By: Finn Blaxland

The first 15 games of the NBA season have brought many intriguing storylines that nobody could have anticipated. The Detroit Pistons hold the best record in the Eastern Conference, numerous reports have floated the possibility of Ja Morant and Zion Williamson being traded, and active NBA players and coaches were arrested in an FBI sting operation. Yet somehow, no narrative or situation this season has bewildered me as much as Philadelphia’s.

As of November 22^nd, the 76ers hold a record of 9-6, only a few games above .500. On the surface, their record reflects that of a team who has missed their championship window. While an argument can certainly be made from that perspective, it is worthwhile to dig deeper into the organization’s current predicament. Philadelphia has two of the league’s most promising young stars (VJ Edgecombe & Tyrese Maxey), a championship winning coach (Nick Nurse), and two players who, at one point, were consistently mentioned in MVP talks (Joel Embiid & Paul George). So why are the 76ers stuck in limbo?

As Sixers fans are well aware, injuries have consistently held the team back from their championship aspirations. After being drafted in 2014, Joel Embiid missed his first two seasons with a foot injury, and he only played a combined 58 games in the two seasons prior to 2025-26 (for reference, he played 66 in 2022-23). Furthermore, in the 2024-25 season, Paul George was supposed to be the 76ers’ key acquisition that took them from a bottom seeded playoff team to a championship contender. However, he only played 41 games before suffering an injury, averaging a mere 16.2 points per game after having averaged 23.0 points per game with the Los Angeles Clippers. Due to these circumstances, Philadelphia ended last season with a 24-58 record, their worst since 2016-17 when they went 10-72 (the NBA’s second worst record ever). But what should have been a losing situation produced a bizarre act of luck: the 3^rd pick in the 2025 draft.

76ers fans were handed a gift from the basketball gods, as their suffering was soon to be mitigated by a prospect who could relieve their playoff troubles. Leading up to the draft, the NBA’s worst kept secret was the fact that talents Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper were set to be selected with the 1^st and 2^nd picks, respectively. This left most 76ers fans to talk about small forward Ace Bailey, the player who most draft analysts had going to Philadelphia.

Since the beginning of Joel Embiid’s tenure – the era known as “The Process” – the team had been searching for a wing who could help them compete as championship contenders. They thought they could fill that void in 2024 by signing Paul George in free agency, but as previously mentioned, that has not worked out so far. Coming out of college, Bailey was seen as one of the most exciting prospects in the 2025 draft. At about 6’8”, he was compared to players from Michael Porter Jr. to Kevin Durant due to his athleticism, elite shooting ability, and size. It was the perfect fit for the 76ers… until it wasn’t.

Leading up to his highly anticipated workout with the team, Bailey ended up cancelling his meeting last minute. This created a dilemma for Philadelphia. They could either draft a player who was clear in his intent of not wanting to play for them, or they could pick a slightly less regarded prospect that would cooperate with the organization. On draft night, the 76ers made a statement by selecting VJ Edgecombe with the 3^rd pick.

Generally speaking, the fanbase was on board with the decision, as Bailey’s off-season antics had rubbed most fans the wrong way. Plus, within minutes of the decision, Edgecombe became a favorite amongst not just 76ers followers, but fans all across the NBA. In his post-draft interview, VJ gave an emotional reflection on his journey to the league, stating that he lived off a generator for 7 years, and sometimes not even having access to electricity. His story embodied two essential characteristics of Philadelphia sports – hustle and underdog status.

Edgecombe’s 76ers debut reflected the passion displayed in his viral interview, scoring 34 points in their season opener against the Boston Celtics. With the young stars in their backcourt and the return of Joel Embiid, Philadelphia’s season began to an optimistic start with a 5-1 record. Then they played the Chicago Bulls.

The team was up by 20 points but ultimately blew the lead, with Embiid shooting 1-10 in the second half. Embiid scored 29 points in 26 minutes two games later, but he was then moved to the injury list the following day with knee soreness. Once again, injuries and inconsistencies are holding the 76ers back, as they have gone 4-5 since their bright start. It is evident that Philadelphia must make a change within their organization (specifically to their roster), but none of their options present a clear path forward.

The presence of veterans Joel Embiid and Paul George creates an inevitable Catch-22 situation. Their first option is to keep these two stars knowing that they are liabilities for the regular season and playoffs, making postseason success an unlikely result. On the other hand, if the 76ers choose to trade either of these players, they will receive a package that does not reflect the value of either Embiid or George, as age and injuries play crucial roles in their trade value.

That being said, I still think that it’s time for the 76ers to bite the bullet by trading both these players, particularly Joel Embiid. While Embiid’s trade value is not as high as it was even just two seasons ago, he is still one of the most formidable players in the league when he sees the court. Using the per 36 minutes metric, which estimates how a player would perform if they played the average minutes for a starter, Joel would be averaging 30.3 points per game, 8.5 rebounds a game, and 2.3 blocks a game. These are still All-Star numbers, demonstrating the potential for elite play when Embiid is healthy. If a deal revolving Philadelphia’s center is reached, the 76ers would most likely receive young players in addition to crucial draft picks, building on the promising young talent they already have. While this outcome presents a brighter future than a situation where the Sixers keep Embiid, it would still be a huge blow to the organization and fans, as they have followed him through his highs and lows for nearly a decade.

The last 18 months have been a rollercoaster for Philadelphia. Whether it be the ups and downs of Joel Embiid and Paul George’s play, 2025 NBA draft drama, or even the Kelly Oubre bike incident, the organization has experienced no shortage of peculiar moments. That being said, no matter what moves the organization makes, the 76ers’ current predicament will not get any less unpredictable. The team still has yet to see how compatible Embiid and George’s respective play styles are, as they have only been on the court together for a few games since the 2024-25 season. Furthermore, if the team decides to trade their stars for young talent, the organization will have to put even more faith and effort into developing new prospects for their future. The uncertainty of their fate creates many different pathways for their organization to go down, and it is just a matter of time before they pick one.

By Finn Blaxland ABL Sports Analyst