RSS 76ers Team Notes

[Philadelphia 76ers]

The only likely path to Giannis being a Sixer is him forcing his way here

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 3: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks talks to= Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers after the game on April 3, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the Milwaukee Bucks are actively listening to trade offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with the NBA trade deadline less than a week away.

An interesting nugget came from NBA Insider and LB alum Jake Fischer, who wrote this for The Stein Line:

League sources say Philadelphia, furthermore, has not contacted Milwaukee about a possible Antetokounmpo deal in the wake of a better-than-expected first half, but The Stein Line has learned that the prospect of teaming up with Tyrese Maxey — who, like Giannis, works with prominent NBA trainer Drew Hanlen — does have the 76ers on Antetokounmpo’s radar.

That’s a hell of a nugget.

The idea of Maxey and Giannis playing together is tantalizing, but it might not be realistic without the Greek Freak demanding to come to Philly. Let’s break it down a bit.

No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe will be the absolute first player the Bucks bring up — as well they should. It’s not that Edgecombe is untouchable, but you have to look at the whole picture here.

Antetokounmpo, who is still one of the best players on earth, is 31 and now dealing with his second calf injury of the season. If Edgecombe is the centerpiece of that trade, you’d also have to include Paul George for salary matching purposes.

So, you’re trading away two starters for a team that already lacks depth, while also hoping for the health and fit of Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid to be pristine. There’s an argument to be made it’s worth the gamble. The other argument is it’s a little reckless, especially for the Sixers.

PHLY’s Kyle Neubeck already threw a bit of cold water on the idea of the Sixers moving Edgecombe for Giannis — or anybody.

Spoke to a league source this morning who completely shot down the idea that the Sixers would trade VJ Edgecombe in any move, including in speculative deals people are talking about for Giannis.

Should go without saying, but he’s part of the foundation in Philly

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 30, 2026

Going into this season, you weren’t even counting on Embiid and George to be healthy. It was all about the growth of Maxey and the team’s young core. Given Embiid’s injury history, it always made more sense to see how the young guys could do while anything Embiid and George gave you was gravy. There’s been more than expected, but it’s still gravy.

And as we saw with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers last season, depth matters. Both those teams were able to reach the Finals throwing waves of athletic players at their opponents. With the struggles of Quentin Grimes and Jared McCain — who hopefully is turning a corner — no real wing options off the bench and an unproven backup center in Adem Bona, how can the Sixers contend with such unreliable depth?

Could a Giannis-for-Embiid (plus other assets) swap work? It’s hard to see how. If Milwaukee takes back Embiid, there’s so much risk involved. If Embiid can’t stay healthy enough to keep the Bucks relevant, that’s a lot of money for a lot of years to eat. For as good as Embiid has looked recently, it’s hard to imagine a team wanting to take on that extension, which doesn’t even kick in until next season.

The other path is something like George, McCain and all the picks they can muster. It’s a not terrible return, especially when you consider the LA Clippers’ unprotected 2028 first-rounder and 2029 pick swap, but would it be the best offer out there? The fact that this feels like a no-brainer for the Sixers makes it hard to believe it would be something Milwaukee accepts … unless Giannis forces them to.

For what it’s worth, Fischer added this:

“They’re asking for the moon,” one general manager told me on Thursday morning. “All of your young players and all of your draft picks.”

ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the initial report, listed the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors as “serious suitors.” Fischer and Marc Stein narrowed that down to Miami and Minnesota. The Timberwolves have a couple valuable players on their roster in Jaden McDaniels, Joan Beringer, Terrance Shannon, Jr. and Rob Dillingham.

There’s also the very real possibility that Milwaukee simply holds off and reconvenes with teams after the season, where the return could possibly be greater. But Pandora appear to already be out of the box.

So, the question becomes, how badly does Antetokounmpo want to be a Sixer? We’ll see.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...s-bucks-tyrese-maxey-paul-george-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers look primed to build win streak vs. Pelicans

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: Tyrese Maxey #0 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 27, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Coming off a strong win against the Bucks and 77 combined points from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to beat the Kings, Saturday’s game should be a good opportunity for the Sixers to keep some momentum going.

The Sixers will welcome the 13-37 Pelicans — sitting at 14th place in the West — to Philadelphia, and have a healthy squad on their side too.

Quentin Grimes, who’s been dealing with a right ankle sprain, is probable to return, and everyone else is available.

We’ll need to wait until closer to game time for the Pelicans’ injury report. New Orleans will have the rest disadvantage in this one, as they’re on the second night of a back-to-back after picking up a 114-106 win against the Grizzlies on Friday.

The headline matchup for the Sixers’ defense, of course, is Zion Williamson. After missing so much time throughout his career due to injuries, Zion has actually been in a run of good health and fine form lately. He’s played every game since Dec. 14, averaging 22.0 points with a 64.6 true shooting percentage while looking more like his high-flying self.

Apart from Paul George and Dominick Barlow needing to bring all the physicality and effort they can on the ball to try and cut off Zion’s drives, the Sixers will need sharp help rotations to keep Zion’s downhill scoring in check. Embiid and Adem Bona will need to be alert around the rim.

Trey Murphy III is having yet another strong season as well, tallying career-highs of 21.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and a true shooting percentage of 61.7. He’s become more balanced as a scorer, becoming highly efficient as a finisher with simple yet strong drives and his transition play. The Sixers’ guards will need to follow him closely around screens to keep his high-volume threes contested and be ready to handle Murphy’s drive game when closing out.

It could be fun watching how Jeremiah Fears matches up against the Sixers’ guards as well. The Pelicans’ rookie point guard has been showing his potential from day one, although he’s had a role change over the last four games since moving to the bench. It can give him more time to lead the offense when not next to Zion and Queen, though, which is something Fears continues to improve at, and his defensive talent is still on show. It’s safe to say he’ll have a challenge on his hands against Maxey and VJ Edgecombe…

All that said, even with a few exciting young talents in their offense, the Pelicans still sit at just 25th in offensive rating.

It’ll be interesting to see how New Orleans’ super talented, crafty playmaking center Derik Queen fares on Saturday too. The rookie is averaging 12.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and an impressive 4.3 assists in 25.8 minutes per game. He’ll likely bring some entertainment value this weekend — the way he drives, spins, and reads the floor as a playmaker at center is rare. However, he lacks much size at 6-foot-9 and vertical pop. And what with his lack of experience as well, he’s going to have a rough time not being physically overwhelmed by Embiid.

Which, in fairness, is the same for everyone facing the big fella right now. Jo’s moving fluidly again and truly back in dominant form.

There’s plenty to discuss right now as we wait for the NBA trade deadline to arrive, with Giannis-to-Philly talk continuing and Embiid calling out the team for repeatedly ducking the tax possibly ringing in the front office’s ears. And in the meantime, this should be a fun contest with the Sixers’ stars playing well and an explosive matchup to keep Zion in check. Before upcoming contests against teams like the Lakers, Suns and Knicks over the next two weeks, the Sixers need to take advantage on Saturday and grab what should be an easier win while they can.

