LAS VEGAS — The Philadelphia 76ers are set to contend again in the 2025-26 season as they feature a star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. Of course, this was the formula in the 2024-25 season and the Sixers finished 24-58 as injuries decimated the roster.
With the Eastern Conference depleted in the upcoming season, the East is set to be wide-open. The Boston Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum. The Indiana Pacers will be without Tyrese Haliburton. The Milwaukee Bucks waived Damian Lillard. If there is a window for the Sixers to contend, this would be it.
“I do think it’s open in the East,” President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey stated. “I think that’s a fair characterization. I do think, obviously, we weren’t the only team that’s now unfortunately gone through a lot of tough injuries. That’s opened things up. I think we have to give respect to some of the teams last year like a Cleveland who, obviously, lost in the playoffs, but are set up every well. The Knicks look like they’re gonna have their group back and they were a very good team last year.”
To Morey’s point, there will still be some strong teams. The Cavs are talented and can win with some injury luck while the Knicks will be one of the top teams in the conference for sure. The Sixers will be right there as long as they get some health goin in their directon.
“We’re gonna have to prove that we’re sort of with those upper echelon teams in the East,” Morey added. “But we do feel like if all things come together, we can be right there, and we’ve also given ourselves a lot of flexibility to upgrade the team during the year if things are going as well as we hope.”
When one looks at 2024-25 for what it was, it’s tough to see Philadelphia turning things around so quickly. Embiid only played 19 games and is still recovering from another surgery on his left knee. George only played 41 games and he will be another year older coming off a season where he had a tough time shooting the ball in terms of his percentages. There are fair reasons to doubt whether the Sixers can get back to the playoffs.
However, when healthy and right, everybody knows how talented those guys are. The Sixers just need some good fortunes on the floor. Morey and his staff added some younger, more athletic pieces that can help push them in the right direction for the future.
“Well, I think we went in with a big goal of being younger, more athletic, among the group that we think will likely be on the floor,” Morey finished. “I feel we’ve done that. I think around Joel and Paul. I think pretty much every likely rotation player is 27,28 or younger. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to that, and optimistic on where things are at with Joel and, so, yeah, looking forward to next season.”
If things break right, the Sixers just might finally be able to break through and get to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Daryl Morey gives thoughts on depleted East, Sixers’ chances to win