The Philadelphia 76ers will now finish the remainder of 2024-25 without either Joel Embiid or Paul George, their two most proven stars. In Embiid’s case, his injury is so severe that he’s considering radical surgeries that could have long-term effects. George’s melange of maladies are milder but have still prevented him from being his best self.
Sixers 2025 NBA Draft Pick Is Key To Future
Looking forward, what should’ve been a bright future for the Sixers now seems sort of gloomy.
Their best players are on the mend. Their best players are also on the wrong side of 30. This could lead to an inevitable decline, their bodies breaking down despite their desire to play.
If so, Philadelphia will be faced with two options: remodel or rebuild.
Remodeling
If they choose to remodel, George could find himself being shipped out for another All-Star-caliber player. Embiid’s trade value is probably pretty low right now given his current state. Yet, if he came out the gates strong next season, it’s possible that they could try to get teams to bite on a deal by the trade deadline. Last but not least, the Sixers could use their 2025 first-round pick as a bargaining chip.
Right now, Philadelphia has the sixth-best odds of winning the No. 1 pick. They have a 37.2 percent chance of their first-rounder landing in the top-four. Teams like the Utah Jazz may be willing to move a star —say Lauri Markkanen —in a package that includes said pick, depending on how the ping pong balls fall in the NBA Draft Lottery.
Rebuilding
If they choose to rebuild all of those options are still on the table.
However, they’ll place more value in their draft pick. Given their taste for the playoffs, the Sixers would certainly prefer an established talent. Nonetheless, between their high payroll and the uncertainty of their stars’ futures, it might be more prudent to acquire a young franchise cornerstone.
Should they come away with the No. 1 overall pick, it would likely lead to them drafting Duke forward Cooper Flagg, who fits cleanly with their current core.
With a top-four pick, they could draft Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, who has drawn comparisons to George.
A pick in the top-10 gives them a chance to draft Embiid’s successor; a skilled center like Maryland’s Derik Queen.
Each of these prospects is averaging at least 16 points per game in 2024-25. That’s not bad for a bunch of freshman. Considering that Embiid averaged 11.2 points per game at Kansas and George averaged 15.5 points per game at Fresno State, it’s not bad at all.
At The Crossroads
The Sixers will be at a crossroads this offseason. To be clear, there’s logic to going down either path. However, the most sensible direction is holding onto their projected lottery pick for dear life.
For starters, there’s no guarantee that trading the pick will land them a star that gets them out of their funk. With that in mind, Philadelphia has generally found more success via the draft than trade market. Last but not least, if Embiid can’t return to form, their chances of winning a championship in the near future are slim anyhow.
By keeping their first-rounder, the Sixers may give themselves a better chance in the short- and long-term.
Obviously, it’s possible that they miss on their pick as well. Yet, Flagg appears set to have a long and successful career. Bailey needs to refine his game but has immense potential (that George could help unlock). The Sixers are among teams that know how to maximize Queen’s offensive skillset (and Embiid would be a great tutor).
Adding one of them, all while keeping their current core together, certainly allows Philly to grow their talent base. It potentially gives George and Embiid understudies that can supplant them organically down the line. Conversely, a blockbuster trade —specifically one that requires them to surrender their 2025 first-round pick —could lead to them regressing or plateauing instead of improving.
Often, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. You don’t need AI to know that.
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