With the extra firepower their offense has behind this version of Embiid and Maxey, Paul George perhaps in a better rhythm following his 32-point outing against Milwaukee, this team shouldn’t have many issues against the Pelicans’ 27th-ranked defense that’s playing on tired legs. If the Sixers can effectively protect the paint against Zion, they should have more than they need to extend the win streak to three.

Game Details​

When: Saturday, January 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-tyrese-maxey-zion-williamson-derik-queen-nba

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Embiid big late as Sixers eek out third straight win vs. Pelicans

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers controls the ball against Yves Missi #21 of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What a nice win to celebrate the reunion of the 2001 team. How nice to have another nice and easy day watching the 76ers.

Philadelphia survived to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-114 Saturday night.

Joel Embiid, who was scorching in the first half again, led all scorers with 39 points along with 11 rebounds going 13-of-27 from the floor. Tyrese Maxey was quiet after the first, but put up 18 with eight assists on 7-of-18 shooting.

VJ Edgecombe had the assist of the night, having five of those while finishing with 15 points shooting 6-of-10 from the floor. Kelly Oubre Jr. had a good first night trying to replace Paul George, scoring 19 points shooting 7-of-13 from the floor with nine rebounds and four assists. Saddiq Bey led the Pelicans with 34.

Philadelphia didn’t have any players unavailable due to injury but they were without PG, serving the first game of his 25-game suspension.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• It’s not a shock the Sixers heavily leaned into their reliable two-man game to start this one, with Maxey and Embiid taking the team’s first eight shots of the game. Both Derik Queen and Embiid seemed stoked for their matchup, looking to take each other down to the post frequently. For as much as the top two guys dominated the ball, Dominick Barlow deserves some love for this bounce pass he threw to Maxey to start a fast break.

Max VJ pic.twitter.com/3Td6GrKWoT

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 1, 2026

• They continued to generate good looks, but were giving up ones just as good on the other end of the floor. The Sixers’ defense looked disorganized to start, missing rotations, losing cutters, and of course getting easily beat down the floor to create transition opportunities.
• The Pelicans’ other rookie Jeremiah Fears got to show off even more when he checked into the game, hitting his first three shots of the night, two of them coming from behind the arc. The Sixers were able to keep pace all quarter, but smoked a couple costly bunnies. Both Jabari Walker and Adem Bona each couldn’t finish some nice dump off passes, and the Sixers trailed by two after the first.

Second Quarter​

• Without PG to lead the second unit, Nick Nurse had to switch up how he staggers the other starters. That meant Embiid was out there to start the quarter. Quentin Grimes returning to the lineup knocked Jared McCain down the totem pole — he didn’t check in until a couple minutes in.
• Trendon Watford got a lot of time to handle the ball in this stretch and he did a decent job with it. He got himself a layup driving to the basket and knocked down a three. McCain missed his first three of the night but hit his second, using Embiid as a screener to stepback into an open three.

J-Mac splash, timeout Pels pic.twitter.com/nc6dTFjYKx

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 1, 2026

• After allowing a wide open alley-oop to start the quarter the Sixers did sure up their defense a bit. The only field goal they allowed for nearly five minutes was a Yves Missi putback dunk after no one boxed him out. Embiid drew a charge on Zion Williamson and got quite the celebration from his bench in doing so.
• Nurse said he thought about lineups with both Embiid and Bona after their rebounding troubles in Sacramento, and he did so to close the half in this one. It was an interesting look defensively, with Bona somewhat playing safety roaming off Williamson. Embiid tried to fit him the ball in the dunker spot, but Oubre had to slam home the miss. Embiid had cooled off from the field but was living at the line in the second. His midrange jumper missed at the buzzer, but his 23 points powered the Sixers to a 13-point lead at the half.

Third Quarter​

• A quick three from Bey followed by a Trey Murphy drive to set New Orleans up to have one of those classic third quarters against the Sixers. Oubre answered with a pair of threes to settle that down, the second one coming off a really slick behind the back pass from Edgecombe.

Now this is some serious offense pic.twitter.com/ooWCFJ0vkl

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 1, 2026

• The offense would eventually stagnate as they just got sloppy with the ball. On top of two Embiid turnovers they almost gave it away a couple more times just by dropping the ball. They went four minutes without scoring in the half court.
• It was just Bey doing damage for much of the quarter, but the Sixers started struggling to contain Murphy off the dribble as well. Maxey had gone quiet, scoring his first points since the first quarter. He got into a bit of a groove playing off of Watford, hitting a three and a layup to keep the Sixers lead at six.

Fourth Quarter​

• The margin for error only got slimmer as Jose Alvarado opened up the quarter with a three. For as much as Watford had done offensively, it felt like Walker or especially Barlow were more up to the task of guarding Williamson. Watford picked up three quick fouls to start the quarter trying to do so.
• The offense did seem to find a groove again with McCain playing really well off of Embiid. He knocked down a couple more threes to round out a much needed good shooting night. Embiid himself got some jumpers to fall again, but they were suddenly in a spot where they needed to score every time down the floor. Walking into open three after open three, the Pelicans took their first lead of the game since early in the second.

fourth triple of the night for @J_mccain_24 pic.twitter.com/S7klpUMkvn

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 1, 2026

• The Sixers finally got a stop, but they had to use a challenge to earn possession back after the ball rolled out of bounds. Embiid knocked down a jumper coming out of that timeout. Maxey and Barlow ran out to create a fast break off a missed three. A few trips later down the floor, Maxey pushed the lead to six with a three. Embiid and Edgecombe each did the same on the next two possessions, putting this game away.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-embiid-tyrese-maxey-kelly-oubre-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Embiid notches season-high 40 points

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 124-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Joel Embiid – 6
Paul George – 6
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Sixers celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Finals team with a 124- 114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

It was their first matchup without Paul George, who was suspended earlier on Saturday for 25 games due to violations of the league’s anti-drug policy.

Despite having a large lead for the majority of the game, the Sixers defense left a lot to be desired, and opened the door for the Pelicans to make it close in the second half.

Fortunately, the Sixers were able to pull things together in the fourth quarter.

There were strong performances all over the floor for the Sixers, but none better than our leading Bell Ringer nominee.

Joel Embiid: 40 points 13-of-27 FG, 3-of-5 3PT, 11-of-14 FT, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 5 turnovers

Embiid is making a strong case for an All-Star selection, earning his first 40-point game of the season. He got started early and did not let up on Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, hitting a flurry of pull-up shots over him. He had his shooting stroke early and carried that into a more aggressive second quarter, where he would earn nine free throw attempts to help bring his first half total to 23.

