It was definitely a trust factor when I first went out there to see what all I can do. And right away, it was like, ‘Alright, I’m ready for this, I can react, I can move, I can play physical, I can beat a guy to a spot, I can rebound.’ So that was, I think, a huge [item on the] checklist for me personally, that I was able to slide my feet, stay in front of guys, and just fly around, be reactive.”
• George on how he believes he can help this Sixers team the most:
“Just try to take pressure off Tyrese [Maxey]. As I get comfortable settling in, being someone that can create shots… Whether I make a play for someone, or I can break someone down to get a shot off, just trying to take pressure off him. He’s doing a lot. But we’ve got a lot of guys… That’s really why our team is special and so versatile, so just trying to fit into what the guys are doing now.”
• George on his takeaways from playing with VJ Edgecombe for the first time:
“Good. Great. He can hoop. He always seems to make a timely, timely basket in the fourth quarter. It’s been like that every game… He’s got a tremendous confidence and clutch factor to him. He reminds me of me in letting the game come to you and picking and choosing when to attack and be aggressive. And you don’t see that a lot for guys, to be comfortable that soon and know when to assert themselves that early into their careers. A lot of guys are chaotic and all over the place, but he just has a veteran kind of poise and clock when to be assertive. It’s special.”
• George on what the last month has been like as he was unable to play:
“It was challenging. It was challenging. I want to be out there with the guys, I watched days go by, games go by, where I couldn’t compete. It’s tough to want to compete and play and be a part of something that we’re trying to do, it’s hard to just watch. It was challenging, because there were ups and downs. There were days where I couldn’t participate, but there were huge breakthroughs where my body started to get stronger. And once that happened, it was enough to kind of piggyback off that. And here I am.”
• George on what the most significant breakthrough was for him in his recovery:
“I think the quad was just weak from being shut down for so long. That was the challenge, trying to get the quad strong, equal to the right, and the breakthrough came a couple days ago, where the numbers were equal. That was kind of the stamp, to go along with how I felt on the court, to be clinically cleared to go out and play.”
MORE: Edgecombe changes speeds, Andre Drummond changes minds and more
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdamFollow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice
[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
Sixers list Paul George questionable to make season debut vs. former team on Monday; Joel Embiid out vs. Clippers
[ad_1]
Nine-time All-Star Paul George appears to be primed to make his season debut for the Sixers on Monday night against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers listed George as questionable to play on their injury report unveiled on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid remains out due to a right knee issue:
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow’s game vs. LAC:
Joel Embiid — right knee — OUT
Paul George — left knee — QUESTIONABLE
Kelly Oubre Jr. — left knee — OUT
Adem Bona — right ankle — OUT
Jared McCain is AVAILABLE after his two-game G League assignment.
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) November 16, 2025
George had multiple left knee injuries during his debut season with the Sixers, only logging 41 appearances while also being derailed by ailments related to his finger and groin. The nine-time All-Star injured his left knee again during the offseason, requiring an arthroscopic procedure in July. George has not yet played in 2025-26 despite fully participating in Sixers practices for a month now, causing significant frustration among fans. The latest substantive update on George’s status came on Tuesday, when the Sixers said his final step before returning was strengthening his left quadricep.
Embiid, who has played in half of the Sixers’ dozen games to begin the season, has not appeared in a game since Nov. 8, his best and longest performance of the campaign to date. The next day came his fourth absence of the season; all four of those missed games came as planned rest days as the team managed his troubled left knee. But he has missed the Sixers’ last two games because of soreness he reported in his right knee, though imaging confirmed there is no structural damage. His designation has changed from “right knee soreness” to “right knee injury management.”
Elsewhere, the Sixers said on Sunday afternoon that Kelly Oubre Jr. and Adem Bona would both be out for Monday’s game. Oubre suffered a left knee hyperextension during the team’s loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday, missing the second half of the game. The Sixers said on Sunday that Oubre’s injury involved his LCL and his return timeline was unclear. His official designation on the injury report: “left knee sprain.”
Bona, meanwhile, suffered a right ankle sprain in Detroit and will miss at least three games, beginning with Monday’s contest. The earliest Bona could return is on Thursday night in Milwaukee, the second leg of the team’s next back-to-back.
