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15 hours ago
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There are a few things that Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid would like to see from the team at the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
He would like to see the team make moves in the name of improvement, as opposed to simply trying to duck the luxury tax. He would also like to see the core group of the team remain intact, while improvements are made around the edges of the roster.
“Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax the past couple of years. So hopefully we’ll keep the same team. I love all the guys that are in here. So I think we got a shot,” Embiid said following Philadelphia’s 113-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
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“… I don’t know what they’re going to do, but I hope that at least we get a chance to just go out and compete, because we got a good group of guys in this locker room, and the vibes are the great. Like I said, In the past we've been ducking the tax, so hopefully we think about improving, because we got a chance."
The messaging here is super clear. The big fella doesn’t want to see the Sixers shedding salary simply for the sake of shedding salary, and I couldn’t agree more.
The Eastern Conference feels as open as it’s been in years, and with Embiid returning to form and Tyrese Maxey playing at an MVP-caliber level, the Sixers should invest in the current roster, as opposed to trying to save Josh Harris some cash.
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Being sellers at the trade deadline made sense for the Sixers last year, as the team was injury-plagued and already outside of the playoff picture in the conference by the time the deadline rolled around. That isn’t the case this season. Ownership owes it to Embiid, the rest of the roster and the fans to try to maximize the moment.
Now, that doesn’t mean that the Sixers should swing wildly to try to make a move. In order to make a blockbuster move, the Sixers would have to include one of Embiid, Maxey or Paul George in a deal, and that is extremely unlikely. However, the team could look to upgrade around those guys, though they’ll be limited in the type of moves they can make.
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is known for being active at the trade deadline. He’s made a move each year since he’s been with the Sixers, and this year likely won’t be any different. It’s just a matter of what type of move(s) the Sixers make, and if they take Embiid’s feeling into account on the matter.
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