The and-one and the celly pic.twitter.com/OC7cInUJqP

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 1, 2026

The third quarter saw only one shot attempt for Embiid at the beginning of the frame, and he was quiet until the fourth quarter.

As the Pelicans closed the gap, Embiid hit a three, baby jumper and layup to maintain the lead until an 8-0 New Orleans run sprung them out in front 107- 104 with exactly six minutes remaining. He hit another big three to end the run and tie the game. A few trips later, he hits a beautiful turnaround fade over Yves Missi.

As the Sixers began to pull away, Embiid hit another big three to help seal the deal, pumping the lead to seven with just under a minute left in regulation. A free throw late brought him to 40 points for the first time this season and first time since he scored 50 against the Knicks in Gam 3 of the 2024 first round.

He got to share the moment with his son postgame:

Awesome moment with Joel Embiid and his son Arthur postgame.

"How many points did you get?" pic.twitter.com/Nv0QN95cDf

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) February 1, 2026

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 19 points, 7-of-13 FG, 3-of-7 3PT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists

In the first game following George’s suspension, Oubre found himself involved often and was a vital part in keeping the Sixers afloat in non-Embiid minutes. It was the perfect example of how to stay involved offensively without being a primary ball handler.

In the first half, he was consistently getting in the paint in transition, where VJ Edgecombe assisted him with savvy passes deep in the defense, and helping out on the defensive boards.

He was responsible for some of the only offense in the third quarter, hitting two threes before the team as a whole went dormant. In the fourth, he had some sneaky good passes, including a skip pass to Edgecombe for the dagger three.

VJ Edgecombe: 15 points, 6-of-10 FG, 2-of-5 3PT, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover

Edgecombe earns a nomination tonight because of four plays.

The first, this beautiful alley-oop finish from a Tyrese Maxey delivery.

Max VJ pic.twitter.com/3Td6GrKWoT

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 1, 2026

Second, a slick behind-the-back dime to Oubre.

VJ Edgecombe goes behind-the-back to Kelly Oubre Jr.

Oubre has 17 PTS on 6-10 FGM for Philly! pic.twitter.com/EZdtWEnhD2

— NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2026

Next, this sneaky steal and transition slam.

Great read by Edgecombe for the steal and breakaway dunkpic.twitter.com/fmsitfpVOS

— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) February 1, 2026

Lastly, his dagger three to send the Sixers on their five-game road trip winners of three in a row.

pic.twitter.com/kUkLG7OaUx

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) February 1, 2026

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...pelicans-joel-embiid-kelly-oubre-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Dr. Glashow did a great job, but make sure to give Joel Embiid credit

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 31: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 31, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

If anyone needed any more evidence that Philadelphia is an insanely intense fandom, all you need to do is check the latest reviews of Dr. Jonathan Glashow. Sixers fans have flooded him with online reviews after he performed surgery on Joel Embiid’s left knee last spring. So much so that Glashow posted a video on Instagram thanking everyone.

Dr. Jonathan Glashow, who has received recent praise from Sixers fans as Joel Embiid’s progression continues, posted this video on Instagram earlier today: https://t.co/RcbQqMGp3h pic.twitter.com/pCNMnXnLGO

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 30, 2026

Fans continue to marvel at both he and Embiid’s work as the former MVP continues to put up production resembling his old self. Embiid seems to look better with every performance — his most recent was the first time he’s scored 40 points in the regular season since his 70-burger two years ago against the Spurs. He dropped 40 along with 11 rebounds going 13-of-27 from the floor in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

As Embiid continues to stack games like this together, the work of he and Glashow only looks more impressive. Glashow’s warm welcome into the Sixers fanbase has been wholesome fun. But, with no disrespect to his medical ability, it’s important to give Embiid just as much credit for working his way back into this form.

“Obviously, it’s been a long road, so that right there talks about the amount of work,” head coach Nick Nurse said. “He certainly looks like he’s moving better all the time. I think he’s still a ways [away], he would say he’s still a ways [away] from moving as good as he would like to.”

Embiid has added wrinkles to his game, skill after skill since before he even played an NBA game. His touch and jumper are two of the biggest weapons in his arsenal, and that was something he developed after playing at Kansas in college. In the past, Embiid has joked about taking more jumpers when he’s been asked about trying to preserve his body.

His footwork in the post has always been one of his greatest skills. He’s relying on it now more than ever as he can’t quite push past and blow by defenders as easily as he used to.

Even as recent as earlier this season, the idea of Embiid producing like this on a consistent basis seemed farfetched. He needed two days off before games. He was only playing 20 minutes a night. He wasn’t even taking jump balls.

The only games he missed in January were planned absences on back-to-backs. In the 14 games he played in the month, he averaged 29.7 points per game on a 56.9% effective field goal percentage. The team is also 10-4 in those contests.

Even Embiid himself seems a bit surprised that he’s gotten back to this level so quickly.

“Coming into this year I think it was going to be more of a try-out year,” he said after the Pelicans game. “This year has already been successful.”

He said that this year was all about figuring how to treat his knee on a day-to-day basis, how it will react to the stresses of a regular season grind.

Getting back to All-Star level production can only be the product of a lot of hard work, and his teammates and coaches have certainly witnessed that.

It’s given Tyrese Maxey the chance to bring back his go-to catchphrase when asked about the big fella.

“He’s really good at basketball, like really good though. And I’m not trying to be funny like, he’s playing the right way,” Maxey said after the win. “It’s a blessing, man. He works hard, he does a good job of getting his body right. He played more minutes than me tonight, so that’s good.”

If anything, it shows that it takes a village to get through this process. Embiid made sure to shoutout Sixers trainer Simon Rice when discussing his 40-point performance.

“I would say probably everybody gave up on me. He’s the one guy who just kept trying to figure it out,” Embiid said.

This recent surge might have come too late for Embiid to make the All-Star reserves, but his bounce back this season has become the feel-good story of the NBA, with national outlets such as the Zach Lowe Show saying as much. There’s plenty of credit to go around for this turnaround — doctors, trainers, coaches, teammates.

Just don’t forget about the person at the very center of it.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...nba-all-star-reserves-tyrese-maxey-dr-glashow

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Replacing Paul George is a group effort, but it starts with Kelly Oubre Jr.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 124-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Way, way back – all the way back on Friday – the Sixers’ reality was so much simpler than it is now. The team looked OK, with the potential to get better at Thursday’s trade deadline. With the potential to offload somebody and get bench help or rebounding help or luxury-tax relief. Or all of the above.

Veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has heard the same speculation everyone else has. He has heard his name bandied about as possible trade bait, since he is a useful player with a manageable contract. (He is earning $8.4 million this season, the last on his deal.)

Asked after Saturday night’s 124-114 victory over New Orleans whether the chatter bothers him, he said at first that it did not.

Then he paused, and reconsidered.

