Sixers 2025-26 Will our luck ever change?

[zambonir]

The Unending Sixers Thread

I’m not the biggest Sixers fan but I do follow all Philly sports and this seems notable. Also, I’m not exactly sure how anyone “accidentally” takes the wrong mental health medication. Does the NBA ban marijuana even if it’s prescribed?

I assumed it was probably something Aderrall-like (amphetamine basically) but all of the major benzos (Xanax, Valium, Avitan) are on the banned list as drugs of abuse too. Dunno if having a presciption matters or not (though it would seem rather ridiculous if you couldn't take anti-anxiety drugs with a scrip. Perhaps he just failed to get one, in which case he was also breaking the law).

Pot is actually not banned or tested for, though synthetics are.

[Docs]

Clippers flipped James harden for a 26 year old two time all star gaurd, i thought when the sixers got rid of him he would have no value and he still has trade value as of today. I know nothing.

[zambonir]

Guy can still play as it turns out. But also probably viewed as an expiring contract, which adds some value. And the salaries had to match.

[jimbomill]

i thought when the sixers got rid of him he would have no value

As did many of us. Harden is capricious. If he's truly motivated, he's still a player. As he has aged, he loses that motivation, and performance, getting upset often, for no good reason, much like my wife

[phillychuck]

From a distance it looks like Harden has some bipolar issues. One of my cousins behaved like he does and got a lot better with treatment. Never had a step-back jumper, though...

[bigegypt0417]

Sixers trade Jared McCain to OKC for Houston's 1st round pick and multiple seconds...maybe a ding as well.

Sixers To Trade Jared McCain To Thunder For Draft Compensation

[Docs]

What do you think of the trade? Hard to believe a year ago he was considered one of the biggest steals in his draft.

Is this to get under the threshold?

[bigegypt0417]

I'm not really sure how to feel just yet...he was certainly the odd man out on a team with two young guards in Maxey and Edgecombe.

Sixers now have a first next year since they will lose their pick to OKC.

[phillychuck]

One of my favorite players; it’s clear Nurse didn’t like him (at least this year’s version). I would think we would have had the patience to stick with him through his recovery. He won’t be himself until next season. I think I may be a Thunder fan now.

[Docs]

I would be surprised if they are able to get a player as talented as McCain with a late first or any of the three seconds. If these assets aren’t used in another trade then i don’t think it’s good value.

[zambonir]

It was always a possibility once they drafted Edgecombe. Also means they will probably try to keep Grimes, on whom they have Bird rights, but who was almost certainly gone otherwise. I don't think it's a bad return considering the Sixers had no first at all. But yeah, there probably will be another trade, if not now then in June.

Package all the picks with George for expiring contracts

[xogfog]

What if they package the picks they got today with George's contract and Edgecombe for Giannis? He's 31 and still a great player, he'd be a better fit with Embiid, Maxey, Grimes and Oubre than George. I think it would make the Sixers a title contender and would take some of the load off Embiid, which would certainly help in the playoffs. I like Edgecombe a lot, but his upside is a good complimentary piece, not an all-star, so while it would sting a little to trade him, you'er getting at top 5 player who happens to be a great scheme fit. This is not James Harden, this is a grounded guy who balls out as good as anyone. I'd have to pull the trigger. Heck, you could even take back his two brothers as a gesture. It all works salary wise,

[zambonir]

It does, unfortunately, sound like the Sixers are no longer sold on McCain as a fit for them and merely did want to get under the tax line. Doubt we're seeing anything big tomorrow and possibly not anything at all (besides converting a few contracts).

[kmc1019]

McCain had such a nice rookie season last year, but he is not very athletic and his knee injury and surgery have clearly slowed him down even further. Edgecombe and Maxi are clearly the future of the franchise, so I can't argue with trading McCain.

[kmc1019]

Ominous loss at home last night for the Sixers, continuing their slide from before the All Star break. Amazing how the outlook for this team has changed over the past month to a situation that could be dire.

Embiid injury, George suspension, and trade of McCain have seriously depleted the rotation, which is suddenly lacking offensive firepower, especially in the frontcourt.
They could suddenly go in the wrong direction in a hurry - and possibly already are - if Embiid misses too much time. And the Thunder own the Sixers first round draft pick next summer in what is considered a strong draft. (The Sixers did pick up a first round pick in the McCain trade, but will likely be in the 20s and not an immediate impact player).

Glad to have the annual hope that is Phillies Spring Training as the Sixers and Flyers both look to be in the wilderness again.

[bigegypt0417]

The Embiid injury may be a minor one.

The sixers just couldn't hit shots last night against a pretty meh Hawks team.

You aren't going to win many games in this NBA without hitting your 3's.

[phillychuck]

Sixers are a much below average shooting team without George and Embiid. Maxey is taking crappy shots these days--off-balance and under pressure. It’s thrown his shooting off even when the shots are good. That’s a coaching issue, not a Maxey issue. They need a Seth Curry type to bring in off the bench to take the shooting pressure off of Tyrese.

[xogfog]

You know, we might be witnessing Nick Nurse's finest coaching job right now, they've won back to back games with no Maxey, Embiid, George or Oubre.

[phillychuck]

Maybe, but they won both those games against teams trying to lose. Doc was one of the best short-handed coaches in the league, but, like Nurse, he wasn’t that good when all the troops were available.

Nurse’s defense, that gives up open 3’s at a historic rate, just isn’t suited for the modern NBA where everybody can shoot (except the guys on the Sixers, of course).

[xogfog]

Embiid with his first game back put up 35pts in 28 minutes, George also with his first game back put up 28pts in a Sixers 157-137 blowout of the Bulls. Maxey and Oubre were still out.