• Loading stock data...
Friday, June 6, 2025

Sinking Sixers Will Soon Face $300M Joel Embiid Dilemma

Embiid signed a three-year extension in September that runs through the 2028–2029 season.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

On Saturday night, Nets center Nic Claxton sank a miracle putback in the closing seconds of a tied game against the Sixers, lifting Brooklyn to a win.

A quick look at the court in dying moments shows that Claxton grabbed the game-winning offensive rebound over the Sixers’ 6-foot-8 forward Paul George—and not Philadelphia’s 7-foot-2 former MVP center Joel Embiid. And it wasn’t because Embiid—who has missed nearly two-thirds of the team’s games this year—was injured.

Embiid was benched in the fourth quarter by Sixers coach Nick Nurse, who after the game, explained that the 2022–2023 NBA MVP is clearly not 100%. “He’s not himself, we all know that. He’s not certainly the guy we’re used to seeing, playing at a super high level. But, I commend him for giving us what he can,” Nurse said.

Saturday’s loss was the Sixers’ seventh in a row and they fell to 12th in the East, behind Brooklyn. But the Sixers continue to trot out their star whenever possible in what appears to be an attempt to chase the 10th seed and a play-in berth

A postseason appearance would barely salvage a season in which Philadelphia was supposed to challenge for the Eastern Conference throne, and the Sixers now have to decide whether a core with Embiid as the centerpiece makes sense—or attempt to move their longtime cornerstone to build around young star Tyrese Maxey. 

Until The Wheels Fall Off

The Sixers are tied up to this core unless they decide to pull the trigger and trade Embiid and George. The two stars and Maxey combine to make about 90% of the league’s salary cap every year until the 2027–2028 season

But even if Philadelphia decides to cut its losses and move on, the franchise may not find any takers in the market for two aging, injury-prone stars.

Embiid, who has only played about half of all possible regular-season games since he was drafted in 2014, signed a three-year, $192 million extension that will keep him under contract through the 2028–2029 season. His entire deal runs for five years, including this season, and is worth $299.5 million. He will be 35 years old at the end of the contract.

George looked like a dream signing when the Sixers inked him to a four-year, $211.6 million contract last offseason, but he is having one of the worst seasons of his career. The final year of his contract is in 2027–2028, when he will be 37.

Philadelphia may be better off hoping the two find health in the offseason and trying to win against next year—or else they may have to sell them off for cents on the dollar. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 27, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and LA Clippers guard Paul George (13) walks down the court during a time out during the first half at Paycom Center.

Pacers, Thunder Both Built Finals Teams Off Trading Paul George

George is a key piece of trivia in this year’s NBA Finals.

Pacers-Thunder Is Lowest-Payroll NBA Finals in Years

Neither team is in the luxury tax, despite rosters with multiple All-Stars.
Jaren Jackson

All-NBA Vote Costs Jaren Jackson Jr. $200 Million

Jackson missed out on a five-year, $345 million contract extension. 

The Highest-Paid NFL Offensive Coordinators

Todd Monken of the Ravens and Mike Kafka of the Giants both earn an estimated $3 million annually. 

Featured Today

May 27, 2015; Paris, France; Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) knocks the clay off her shoe during her match against Simona Halep (ROU) on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros

Roland-Garros’s Iconic Red-Clay Surface Is a Precise Alchemy

The exact science behind maintaining the French Open’s red clay.
Alex Jensen introductory press conference on Monday, March 17, 2025.
June 3, 2025

Alex Jensen Started Utah Utes HC Job While Still Coaching the Mavs

How Jensen began building an NCAA program while patrolling the Dallas sideline.
May 31, 2025

PSG and the City of Paris Can Join European Soccer’s Elite

What a maiden Champions League title would mean for the French club.
May 30, 2025

How the Champions League Anthem Took on a Life of Its Own

The composer didn’t know he wrote a timeless hit three decades ago.

White Sox Deal Signals Ninth Inning for Reinsdorf’s MLB Legacy

One of MLB’s elder statesmen still has a lengthy to-do list.
June 5, 2025

Chiefs, Royals Have Massive Stadium Decision: Kansas or Missouri?

The Missouri Senate approves the stadium funding in an overnight session.
June 5, 2025

Michael Jordan’s 23XI May Lose NASCAR Charter After Legal Setback

23XI Racing has been suing NASCAR since last fall.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
Thibs
June 3, 2025

Knicks Fire Tom Thibodeau in Stunner After Deep Playoff Run

Thibodeau led the Knicks to four playoff appearances in five seasons.
A Chelsea FC banner is waved over the field at Stamford Bridge stadium.
June 3, 2025

U.K. Threatens to Take Former Chelsea Owner to Court for Billions from..

Abramovich sold Chelsea in 2022 for $3.4 billion.
June 3, 2025

Aces Players Get Second $100K Bonus As WNBA Probe Drags On

The sponsorship money is about $35,000 more than the minimum annual WNBA salary.
June 2, 2025

NiJaree Canady’s $1 Million Arm Slays Softball Favorite Oklahoma

NIL star Canady leads Tech to the Finals in her first season.