“It does kind of stink a little bit to have a contract that is easily, like, washable, you would say,” he said. “So I’m putting in the work, showing up every day, showing what I mean to this league and to this team. And hopefully, I can not be in this position again.”

With Paul George’s suspension, things would appear to be different than they were. Now it would appear that Oubre – already part of the Sixers’ most effective lineup – would be a guy they need to keep, Daryl Morey willing.

Now, it seems, the guy with the washable contract is anything but disposable.

Before Saturday’s game, coach Nick Nurse said replacing George will be a group project, that it will take the combined efforts of several guys to replace all that he did, as a scorer, playmaker and defender. Nurse then listed seven players, Oubre foremost among them.

“There are shots there,” the coach said. “Somebody’s got to fill in and take those shots. I imagine Kelly’s kind of played that role for us a lot already. I would imagine some of those shots, or a good portion of those shots, will shift back over to him.”

Gotta be music to the ears of Oubre, who at age 30 is 11 years into his career, and on his fifth team. He comes off as a free spirit, as a guy who is a loud and amusing presence in the locker room. A guy whose many tattoos include one on his leg of Bruce Lee (because, Oubre once said, he is not only a martial arts fan but “a big fan of being like water”).

But his game reflects a certain seriousness, a certain diligence. That’s reflected by another one of his tats, this one on his upper abs. “Sacrifice,” it says, an homage to his dad, who raised him first in New Orleans and then Houston, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

He often guards the other team’s best perimeter threat, and offensively he makes adroit cuts and astute decisions – something that has been especially useful recently, as he has melded with the George-Joel Embiid–Tyrese Maxey–VJ Edgecombe lineup. Oubre’s shooting percentages this season (49.5 percent from the floor, 36.9 percent from the arc) are both career highs, and his 14.2 point-per-game average is slightly better than his career norm (13.3).

Nor should his off-court energy be dismissed.

“It’s very vital,” backup center Adem Bona said earlier this season. “Someone like him that has a lot of experience in the game, honestly, brings that kind of energy day in, day out. … He pushes the younger guys to want to match his energy, to do as much as he does for the team.”

On Saturday Oubre scored 19 points, three after collecting Edgecombe’s behind-the-back pass at the top of the circle and burying a third-quarter triple. Afterward Oubre needled Edgecombe about the play, as the rookie met with reporters at his locker.

“He made the shot,” Edgecombe said, stifling a chuckle. “That’s all that matters. I just got it there on the money. It was a little shaky at first. I was a little worried. … But it looks good. The points (are) all that matters.”

Oubre, sitting in the interview room and cradling his infant son TsuSun shortly thereafter, acknowledged that there is “a little bit” of pressure to make a shot after a pass like that, that there is a desire to complete a highlight-worthy play.

“But,” he said, “you can’t think about it in the moment. You’ve gotta just let it fly.”

Either way, he added, “It takes a lot of cojones to make that type of pass, especially with a lot of defenders around. So VJ, he’s goated for that one, man.”

It was left to Embiid to finish things off. He notched 17 of his season-high 40 points in the fourth quarter, nine in a closing 20-7 rush.

“But at the end of the day, man, any given night we have a team that people who can show up and put points on the board, be key contributors to winning,” Oubre said.

They will get the chance to prove that now, with George out and a five-game road trip commencing Monday night against the Clippers. And Oubre can only hope to be “a key contributor to winning,” as he put it.

Everything will come out in the wash, as it always does. But on the face of it Oubre’s contract doesn’t look nearly as washable or expendable or whatever-able as it did, only a few days ago.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ba-trade-deadline-kelly-oubre-jr-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Clippers: First Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Monday, February 2, 10 p.m. ET
Where: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, CA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...first-half-thread-discussion-nba-philadelphia

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

The Dominick Barlow Game helps Sixers win fourth straight vs. Clippers

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 2: Dominick Barlow #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on February 2, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

#SixersAfterDark with only a small risk of blowing a 20-point lead. How pleasant.

Philadelphia won their fourth game in a row, taking down the LA Clippers 128-113 Monday night.

Tyrese Maxey caught fire from three, going for a game-high 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting as well as six assists. Joel Embiid came alive in the second half to finish with 24 points shooting 8-of-19 from the floor.

VJ Edgecombe was cold from the floor but found ways to be productive, having five points on 1-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and seven assists.Dominick Barlow put up a career-high 26 going 10-of-16 from the floor along with 16 rebounds and two steals. Kawhi Leonard led LA with 29 as well.

Paul George was the lone Sixer out with his suspension while the Clippers were without James Harden and Derrick Jones Jr.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• It was quite a start for the Sixers, opening the game on a 18-2 run. Maxey started hot with a couple threes falling away. The Clippers looked every bit like a team that played the night before. Three of their first four turnovers were just because they dropped the ball.
• Barlow got a couple of hustle buckets, putting back two missed Embiid shots and finishing a backdoor cut. He was quickly fueling the offense with his putbacks. He intercepted a bounce pass and took it all the way, reaching 11 points, which was a career-high for him in a first quarter.

.@Dominickbarlow_ is in double digits early! pic.twitter.com/v2GNFM0vEv

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 3, 2026

• Things looked a bit more conventional when Maxey got going again, drilling another pair of threes after getting to the line. He seemed to really want to show off his stepback three, trying it on three of his five attempts. His heat check to close the quarter didn’t go, but he still helped power the Sixers to a 21-point lead.

Second Quarter​

• The staggering changed up again, with Edgecombe leading the second unit along with Jared McCain. Edgecombe found McCain coming off a screen for a three. Adem Bona rolled open to the basket and kicked it to Quentin Grimes to take advantage of a wide open runway and posterize John Collins. The dunk was not only Grimes’ best play in quite some time, but encouraged Edgecombe to drive to do the same over the next few possessions.

bench going CRAZY for this one. https://t.co/Nv0eOPuA20 pic.twitter.com/PmpmIthUc7

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 3, 2026

• It was quickly becoming the Dominick Barlow Game, with him picking up another putback upon returning to the game and shortly picked up a steal as well, completing that fast break with a give-and-go with Edgecombe. The Clippers’ eight turnovers had really kept them in a hole despite shooting 56% from the field.
• The heavy doubles the Sixers threw at Leonard helped generate some of those turnovers, but they didn’t slow him down much with his 13 points in the half. LA’s offense predictably wasn’t able to do much without him. On the other end of the floor, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Grimes hit corner threes, and Edgecombe finally made his first field goal with one as well to keep the Sixers at a 19-point lead at the half.

Third Quarter​

• After a slow start, Embiid knocked down a jumper on three possessions in a row, surpassing his first half total. While Edgecombe did not find the same rhythm, missing on the open threes swung to him, he was plenty involved. He assisted on two of those Embiid jumpers working the two-man game.
• The game came screeching to a halt thanks to two Clippers challenges — one successful, one unsuccessful. The Clippers finally started to take advantage of the odd man advantages, slowly chipping away at the lead. Embiid settled things down with a couple looks from the nail before Barlow got another putback, getting fouled in the process as well.