Jared McCain, who missed the Sixers’ last game because he was on assignment in the G League, has been recalled to the team, practiced with the group on Sunday and, according to Nurse, is going to be part of the rotation on Monday. He is officially available.
MORE: McCain makes progress with Delaware Blue Coats: ‘I’m getting there’
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
The Sixers Of Old. Winning Alongside the Sixers Of New – Philadelphia Sports Nation
[ad_1]
More PHL•News•Sixers•Unique Columns
On Tuesday night — with Paul George not yet in the lineup and Joel Embiid existing in the first half with a knee injury — the younger generation of 76ers helped to power Philadelphia (7–4) to a 102–100 win at the buzzer and second place in the Atlantic Division.
The Sixers were led by thunderous performances by Tyrese Maxey with 21 points, Justin Edwards with 22, Quentin Grimes with 18, Anthony Drummond with fourteen points accompanied by 13 rebounds. The Sixers trailed 90–82 with 6:46 left in the final period — when Edwards helped to cut the led with a pair of three-pointers. With just over 2:00 minutes left — VG Edgecombe nailed a three pointer to put the Sixers up 100–96. Kelly Oubre then scored the winning bucket with just under nine seconds left to secure the win.
The Sixers also had the good news after the win with some additional good news as it appears that Joel Embiid has avoided a major knee injury as the team prepares for the return of Paul George.
Next up — Detroit on Friday night. Not the Lions, mind you — the Pistons.
Categorized: More PHL News Sixers Unique Columns
[ad_2]
Michael Thomas Leibrandt
Source link -
Paul George (knee) remains out for Sixers-Hornets, Joel Embiid not listed on injury report
[ad_1]
Paul George (knee) will remain out when the Sixers play their home opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night, according to the team’s initial injury report unveiled on Friday. But after playing 20 lackluster minutes in the team’s comeback win over the Boston Celtics to kick off the 2025-26 campaign on Wednesday night, Joel Embiid is not listed on the report, indicating he is set to play again, likely on a 20-minute restriction. Otherwise, Jared McCain (thumb) and Trendon Watford (hamstring) remain out for the Sixers.
Player Injury Status Paul George Left knee surgery recovery OUT Jared McCain Right thumb surgery recovery OUT Trendon Watford Left hamstring tightness OUT Justin Edwards Right rib soreness PROBABLE George has been practicing for a while now, and he appears on the verge of making a season debut. Last week, ESPN reported that George was expected to return to action “shortly into the regular season.”
McCain’s season debut will not come in October, while Watford appears to be getting closer. His hamstring has been an issue for at least a month or so, but Watford was donning a practice jersey when doors opened to the media after Friday’s practice, an indication he is participating in some live action. Additionally, Watford was doing some heavy running after practice.
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
Sixers VJ Edgecombe Is No Stranger To Making History. – Philadelphia Sports Nation
[ad_1]
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X. Over the past several years — the Sixers have been looking for the perfect compliment to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And while a full season of Paul George may help to position Philadelphia for success — time will only tell.
For the present — another key piece for Sixers has just emerged.
Wednesday’s opening night against the Boston Celtics was a gem of a game for the Sixers top April Draft Selection. VJ Edgecombe stunned a crowd at TD Garden in Boston — dropping thirty-four points in forty-two minutes. His point total ranks third most points among any rookie in their first NBA Game behind Wilt (Chamberlain) in 1959 and Frank Selvy in 1954.
The 76ers made history by drafting just the tenth Player to play in the NBA from the Bahamas in Baylor star player and Guard VJ Edgecombe. Edgecombe joins Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George in an attempt to bring the Sixers back to playoff relevance.
If the Sixers had been concerned about selecting a player who didn’t want to play in Philadelphia, all of those concerns would soon melt away with Edgecombe. Just moments after joining NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on stage — a humbled VJ Edgecombe and his family — overcome with emotion — delivered a humbled message of excitement about coming to Philadelphia.
If an outpouring of scoring in a debut by a Sixers rookie sounds familiar — it should. Allen Iverson dropped thirty points against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1996 opener. Edgecombe was a 2024 Allen Iverson National High School Player of the Year.
