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22 hours ago
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Joel Embiid didn’t hold back when discussing what he knows about the Philadelphia 76ers’ plans for the trade deadline.
While the big man admittedly doesn’t know much in terms of the strategy, he is sure he doesn’t want the team to do something specific—dodge the tax.
“Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax the last couple of years,” Embiid told reporters after Thursday night’s victory over the Sacramento Kings. “Hopefully, we’ll keep the same team.”
Although the Sixers’ front office tends to target win-now moves to improve their title odds, many have speculated that their deadline moves typically help them get under the tax line, rather than give them a win-now player. Embiid seemingly confirmed what everybody thought they knew.
That might’ve been a strategy of the past, but the star center clearly wants to see the Sixers do it differently this time around.
“I love all the guys that are in here. I think we got a shot,” he continued. “I don’t know what they’re going to do. I hope we get a chance to just go out and compete because we got a good group of guys in this locker room, vibes are great. In the past we've been ducking the tax, so hopefully we think about improving, because we got a chance."
After Thursday’s win over the Kings, the Sixers are 26-21 on the year. They are two games behind the fifth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, and hold a one-game lead over the Miami Heat. If the season ended today, the Sixers are automatically in the playoffs. But a slip in the standings places them in Play-In territory.
The key to the Sixers’ success is keeping Tyrese Maxey rolling and Joel Embiid healthy. If they can check those two boxes, they can compete with the best of them. Perhaps Embiid’s public message is strong enough to convince Daryl Morey and the front office to do what they can to keep this group together if there isn’t a true needle-moving deal to make.
Time will soon tell which direction the Sixers take.
The deadline will kick in on February 5.
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