Dominick Barlow has 9(!) offensive rebounds and is a point away from matching his career high pic.twitter.com/4w6B5R6qEq

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 3, 2026

• The offense slowed down again after Maxey followed up that and-1 with a jumper. Some fresh faces helped that as Grimes checked into the game and knocked down a three coming off a screen. On the next possession he kept his head up on a drive to find McCain wide open in the corner, helping the Sixers stay ahead by 13.

Fourth Quarter​

• A bad pass that didn’t make it to Embiid to close the third got McCain benched to start the fourth though. The shot quality had dipped a bit, but tough makes from Maxey and Oubre kept them afloat. Truly everything was coming up Barlow. After an and-1 drive he had a corner three take three or four bounces off the rim before falling in.

Have yourself a night, Dominick Barlow!

He has set a NEW career-high in PTS (26) pic.twitter.com/YG0mWAObKI

— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2026

• For every time the Clippers did threaten to make things interesting, the Sixers were able to come up with a shot or two to keep them at bay. Embiid made up for a turnover by capping off a nice second half with a couple more jumpers. Another Maxey stepback three made the Clippers wave the white flag with about four minutes to go.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-barlow-tyrese-maxey-joel-embiid-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Warriors: First Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Tuesday, February 3, 10:00 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-discussion-threads/85672/sixers-warriors-first-half-thread-nba

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Edgecombe bounces back vs. Warriors

Feb 3, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) shoots a three point basket over Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (20) during the first period at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images | Justine Willard-Imagn Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 7
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Sixers extended their win streak to five games after their 113- 94 victory in Golden State.

They were without Joel Embiid (injury management) and Paul George (suspended). The Warriors were without the services of Stephen Curry (knee), Jonathan Kuminga (knee) and Jimmy Butler (ACL).

The Sixers dominated for most of the game, with the Warriors getting it close in the middle quarters following a 17-2 run.

The Sixers’ bench unit was crucial in picking up the slack for a poor Tyrese Maxey shooting night (prior to the fourth quarter).

A lot of guys contributed, including a magnificent stretch of minutes from Adem Bona and better shooting from Quentin Grimes, but two guys stood out above the rest for Bell Ringer consideration.

VJ Edgecombe: 25 points, 11-of-20 FG, 2-of-7, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals

Edgecombe bounced back from a tough night against the Clippers with an elevated offensive performance. He felt comfortable from inside the paint Tuesday, operating in the midrange to his pull-up and converting through contact in the paint.

In the first he kicked off his scoring with a step-back up jumper going left and cut through the defense with a slithering layup in traffic.

In the second, the rookie blew past Al Horford for a layup and hit a pull-up three over Draymond Green.

In the third frame, after drawing a foul on Horford and making 1-of-2, he crossed up De’Anthony Melton and finished a difficult layup through Green in the paint. On the next possession, he hit a catch-and-shoot three.

VJ Edgecombe crosses Melton then finishes through Green:

Hit a three the following possession pic.twitter.com/GsKwP1nyUu

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) February 4, 2026

He continued his attack in the fourth with more tough buckets against a lackluster defensive effort from Golden State.

He had a possession against Bahamian national team teammate Buddy Hield, whom he took all the way to the cup for a left handed finish … with some trash talk to top it off.

They grow up so fast, Buddy pic.twitter.com/ojirTnxf2B

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 4, 2026

Another veteran-like performance for the Sixers’ first-round pick.

Trendon Watford: 16 points, 7-of-13, 1-of-2, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks

Watford was extremely valuable for the Sixers’ offense against the Warriors. His point-forward ability gave the Sixers an extended period in the first half to rest Maxey. In that time, the Sixers went on a 20-4 run to extend a double-digit lead.

Watford's pass helps Quentin Grimes create space on the defender pic.twitter.com/oVlxb3iUrS

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) February 4, 2026

It does not always look pretty, but his effectiveness as a driver helped the Sixers reserves keep pace with the bench unit of Golden State.

He would add a couple buckets throughout the second half through aggressive drives and conversions in the paint, including a deep three in the fourth to extend the lead to over 20 points with just a few minutes remaining.

His playmaking ability was a constant presence on a night where Maxey did not have his full offensive arsenal working.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-ringer-warriors-vj-edgecombe-trendon-watford

 

[JJ]

LOL oh man the Sixers are actually looking like a REAL TEAM right now and I gotta say I'm both impressed and annoyed by it as a Bills fan who has to watch Philly sports succeed at anything

That Dominick Barlow game against the Clippers though?? 26 points and 16 boards including 9 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS?! That's the kind of hustle play that makes you tip your cap even when you don't want to. Kid was absolutely eating on the glass. Career night for a guy who's basically been a deep bench piece.

And VJ Edgecombe bouncing back against Golden State with 25/7/7 after going 1-of-11 against LA shows some serious mental toughness for a rookie. That trash talk to Buddy Hield after taking him to the rim was HILARIOUS. National team teammate or not, you gotta let him know!

Five game win streak without Paul George for most of it is legitimately impressive. Kelly Oubre stepping up, Trendon Watford being a legit point-forward off the bench, Barlow becoming a factor... Morey might have actually built some depth here finally.

Still think the Bills would beat the Sixers in a game of football though. Just saying.

But seriously - how long is PG's suspension? 25 games?? That's BRUTAL. If they can stay afloat during that stretch they might actually be dangerous come playoff time. Embiid dropping 40 against New Orleans and then getting rest days is exactly how you manage that guy down the stretch.

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers reportedly trade Jared McCain to Thunder

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against the Sacramento Kings at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Kings 113-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Sixers will apparently let the Oklahoma City Thunder have another promising young sharpshooter.

Jared McCain is reportedly being traded to the Thunder for a first-round pick (Houston’s 2026 first) and three second-rounders, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

BREAKING: The Philadelphia 76ers are trading guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/0wGXxzPURG

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026

Just, what a bummer after last season.

This looks like simply a move to gain draft capital and free up money. On top of the Rockets’ first-round pick this year, the Sixers will be receiving the most favorable of the Thunder, Rockets, Pacers and Heat’s 2027 second-round pick, a 2028 Bucks’ second and a 2028 Thunder second, per Jake Fischer of the Stein Line.

Fischer is also reporting that the Thunder are trying to acquire Ousmane Diang, but it doesn’t appear that the Sixers will be receiving any players back at this time.

The second rounders heading from OKC to Philadelphia, per source: 2027 most favorable OKC/HOU/IND/MIA, 2028 Milwaukee, and 2028 OKC. https://t.co/0wkian2fjH

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 4, 2026

For now, this would get the Sixers out of the luxury tax. They were only $1.3 million dollars over thanks to the suspension of Paul George, and now they’ve shedded McCain’s $4.2 million dollar salary.

