What once appeared to be a team with plenty of promise quickly turned into total implosion.
The Sixers remain on pace for their worst season in a decade. Philly enters this week with a 23-48 record— far beyond the playoff picture. Now, questions loom for what comes after this disaster of a season and a broader, bigger-picture concern for the future.
Is the franchise doomed for the next decade?
The question seems panicky, pessimistic and nothing but doom and gloom. Yet, the Sixers’ outlook beyond 2024-25 should be worrisome for fans.
Sixers Stuck in (a costly) limbo
The number-one issue for Philly to date: gridlock.
The Sixers face an incredibly tough situation. Part of the problem is Philly maintaining its commitment to Joel Embiid and Paul George.
Embiid remains under contract for at least three more years, with a player option in 2028-29. His upcoming extension currently projects for around $192 million. That’s an average of roughly $64 million per year.
Philly’s franchise cornerstone continues to face issues with durability and staying on the court. Embiid played just 19 games this year. Around a month ago, the team announced he would miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
He’s played 58 games over the last two campaigns. Embiid will be entering his age-31 season starting next year.
Trading him remains an option on the table. With that, however, comes plenty of uncertainty.
First, given the injury concerns, just how much value can the Sixers get in a deal? What Philly could back would likely be capped, barring a miracle. Of course, there’s also the contract and the money Embiid is still due to make. Any team looking to bring him in would need the financial flexibility to do so. It’s a gamble with some upside but plenty of risk.
Yet, there’s also this to consider: where is Philly going by trading Embiid? In other words, do the Sixers keep taking the gamble and continue to play this out?
Then, there’s the recently signed Paul George deal. George signed for four years and around $192 million during the offseason. At the time, it was the splashiest signing of the summer.
Now, that contract boasts the chance to turn into an albatross. George will be in his age-35 next season. He could accept a player option worth $56 million for 2027-28, his age-37 season.
Minimal avenues for Sixers to Improve
Most of Philly’s challenges revolve around two bigger issues.
First, there are the stars who are simply not playing that well. Beyond that, there are also limited ways to get better.
Take next season. Embiid and George are owed over $106 million for 2025-26. Now, add in Tyrese Maxey, Philly’s 24-year-old guard signed through 2028-29. He’s making around $38 million next year.
That leaves Philly with just $18 million below the first apron to improve this summer, according to Spotrac.
Committing to those three stars isn’t the issue. Primarily, it’s that two of them are just more expensive and simultaneously more of a risk of missing games.
This is where the true outlook becomes even gloomier. Once again, Philly can trade someone like Maxey for value. However, how does that help the team improve, considering Maxey is young, durable, and on a reasonable deal? George’s value is now lower, considering he’s entering his mid-to-late thirties.
Has the apex already passed?
The biggest concern for Philly keeping the ship steady: has the window to legitimately contend already closed?
The Sixers never made it beyond the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the Embiid era. Philly peaked at 54 wins three seasons ago. In that run, there have been three different coaches, five different ECSF berths and no postseason success beyond that.
Any shot at the Sixers being successful beyond just making the playoffs relies on Embiid.
Waiting for that to happen again could be wishful thinking for Philly. Then again, the Sixers could just be in the same exact spot next year as they are now.
For an outlook as concerning as this, there may not be an out for Philly.
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