In recent years, Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a future star for the Philadelphia 76ers. The 24-year-old has been one of the Sixers’ most consistent performers over the past two or three years, earning himself an All-Star selection in 2024 as a result.
However, Maxey’s emergence hasn’t had the desired impact in Philadelphia. Unfortunately for the young guard, he’s still firmly behind Joel Embiid in the rotation. His role suffered another restriction last summer, when Paul George was added to the roster to try and get the team over the hump.
Yet, rather than contend for a championship, the Sixers nosedived toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Yet again, Embiid’s injury issues derailed the franchise’s hopes for success. And the idea of adding George, who himself is an injury risk, rapidly proved itself to be a risky dice roll.
According to ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, speaking via a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, who won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, the Sixers are playing a risky game with Maxey. Perkins believes that if Philadelphia continues to struggle, and continues to build around Embiid, the young guard could look to play his basketball elsewhere in the NBA.
“They’re on the clock when it comes down to Tyrese Maxey, and when I say on the clock,” Perkins said. “…Because if they keep trending in this direction of no culture and no stability, guess what? Tyrese Maxey is gonna want out of Philadelphia, and we know who his agent is, it’s Rich Paul. And Rich Paul doesn’t give a damn. I’m telling you this – this is something I know.”
Maxey would undoubtedly have a long line of potential suitors if he decided he wanted out of Philadelphia.
Sixers’ Joel Embiid’s Recovery Not Going as Planned
According to a report from The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Embiid is yet to begin on-court basketball activities, following arthroscopic knee surgery in April.
“It’s been almost a year and a half since the knee injury he suffered at Golden State derailed him for most of the 2024-25 season, and Morey says Embiid is ‘on track’ to be healthy for training camp, the start of the preseason and the start of the regular season,” Jones wrote. “League sources tell The Athletic that Embiid still hasn’t returned to on-court basketball activities. That said, Morey and the front office remain optimistic that Embiid will be on the floor for the season opener.”
The Sixers need Embiid to be close to 100% healthy if they’re going to contend for a championship. Another season of him on the sidelines would be a disaster. In truth, Embiid’s struggles are precisely what Perkins is trying to warn the franchise about.
Sixers’ Paul George Recently Had Surgery
In another big blow to the Sixers’ preseason preparations, George recently underwent an arthroscopic procedure of his own. He reportedly suffered an injury during a recent workout.
In a July 15 appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, NBA Insider Shams Charania shed some light on why George opted to undergo surgery, despite being weeks into the offseason.
“The doctors felt like this would be an injury that would linger,” Charania said. “For a player that was never healthy all last year, Paul George’s season ended rehabbing from injections on groin and knee injuries. He had a finger injury during the season as well, and now he starts rehab for this knee injury and he will be re-evaluated at the start of this upcoming training camp, but I am told both sides will be cautious with him, want to see Paul George return to that full form Paul George they have not seen in Philadelphia.”
If the Sixers are without Embiid and George to begin the season, a heavy workload will fall to Maxey. If he impresses, which he likely will, Daryl Morey may need to begin thinking about retooling the roster around the impressive guard. Because, if things carry on the way they currently are, Morey may lose all of his top talent and face a complete rebuild from the ground up.
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