Of course the Sixers aren’t done — they needed to free up at least one more roster spot to convert Dominick Barlow to a standard contract. The same goes for Jabari Walker, who ran out of two-way days after their win in Golden State.

This is a pretty frustrating move if this is just to clear up a roster spot for Walker. While McCain’s value had certainly cratered with his drop in production, the upside of him figuring it out is certainly higher than any bench contributions Walker could have given them this season.

In the 37 games McCain’s appeared in this year he’s averaged just 6.6 points per game shooting 38% from the field and 37% from three. A good example of how little opportunities he was afforded was that he made that three-point percentage jump from 32% to 37% with just three good games in the past week.

Charania has seemingly confirmed that this move is just to free up the logjam of guards with the Sixers. In a follow up tweet he listed the added flexibility as well as the ability to retain Barlow, Walker and Quentin Grimes as reasons for the trade.

The talented McCain lands on the reigning NBA champions. For the 76ers, the trade allows them to receive assets, clear space in the glut of guards and give them flexibility to bring Quentin Grimes back in free agency. It also allows them to convert two-way Dominick Barlow. https://t.co/Dvsqvog38z

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026

That’s pretty frustrating with Grimes going through very similar struggles over the past month while needing a new contract even sooner than McCain. Grimes shot 31% from three in the month of January.

Perhaps the Sixers have a bigger splash coming, but for now this is a pretty difficult pill to swallow. Hey, that 2026 Rockets first could be anything — it could even be a player with Jared McCain’s upside!

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/85772/sixers-reportedly-trade-jared-mccain-to-thunder

 

[Zedster]

Well that McCain trade news really takes some wind out of the sails after such a nice stretch. Five straight wins, Barlow having that breakout game against the Clippers, Edgecombe showing he can bounce back from rough nights... and then you move McCain for what amounts to cap flexibility and picks that might not amount to much.

I get the roster crunch was real with needing to convert Barlow and Walker, but trading a guy with McCain's shooting upside just to potentially keep Grimes around feels backwards to me. Grimes has been struggling just as much and needs a new deal sooner. The "it could be anything, even a player like McCain" joke writes itself unfortunately.

The silver lining is Barlow's emergence does soften the blow a bit. Nine offensive rebounds in one game is absurd energy. If he can keep providing that kind of production, at least the depth chart looks a little less thin. And Edgecombe taking that step forward as a primary option when Embiid sits is encouraging for the future.

Still feels like the front office is prioritizing financial flexibility over keeping young talent with upside though. OKC just keeps collecting promising guards while we're trying to figure out roster math. Hoping there's a bigger move coming that makes this make sense, but for now it's a tough one to process right after such a fun week of basketball.

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Edgecombe leads the way as Sixers win season-high 5th straight vs. Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 3: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 3, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It’s been a while since this one could be used, but that is 1-2-3-4-5 wins in a row for the Sixers.

Philadelphia swept their back-to-back with a 113-94 win over the shorthanded Golden State Warriors Tuesday night, their first five-game winning streak since the end of the 2023-24 season.

VJ Edgecombe bounced back with his first 20-point game in two weeks, leading all scorers with 25 with seven rebounds shooting 11-of-20 from the floor.

Tyrese Maxey dealt with a swarming defense all night, finishing with as good a 14-point and seven-assist game as possible. Kelly Oubre Jr. carried the Sixers from deep, putting up 15 points shooting 4-of-12 from the field and 4-of-10 from three-point range. Gui Santos and Pat Spencer led Golden State with 13 apiece.

On the second night of a back-to-back the Sixers were without Joel Embiid, out with right ankle injury management on top of Paul George’s suspension. The Warriors were without Steph Curry, Jonathan Kuminga, and Jimmy Butler who’s out for the season.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• A much slower start than the previous night with the Warriors chasing Maxey off the ball. Two of their first three field goals of the night were Andre Drummond putbacks, though Dominick Barlow carried something over hitting the Sixers’ first three of the night.
• Playing against an old team of his, Oubre found his shooting stroke early with a pair of threes. He was also one of the four Sixers to pick up a steal in the first as they forced seven turnovers. When they were able to take care of the ball the Warriors shot 57% from three.
• After sputtering for a couple of minutes, the Sixers’ offense got a quick flurry to end the quarter. Edgecombe got to the basket off the dribble, Adem Bona was actually able to do the same off a hand off. Trendon Watford got some earlier run and hit a couple push shots, the second cutting the Warriors’ lead to one.

.@trendonw on a mission. pic.twitter.com/8fRoD7tTve

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 4, 2026

Second Quarter​

• Carrying over from the first, the Sixers capped off a 14-0 run with an impressive alley-oop to Bona thrown by Quentin Grimes. Both Edgecombe and Grimes had good moments off the dribble in this stretch, each of them drilling threes in response to the Warriors’ baskets that had ended the run.

BONA 4EVER pic.twitter.com/ZaDCmEj25f

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 4, 2026

• Speaking of former teams, it was De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield trying to get the Warriors back on track. Their three-point shooting had cooled down, missing six of their first seven of the second. Grimes and Edgecombe had not cooled down though, growing the Sixers’ lead to as big as 15.
• That was erased in quick fashion thanks to a 10-0 Golden State run. Drummond had a rougher second go with two ugly turnovers. Oubre also coughed up an easy fast break opportunity getting tunnel vision on a drive. The Sixers didn’t score a field goal for the last 6:13 of the half after a Grimes three. A reckless closeout by Moses Moody on a Maxey three helped them scrape by to the break with a three-point lead.

Third Quarter​

• The field goal drought continued as it took the Sixers three minutes to make their first of the half with a tough Edgecombe floater. The good thing was not only was Barlow rebounding just about every miss, but the Warriors also couldn’t score for the first four minutes of the half.

The rook has bounced back in a big way tonight pic.twitter.com/k6xcPjncEa

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 4, 2026

• A three from Hield opened up the lid back up again, but Edgecombe had baskets to answer. He tried to run fast off of misses, getting fouled on one aggressive drive attempt and making a layup on another. A few possessions later he hit their second three in a row that was the result of good ball movement.
• That didn’t last for long as the Warriors shot just 28% from the field in the quarter. The Sixers had a chance to really stretch their lead but mistakes and bad bounces got in the way. They had several bunnies spin out late in the quarter. Still, after a three from Melton with time winding down the Sixers were still on top by 13.

Fourth Quarter​

• Edgecombe remained in control, kicking off the quarter with a fadeaway jumper from the baseline. Watford had missed some of those bunnies in the third but got on target again with his driving push shots. Drummond was able to redeem himself as well with a wild drive.

