Despite struggling with injuries throughout the 2024-25 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers will come into the 25-26 campaign with hopes of contending for a title. The Sixers still have an elite roster when everyone is healthy.
During a recent media availability, Tyrese Maxey discussed the Sixers’ chances of contending in the upcoming season. The All-Star guard noted how the franchise must focus on what’s happening internally, rather than looking around the league at their compeition.
“I mean, the biggest way I look at is we got to focus on the Sixers right now,” Maxey said, via Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire. “I mean, that’s what we got to focus on, honestly, man. From day one. Starting summer league, draft, all that. We got to focus on just the 76ers. Once we figured out that portion, then we can worry about everybody else.”
Maxey continued.
“Figure out rotations, figure out guys, making sure we all healthy, make sure we’re all out there to play,” Maxey added. “That’s the biggest thing, I think, for us right now, and then, once we do that, then we can worry about the East and the rest of the league.”
The Sixers have enough talent to be among the genuine contenders in the Eastern Conference next season. However, both Joel Embiid and Paul George must remain healthy if the franchise is going to have a legitimate shot at success.
Embiid Still Not Back on the Court
According to a report from The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Embiid is yet to begin on-court basketball activities.
“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.”
Embiid underwent surgery on his knee in April. The hope is that by having the surgery so early, he will be ready for when the new season begins. Therefore, the fact that he’s not already back on the court should be worrisome for the franchise and its fan base.
Sixers Still Need to Secure Quentin Grimes
Quentin Grimes was one of the Sixers’ best players last season. He arrived midway through the year as part of the trade that sent Caleb Martin to the Dallas Mavericks. However, Grimes’ production helped drive up his free agency price, which has complicated things to begin the offseason.
Grimes is currently a restricted free agent. In a July 8 report from The Athletic’s Tony Jones, it emerged that the franchise is “almost certain” of retaining Grimes moving forward.
“The proverbial elephant in the room is the restricted free agency of shooting guard Quentin Grimes, which at this point has yielded almost no movement,” Jones wrote. “To be clear, the Sixers as of Monday night, are almost certain they are going to retain him, and splashed cold water on potential sign-and-trade scenarios, league sources told The Athletic. The issue for Grimes is that the restricted free agency market is virtually non-existent. There is almost no cap space on the market, and that puts the Sixers in a position where they are bidding against themselves.”
Keeping Grimes will certainly help the Sixers achieve their goal this season. However, if everyone is healthy, he will need to accept that his role will undoubtedly shrink, especially as the Sixers now have to find minutes for VJ Edgecombe.
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