The Sixers won the game 117–116.
Categorized: Sixers
[ad_2]
Michael Thomas Leibrandt
Source link -
Joel Embiid full participant in ‘heavy’ Sixers practice with opening night three days away
[ad_1]
CAMDEN, N.J. – Joel Embiid was a full participant in the Sixers’ practice on Sunday morning, the team said, and head coach Nick Nurse later characterized it as “a pretty heavy day.”
Embiid played in his first preseason game since 2023 on Friday night, logging about 20 minutes across four stints in three quarters. He was largely very good, scoring 14 points to go with eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. However, it always felt that how Embiid’s troubled left knee responded to his first game action in nearly eight months was far more important than how he looked in that game itself.
The Sixers will begin the 2025-26 regular season in Boston on Wednesday night, with two days off in between that game against the Celtics and the team’s home opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Embiid appears on the verge of suiting up for opening night. While Paul George was also a full participant in Sunday’s practice, the nine-time All-Star being on the floor in Boston continues to sound unlikely.
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
76ers Predicted to Move Paul George in Trade for $175 Million All-Star
[ad_1]
There were high hopes for the Philadelphia 76ers’ ‘Big Three’ of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, but injuries destroyed their chances of making serious noise in the 2024-2025 season.
While Maxey was relatively healthy, appearing in 52 games, Embiid played in just 19 and George in 41. It seems a bit foolish to give up on this trio already, but George underwhelmed even when on the floor. He averaged 16.2 points and 5.3 rebounds on 43% shooting and 35.8% from three-point range.
Maxey’s youth makes him arguably the least likely of the Sixers’ stars to see a change of scenery, and Embiid’s situation is so complex that it would be tough to find a respectable return and realistic destination for him.
Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on March 04, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
This leaves George, who Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley predicts Philadelphia could give up on in a trade for nine-time All-Star and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The proposed details see Paul George, Jared McCain, a 2028 first-round pick (via LAC), a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick go to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo.
Buckley wrote, “If Embiid is flashing MVP form, maybe that’s reason for Daryl Morey and Co. to throw caution to the wind and try capitalizing on whatever remains of the big fella’s prime.”
MORE NEWS: NBA Fans Trash Viral Video of Thunder Star Chet Holmgren
“Losing McCain, the biggest breakout of the 2024 draft class despite having his rookie year cut short, would sting a lot and maybe qualify as full-on reckless if he was attached to these picks, but a clean bill of health may be all that an Embiid-Antetokounmpo-Tyrese Maxey trio would need to take over the NBA,” Buckley concluded.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way, which is this trade is incredibly unlikely to take place. The Bucks can certainly find a better return package for Antetokounmpo than this, and the 76ers are likely not looking to move George and McCain so soon.
This move would become even riskier a year from now, as Antetokounmpo would be entering the final guaranteed season of his three-year, $175 million extension.
It’s a fun scenario to explore with some upside for both parties, but the cons and risks simply outweigh the pros.
For more on the Philadelphia 76ers and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
[ad_2]
-
Sixers weekly preview: Three-game West Coast trip on tap
[ad_1]
For the first time in 2024-25, the Sixers are shifting time zones: they will spend the upcoming week on the West Coast, where they play three games that figure to be competitive.
Per the usual, on the morning of each game we will have team-specific previews of each Sixers game. But here is some handy information about the week ahead for the Sixers:
At Suns (Monday night)
It remains to be seen if Paul George will make his Sixers regular season debut in Phoenix. If he does, there will likely be no easing in for the nine-time All-Star. Not only are the Suns a formidable opponent, but they have three high-powered perimeter scoring threats — Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal — which means the Sixers will need to start three players they can trust to handle difficult defensive assignments.
Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre Jr. are safe bets to take on two of those matchups, which means one more Sixer must prepare for a long night on the defensive end of the floor. In an ideal world, George would be able to guard a low-usage player in his first game back as he tries to find a groove without any stressful matchups. A debut against the Suns might stand in the way of that.
The city of Phoenix has not been kind to the Sixers in quite some time: the last time they won a game there came on Jan. 2, 2019. The Sixers’ starting five that night was made up of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz (!), Jonah Bolden (!!) and the current head coach of their third and final opponent this week.