Wat pushing through pic.twitter.com/LTGMFaSri3

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 4, 2026

• The only bummer was that Jared McCain had another short leash on the night, not seeing any minutes in the second half until the benches had emptied. He missed both of his shots in the first half, one of them getting thoroughly swatted. Ironically, the Sixers finally started to hit some threes as a team to put the game away. Drummond got involved in that as well, hitting his first three since early January.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ombe-adem-bona-quentin-grimes-trendon-watford

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers ownership lets down Joel Embiid (again)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 04: Jared McCain #20 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers confer against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on November 04, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Joel Embiid has been through a lot since the Philadelphia 76ers drafted him in 2014. He has dealt with tragedy in his personal life, disappointments in his professional life, and too many injuries to list concisely. This year, however, things have looked up. Say what you will about how Joel may have treated his conditioning and dietary habits when he was younger, but the man is currently doing everything possible for both his physical and mental health. He has also done the right things as a teammate, graciously stepping aside to allow Tyrese Maxey to assume the mantle as the team’s top player, in both general demeanor and on-court usage.

Good results have followed. Embiid is on pace to play his most games since the 2022-23 season with numbers that could have reasonably made him an NBA All-Star. The Sixers are also winning games, currently riding a season-best five-game winning streak that has them fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 29-21. The East has no true juggernaut, so you can certainly make the argument that Philadelphia has a puncher’s chance to make a serious run come springtime. Embiid certainly thought so, as he uncharacteristically spoke out in advance of the NBA trade deadline, imploring ownership to let things play out, at a minimum.

“Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax past couple of years, so hopefully, we’ll keep the same team. I love all the guys that are here. I think we got a shot.

“I don’t know what they’re gonna do, but I hope we get a chance to just go out and compete because we’ve got a good group of guys in this locker room. The vibes are great. Like I said, in the past we’ve been I guess ducking the tax, so hopefully we think about improving because I think we have a chance.”

Did the front office heed the call from its franchise player of the last 10-plus years? Did they improve on the margins to bolster some holes in the rotation? Did they take a big swing to really go after things? No, you must be new to the city of Philadelphia. You see, instead, they actively went out and made the team worse in order to save ownership money.

Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for lukewarm draft capital is criminal. Here’s a guy who is a huge fanbase favorite and beloved in the locker room, who by every account, has an incredible work ethic to improve. So you sell him at an absolute low point in his value, for a draft pick in the low-20s and some seconds, with which you’ll be incredibly lucky to get a player in the future who is as good as McCain.

In the present, you can say McCain wasn’t having a great season, but he was still the team’s fourth guard. Who they replaced with no one! And he seemed to be rounding into form coming off the injuries. He had three games just last week where he hit four or more threes. Did you see how happy his teammates were for him in that Bucks game? And you just go out and completely kill all those vibes for a few million dollars.

There were good teams in the East who also made moves to duck the tax, but those teams also made meaningful improvements. They didn’t trade away a 21-year-old in his second season for picks that do nothing to help their current team.

What is Joel Embiid supposed to think? He has been killing himself to get his body back in playing shape to help this team, he literally issues a public cry for help for management not to cheap out again this year, and they say to heck with that, not only are we going to duck the tax yet again, but we’re going to ship off an incredibly well-liked player with nothing but upside in the process. Why is Joel going to go to war for a franchise that clearly doesn’t care enough to put his wishes over a couple more positive lines on the balance sheet?

I’m so frustrated with this organization. The McCain move is unfathomable, and they also do the Eric Gordon money-saving move, which is ultimately a big nothingburger, but you still shake your head that Josh Harris and company put in the call to find some more pennies in the couch cushions. And they spin it all as necessary to give Dominick Barlow a standard contract, when they could have done that months ago. None of this is about giving Barlow a well-deserved deal. They’ve been playing two-way day calculation games forever now in order to save money. They had an open roster spot nearly all year in order to save money (when another actual NBA player sure could have helped win games a few times). And now this senseless McCain trade to save money. It all comes down to money and it’s gross.

Fans should be livid. All the players on the team should be upset. They’ve been playing their hearts out this year and not only did no reinforcements arrive, but they sent a beloved teammate away. But I can’t help but think of Joel first and foremost, who said ‘Please don’t do this’ and they spit in his face by doing it anyway. I don’t know how many healthy-ish years Embiid will have left. I hope plenty more. But this organization sure is wasting one of them. I’m furious at them, and sad for him.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...hip-metaphorically-spits-in-joel-embiids-face

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Here’s how the Sixers’ roster, draft pick situation look after the 2026 NBA trade deadline

Apr 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey addresses the media with head coach Nick Nurse after the game against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

As you all know by now, it was an underwhelming trade deadline for the Sixers.

They traded second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft capital and veteran guard Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies in what amounts to a salary dump. The positive is Dominick Barlow was rewarded for his strong play with a standard contract. They did some roster housekeeping, with some more surely coming.

Here’s a summary of where things stand for the team after the NBA trade deadline:

The picks and players the Sixers acquired:​

• Luxury tax savings
• 2026 first-round pick (HOU)
• 2027 second-round pick (most favorable OKC, HOU, IND, MIA)
• 2028 second-round pick (OKC)
• 2028 second-round pick (MIL)
• Converted Dominick Barlow to standard deal
• Draft rights to Justinian Jessup
• Signed Charles Bassey (10-day)
• Signed Patrick Baldwin (10-day)

The picks and players the Sixers sent out:​

• Jared McCain
• Eric Gordon
• 2032 second-round pick swap

The new, full Sixers roster​

1. Tyrese Maxey
2. Joel Embiid
3. Paul George
4. VJ Edgecombe
5. Kelly Oubre Jr.
6. Quentin Grimes
7. Andre Drummond
8. Dominick Barlow
9. Trendon Watford
10. Adem Bona
11. Justin Edwards
12. Kyle Lowry
13. Johni Broome
14. Charles Bassey (10-day)
15. Patrick Baldwin (10-day)
16. Jabari Walker (two-way)
17. MarJon Beauchamp (two-way)

Sixers draft picks remaining​

First rounders:

• 2026 own (protected 1-4)
• 2026 HOU
• 2027 own
• 2028 own (if 1-8 or if 2026 first-round pick is 1-4)
• 2028 LAC (fully unprotected)
• 2029 own (rights to pick swap with LAC)
• 2030 own
• 2031 own
• 2032 own

Second-rounders:

• 2027 own
• 2027 GSW/PHX (more favorable)
• 2027 OKC/HOU/IND/MIA (more favorable)
• 2028 own
• 2028 DET (protected 31-55)
• 2028 GSW
• 2028 MIL
• 2028 OKC
• 2029 PHI
• 2030 PHX/POR (more favorable)
• 2030 WAS
• 2031 PHI
• 2032 PHI/MEM (least favorable)

While ducking the tax doesn’t help all that much with team building, the draft capital the team received for McCain could be very useful as the team looks to build long-term around Maxey and Edgecombe. Overall, the Sixers have a decent amount of draft assets while having a good amount of talent already in place. Again, that does little for the 2025-26 Sixers, but could help Daryl Morey and company take big swings in the future.

