The Sixers‘ season ended in disappointing fashion on Sunday, as the team was thoroughly outplayed — and swept — by New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. If there’s a reason to believe in the 76ers’ future, it’s largely due to the impressive play of rookie VJ Edgecombe, writes Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.
“Playing against the Celtics to now against New York, it was tricky. I was guarded differently,” Edgecombe said on Sunday. “I’m gonna take some time, look back at it after a couple of weeks or so.
“I refuse for, coming into next year, a team won’t ever leave me open. Even during the regular season, I was shooting the ball pretty well, and the playoffs come, and it’s just a different vibe, you know? Intensity’s higher, closeouts are a lot quicker, but I’m going to go in, and I’m gonna work. I’m gonna work. I’m gonna work. I’m going to do whatever I got to do to get better, make life easier for [Tyrese Maxey] and the rest of my teammates, take some of the pressure off some of the load offensively off of them.”
In addition to offensive improvements, the 6’4″ guard hopes to continue honing his craft on the defensive end as well, per Neubeck.
“Defensively, I’m gonna keep getting better, keep learning. For the rest of my career, I want to go out and say I can go guard whoever I have to go guard,” Edgecombe said. “I’m just excited to see how this offseason is gonna look for me, and next year I’m coming back better, stronger, faster, more athletic, whatever I gotta do.”
Here’s more from Philadelphia:
- Maxey had an excellent season for the Sixers and will almost certainly earn his first All-NBA berth in 2025/26, but he struggled with double-teams and traps in the second-round matchup vs. the Knicks, according to Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Maxey is hoping he’ll be able to play off the ball more often in 2026/27 as Edgecombe works on initiating the offense. “When you’re in front of the defense all the time,” Maxey said. “ … it gives [the opponent] opportunities that have the entire team kind of load up. And I feel like that’s one thing that really good players and great players can do. They can be on the ball [and] make plays on the ball, but they can also play off the ball and contribute that way, use their gravity that way.”
- Although The Athletic reported on Monday that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse could be dismissed, Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice doesn’t expect that to happen after the 3-1 first-round comeback against Boston. Still, he acknowledges the possibility can’t be ruled out after the 76ers were swept in the second round. Aaronson also provides an overview of the team’s offseason, noting that Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond are the 76ers’ primary free agents.
- ESPN’s Bobby Marks previews the Sixers’ offseason, writing that they’ll likely be over the first tax apron if they re-sign Grimes and Oubre. Gauging the trade market for Joel Embiid and Paul George to build around Maxey and Edgecombe would be an ideal outcome for Philadelphia, but Marks views that scenario as unlikely given how much money those two aging stars are owed.
Embiid
Maxey
Edgecombe
Three timeliness going on with the team. Which one do you commit to ? Or build within all three?
Maxey and Edgecombe are close enough to be on the same timeline. Embiid I agree with.
I’d trade all three because the draft stock and the roster is in such a horrid situation that a full reset is the only cure.
If they trade only Embiid they will get nothing, still have no depth and just be mediocre for the next 8 years of Maxey/Edgecombe
The only way to beat double teams and traps is to have good teammates. Thats really not on Maxey.
76ers literally had Kelly Oubre Jr. playing major minutes – right there, you ain’t getting too far.
If the sixers just run it back next year…it will only get worst. Morey has done nothing to keep his job. The roster needs a overhaul, and honestly I think Nurse needs to go
Nah NN deserves another year. Morey should be fired though.
I wonder if there is any chance we can do a Embiid for KD type of deal?
KD seems to have ruined his rockets future with the burner situation and then just giving up and sitting out during the playoffs.
Embiid did quite the opposite coming back from surgery early and preforming like a beast to win 4-3 after being down 3-1.
Talent wise they are both pretty similar, Embiid is younger but with more injury history. KD is way more of a flake and can be a negative in the locker room but has playoff success unlike Embiid.
For the Sixers I’d personally love it.
Maxey VJ PG KD add a centre tah dah.
Rockets probably say no due to having Sengun but you never know maybe a three team deal….
Philly would really need to add something valuable to the deal. With player options, Embiid has roughly 3/$188 million and KD has about 2/$90 million. As good as Embiid is, his injuries make that contract an albatross.
That being said I’d still rather have embiid over KD at this point. If they trade Embiid or George it has to be for younger talent or they might as well not do it. Don’t gut this team just to change.
Dynamite: should keep embiid. Load management on him. Healthy embiid is very great center. Just need add defensive sf and pf. Dump pg13, let maxxey control the offensive flow. 8ppg sf and pf are enough as long as they are very good defensive players.
Absolutely not. KD is a way to ruin the 76ers. Just like he ruined every franchise he’s been to since he left GOlden State
Yeah but he’s cheaper and on a shorter contract. It’s a proven failure the whole Maxey PG Embiid thing.
Atleast with Maxey VJ PG KD that’s probably enough scoring power to overpower most teams.
To put it more bluntly: the Sixers are in contract hell and will get nowhere for at least 5 years.
Their best chance will be to send theier scouts to find the fountain of Youth for Embiid and George.