At Clippers (Wednesday night)
This will be the first meeting between these two teams to take place at the Clippers’ brand new home, the Intuit Dome, but there will be plenty of familiar faces — on both sides. The list of players who could be suiting up against their former teams:
• Paul George, who spent five years with the Clippers before departing for Philadelphia last summer.
• KJ Martin, who logged a whole two games as a Clipper in between being traded to Los Angeles and then getting rerouted to the Sixers.
• Eric Gordon, who spent the first three years of his NBA career — 2008 through 2011 — with the Clippers, and then spent the final months of the 2022-23 season with them as well.
• Reggie Jackson, who spent parts of four seasons with the Clippers — reviving his career from 2019 through 2023 — before spending a year and change with the Denver Nuggets and eventually heading to the Sixers to team with which he reunited with an old friend in George.
• James Harden, whose messy departure from Philadelphia was well-documented and has now taken total control of the Clippers’ offense with George gone and Kawhi Leonard sidelined indefinitely.
• Nic Batum, who also revived his career with the Clippers, spending three full seasons with the team before being traded to the Sixers after three appearances in his fourth season in Los Angeles. Batum finished last season with the Sixers, became a free agent and took a below-market deal to return to the Clippers.
• Mo Bamba, who made 57 appearances and 17 starts for the Sixers as a third-string center last season. Bamba signed with the Clippers over the summer with a pathway to being their backup center, but has not yet played for the team due to an injury. That has created an opportunity for someone else…
• Anyone who remembers the Sixers tenure of Kai Jones deserves a prize — and maybe a therapy session, too. Jones, who inked a 10-day contract with the Sixers last season, never appeared in a game for the team. He received a training camp deal with the Clippers and showed enough in preseason to earn a two-way contract. He has been the team’s primary backup center with Bamba sidelined.
I cannot remember the Sixers facing so many former Sixers at once — let alone also having the same amount of players who used to play for the opposition.
MORE: Draft picks Sixers acquired from Clips in Harden trade proving valuable
At Lakers (Friday night)
Fair or not, Sixers rookie Jared McCain will be compared by many of his skeptics to Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht, who has opened the young season as Redick’s ninth man. The Sixers drafted McCain at No. 16 overall in last June’s NBA Draft despite Knecht’s stunning fall; one pick later the Lakers nabbed him. Knecht was viewed as one of the most NBA-ready prospects in his draft class and boasts similar shooting excellence as McCain. He will be 24 years old by the time the regular season ends, though, and many front offices stray away from such old prospects these days.
In other news, former Sixers shooting guard JJ Redick is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world! Redick appears to be off to a strong start, as a Lakers team notorious for early-season struggles finally bucked that trend and picked up some early wins. Anthony Davis looks absolutely outstanding right now, and Redick has said the team is being very intentional about giving him every opportunity to assert himself as a dominant force on both ends of the floor.
MORE: Sixers Ties: Pacific Division
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice
[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link -
Instant observations: Sixers suffer brutal loss to Raptors, fall to 0-2
[ad_1]
Looking to rebound after an opening night loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, the Sixers traveled to Toronto for a Friday night battle against the rebuilding Raptors in hopes of nabbing their first win of the season. In Nick Nurse’s return to Toronto — where he won an NBA title as a rookie head coach — he made two significant early changes. One of those changes involved Kyle Lowry, considered by most to be the greatest Raptor of all time.
In their second game of the season, the Sixers looked the part of a group of players figuring out how to coexist with one another — much more than they did against Milwaukee. An incredibly disjointed first half had them off to a shaky start, and in the second half a few brief spurts were overtaken by Raptors runs. Suddenly, the Sixers are 0-2.
Here is what stood out from a putrid 115-107 Sixers loss.
MORE: Lowry and Nurse’s Toronto legacies
Nurse makes a pair of starting lineup changes
Initially, Lowry was supposed to be the Sixers’ third guard when he joined the team late in 2023-24, but was quickly forced into an outsized role at the team’s starting shooting guard. Nurse confirmed at the team’s Media Day last month that Lowry would likely not have as significant of a role in his first full season with the team.
