During the NBA offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers seemed to be a franchise in peril because superstar guard James Harden made things tough for the team to plan for the future.
Ultimately, Harden asked for a trade after opting into his contract and then fractured his relationship with Daryl Morey in the most public way possible, making it even more challenging for the team to trade him elsewhere.
Even though it looked like no deal was going to come to fruition, the 76ers ended up making a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, ending the awkwardness in Philadelphia.
Many believed that the 76ers might take a step back this season after trading Harden, with the main storyline being where superstar and reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid might end up.
Ironically enough, it has been the Clippers taking a step back while the 76ers have flourished, with Tyrese Maxey becoming a legitimate star in his league and Embiid playing well alongside him.
With the 76ers firing on all cylinders and putting the Harden fiasco behind them, no one is talking about a trade being on the horizon, as Maxey has helped change the narrative while potentially paving the way for a bright future for the team, as Brian Windhorst of ESPN makes clear on NBA on ESPN.
“It’s almost like Embiid signed an extension because Maxey’s been so good.” 👀 @WindhorstESPN on how Tyrese Maxey’s growth has affected the Sixers. pic.twitter.com/Jkugu3ArzK
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 30, 2023
Fortunately for the 76ers, Maxey is a better fit for the team than Harden, while Embiid continues to play at an MVP-caliber level.
The real question moving forward is whether this team can be successful in the playoffs and finally make its way to the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond.
#NBA #Insider #Details #Tyrese #Maxeys #Impact #76ers