Lowry came off the bench in all of his preseason appearances and did so on Wednesday night. Fellow veteran Eric Gordon earned ownership of the starting shooting guard spot that Lowry had vacated, while KJ Martin filled in for the injured Paul George and Caleb Martin was expected to log plenty of minutes off the bench.
Lowry played well on Wednesday night, while Caleb Martin was likely the Sixers’ best player on the floor in his debut with the team. And Nurse wasted no time inserting the former teammates into his starting lineup around Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond, with Gordon and KJ Martin moving to the bench.
Nurse’s Martin-for-Martin swap was not a huge surprise. Caleb Martin played more than 37 minutes off the bench — more than any Sixer other than Maxey — and if he is going to continue to shoulder that sort of workload, it becomes a bit trickier to find all of those minutes for him when he does not play for the first handful of minutes of the game.
The decision to replace Gordon with Lowry, though, came as a larger surprise. Gordon had a poor outing in his Sixers debut, failing to connect from beyond the arc and only making one of his four shot attempts from inside the arc. Nurse seemed to have plenty of conviction during the preseason that Gordon being part of the starting unit provided valuable floor spacing — enough that even Gordon being usurped by Lowry, a famous Nurse favorite, was surprising this early in the season.
Paul George injury update
Speaking of George, the nine-time All-Star’s Sixers debut will not happen this weekend. George is out for the Sixers’ Sunday afternoon contest against the Pacers in Indiana and will be re-evaluated soon after, the Sixers said on Thursday evening.
“George continues progressing well in his recovery from a left knee bone bruise,” the Sixers said. “He will not play during the team’s two-game road trip and an update on his availability is expected early next week.”
Center rotation unravels early, but Maxey gets off to hot start thanks to help from one new teammate
Drummond, who committed five fouls in 25 minutes on Wednesday night, had to check out after just over three minutes of action in this one. Maintaining defensive discipline is always important for a center, but Drummond needs to be particularly cognizant when Joel Embiid is sidelined that he must remain available to play heavy minutes.
Replacing Drummond was the Sixers’ temporary backup center, Guerschon Yabusele, who set a couple of mean screens to free up Maxey for a pair of triples from the right wing. Maxey also converted an and-one and had a few gorgeous assists in the first quarter, a major improvement from a poor opening frame against Milwaukee.
Yabusele quickly got into foul trouble as well, though — and by the 4:22 mark of the first quarter, Nurse was using his third center of the game. KJ Martin slid up to the five, a spot where he was occasionally used down the stretch last season. The fifth-year athletic chess piece blocked a shot early on in his stint at center, and a moment later had a strong one-on-one stand on the block against center Bruno Fernando which led to a basket on the other end for him.
Then, another genuine surprise: the insertion of rookie Adem Bona, who had not been expected to see regular minutes at any point in the near future. Bona, the Sixers’ fourth center of the opening frame, has plenty of work to do limiting his own fouling — and on his first defensive possession of the night, he fouled Raptors All-Star point forward Scottie Barnes on a drive to the basket.
With the chance to make a pair of offensive-oriented substitutions near the end of the quarter, Nurse pulled Bona and KJ Martin for Maxey and Ricky Council IV. Four seconds later, Maxey had drawn a foul, and KJ Martin returned for a defensive stand. The whole thing made for a wild ride:
Sixers centers in the first quarter tonight in Toronto:
• Andre Drummond (3:09)
• Guerschon Yabusele (4:29)
• KJ Martin (2:59)
• Adem Bona (0:51)
• Kelly Oubre Jr. (0:04.6)
• KJ Martin again (0:28)
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) October 25, 2024
Somehow, the Sixers ended up leading Toronto, 31-30, after the conclusion of the first quarter. Maxey’s 13 points and four assists were both game-highs.
Fouling issues continue to plague Sixers, but rim pressure helps ease the blow
In addition to Drummond’s five fouls against the Bucks, Yabusele fouled out, Oubre collected five fouls, and both Martins had four fouls (and KJ only saw 15 minutes of action).
The Sixers’ inability to stay out of foul trouble only escalated in the first half of this one. In addition to Drummond and Yabusele, Caleb Martin also picked up a pair of fouls in the first quarter. Caleb Martin, Yabusele and Lowry each had three around the midway point of the second quarter.
Early returns on the Sixers’ bets on athleticism and positional versatility outweighing frame and muscle have been noticeably poor, as a team suddenly without a Goliath in Embiid is being physically overwhelmed. It is far too soon to make any declarative statements about the viability of the Sixers’ mostly-undersized roster, particularly given the noteworthy talents that have been unavailable through their first pair of games, but this is certainly something to keep an eye on.
On the bright side, the Sixers were able to bait Toronto into committing the same amount of fouls before intermission — 15 — and shot nearly as many free throws as the Raptors. Maxey led the way, knocking down all seven of his free throws. Drummond drew three fouls, but only made two out of six attempts at the line.
The Toronto Raptors averaged 21.6 free throw attempts per game in 2023-24. The Orlando Magic led the league, averaging 24.4 free throw attempts per game.
The Raptors shot 23 free throws in the first half tonight. The Sixers shot 22.
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) October 26, 2024
All of the whistles led to one of the longer halves of October basketball you will see. Toronto was much more efficient from the field, paving the way for a 62-56 Raptors lead at intermission.
Oubre opens third quarter strong, Sixers run follows
The Sixers were desperate for some juice on both ends of the floor in the second half, Oubre who gave it to them right off the bat. The fan favorite swingman took a charge, knocked down a step-back mid-range jumper, forced a backcourt violation, threw a perfect alley-oop pass to Drummond and connected on a floater, all in the span of about two and a half minutes.
For the time being, though, Oubre’s excellent sequence of two-way action did not power a Sixers surge, it merely kept them afloat. In fact, Toronto’s lead actually increased from its standing at halftime during Oubre’s strong 6:37 of action to begin the third quarter.
Coincidentally, the Sixers were able to make inroads on Toronto’s lead after Oubre went to the bench. Gordon knocked down his first triple as a Sixer, Yabusele converted an and-one, and suddenly the Sixers were within a few baskets. Their defense is what led their charge back into the game, as they held the Raptors to just 21 points in the frame.
Toronto’s lead was trimmed to two points with a few moments left in the third quarter, but the Sixers made too many mistakes offensively. The Raptors were able to extent their lead to six points heading into the fourth quarter. Among the lowlights were consecutive tough breaks for Council, who did not know where to be to begin a possession that devolved into a Gordon-Yabusele pick-and-roll, leading to a turnover. The second-year wing missed a wide open three-point attempt the next time down the floor.
Raptors open final frame on major run
The Sixers needed to make a strong push to begin the fourth quarter in Toronto. They did the opposite, watching as the Raptors jumped out to a 15-2 run in just under five minutes of play. It was a complete catastrophe for the Sixers, who appear to be doing nothing particularly well on either end of the floor through a pair of games.
The most troubling aspect of the Sixers’ losses — particularly Friday night’s no-show…
Maxey can’t get things going offensively
Maxey is an All-Star point guard with an extensive track record of being a terrific offensive player, but the Sixers are going to need him to score efficiently when Embiid and George are sidelined. The team’s aggressiveness in managing Embiid’s workload has already become a source of tremendous controversy; George will experience lighter monitoring but still not necessarily be available on a nightly basis during the regular season. All of that heightens the importance of Maxey’s efficiency as the focal point.
During his NBA career, Maxey has displayed remarkable stamina, which has enabled him to log massive minutes totals. But that is even more taxing when you are the team’s only consistent perimeter scorer and not exactly in midseason form with the season just having started.
Maxey’s 10-for-31 shooting performance against Milwaukee was a tough watch, but he was the victim of many bad bounces on shots that usually fall. In this one, he posted one of the worst shooting performances of his career — and most of his misses were not even close. Maxey also looked exhausted for much of the second half, missing plenty of shots well short — including an airball — and getting beat on multiple back cuts where he just fell asleep.
The final shooting line in this one for Maxey: 6-for-23. Simply put, the Sixers will need him to be a whole lot better moving forward.
Up next: The Sixers finish up a quick, two-game road trip on Sunday afternoon when they face the Pacers. They will then return home for a pair of contests before heading out on a West Coast trip.
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice
[ad_2]
Adam Aaronson
Source link