What are your thoughts on the deadline? Who would you like to see the team target on the buyout market? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/nba-...a-trade-deadline-trades-draft-picks-contracts

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Daryl Morey explains rationale behind Jared McCain trade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 27: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 27, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 139-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Sixers’ biggest bit of business at the trade deadline was also their most surprising. The team sent second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft compensation.

McCain was the 16th overall pick in 2024, the Rookie of the Year favorite pre-injury, and is still just 21 years old, on a rookie deal through the 2027-28 season and unable to even hit restricted free agency until the 2028-29 season.

So, why trade a player like that, especially when the trade did nothing to help Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 2025-26 Sixers?

President of basketball operations Daryl Morey did his best to explain the decision.

“We see Jared as somebody that’s more likely to help a team in the future,” Morey said. “I think that’s fairly obvious; I think he has a bright future. We thought that the draft picks we got would help us more in the future — and could’ve helped us this deadline. The picks we got were offered to many teams and nothing materialized for a player that we thought could move the needle with those picks now. But we feel like going forward, those picks will help us build the team in the future in a good way.”

OK, let’s break down those comments a bit.

McCain undoubtedly struggled this year returning from a torn meniscus and also a UCL tear he suffered ahead of training camp. He missed the first six games of the season, struggled to find consistent playing time and never truly regained his form from a season ago. Though he’d shown flashes recently, it was fair to wonder if this was simply going to be a lost season for McCain.

While Morey said he wanted to use the draft capital he got in the deal to make an upgrade this season, the order of operations suggests the McCain deal still would’ve gone down no matter what. Sure, as Morey stated, the team got the deal done early so they could explore other options, but without a separate deal already in place, McCain would’ve been gone either way.

This wasn’t about ducking the tax. This wasn’t about improving this season — though the team surely did try to flip the assets for an upgrade. Morey can drop all the niceties about McCain he’d like, but it seems obvious the team valued the compensation and the future flexibility over rostering McCain. Whether it was fit or not believing in his future, the organization was ready to move on from McCain.

Many will fairly question the timing. The team could still use guard depth as Maxey leads the NBA in minutes per game and VJ Edgecombe leads all rookies. So, why not let the season play out when a similar offer would likely be on the table this offseason? And wasn’t the franchise selling McCain at his nadir value after such a promising rookie campaign?

“I’m quite confident we were selling high,” Morey said. “Obviously, time will tell. We weren’t looking to sell. I’ll be frank. Teams came to us with aggressive offers for him. You could say, ‘Yeah, that’s because he’s a good player.’ I agree with that. We thought this return was above, for the future value of our franchise, what we could get. The only higher point would’ve been during his run last season. Otherwise, we feel like we did time this well.”

Morey defended the return for McCain, saying it was superior to the value of a deal for a quality starting-caliber player. While Morey did make note that the consensus is the 2026 NBA draft is considered a good and deep one, he also admitted that wasn’t really the motivation behind the trade.

“That wasn’t the main focus,” he said. “I think it’s a nice focus, because we do think this draft is a good draft, but we’re not necessarily using the pick in this draft. It could be used for moves around the draft. The three seconds that we got with it, we think those could be used to move up in this draft. Obviously, myself and our front office have done a lot of deals over the years, and this just gives us more tools to make the moves that we think will help our future more than we saw with Jared, who we gave up. But that’s not a comment on Jared.”

Again, Morey has to say it’s “not a comment on Jared,” but how could it not be? It’s clear the starting backcourt for the next decade or so should be Maxey and Edgecombe. It’s also clear that Morey and the team preferred attempting to re-sign Quentin Grimes this offseason over letting him walk and hoping McCain could take over as the team’s top guard off the bench.

In the end, this is what it’s about — Morey and the Sixers felt the assets they got were more valuable to them than Jared McCain. We’ll find out soon enough if that’s the case.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...dline-sixers-jared-mccain-thunder-daryl-morey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Time will tell if the Sixers were right to move on from Jared McCain

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 27: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with Joel Embiid #21, Tyrese Maxey #0, Andre Drummond #1, and Trendon Watford #12 against the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 27, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 139-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For several weeks earlier this season, Jared McCain had a copy of the book “The Inner Game of Tennis” in his locker.

According to the Amazon.com summary, the 1972 work by W. Timothy Gallwey is about “a revolutionary program for overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning” – and not just in tennis, but every walk of life.

No less a figure than Bill Gates called it “the best guide to getting out of your own way.”

While I never got the chance to ask McCain about it – and I had planned to – this would at least hint at the fact that the issues the young guard faced in Philadelphia were not confined to the knee injury that cut short his promising rookie year after 23 games, nor the thumb injury that caused him to get off to a slow start this season, his second with the Sixers.

Whatever was holding him back – whether he was still hobbled or indeed unable to get out of his own way – he seemed to be getting it together recently. And that’s the thing that gnaws at you, now that he has been traded to Oklahoma City: We never really got to see how his next chapter might read.

The arguments for dealing him are manifest. He was blocked by Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes in the backcourt rotation. The Sixers gained the financial flexibility to sign Dominick Barlow to a big-boy contract. And those four draft picks obtained from the Thunder can be used in a future deal (though Daryl Morey told reporters he was unable to pull the trigger on anything that would have given the team immediate help).

That’s all well and good. But McCain is 21, and he played exactly 60 games for the Sixers. Nobody knows exactly what he is, nor what he might become. Put another way, he was an ACL tear away from getting big-time minutes here.

The suspicion is that he will never be an All-Star, but he could be a useful piece on a good team. That he has “an identifiable NBA skill,” as Brett Brown used to say – i.e., he can shoot – that will consistently resurface once he gets regular run again.

You know, like Isaiah Joe.

This is not an apples-to-apples comparison, but the Sixers cut Joe on Oct. 13, 2022, after he played sparingly for them over two seasons. The Thunder snapped him up three days later, and he has developed into a reliable off-the-bench sniper, nailing 41 percent of his three-point attempts over three-plus seasons.

And, of course, he earned a championship ring last spring.

The Thunder, ably operated by Sam Presti, are now hoping that the Philly pipeline delivers once more. While they are loaded and again rolling along – and while there is no clear role for McCain at present – he does represent a potential hedge against possible issues concerning their veteran wings.

The team holds an option on Lu Dort next season, and Alex Caruso, in the first season of a four-year, $81 million deal, is struggling at present. He’s also nearing his 32nd birthday. McCain is not the defender either of those guys are – who is? – but he offers another perimeter alternative, in the event Caruso is washed and/or OKC parts company with Dort (not as unlikely as it might appear, given the money the team has committed to its biggest stars – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams).

In short, this looks like the sort of low-risk transaction a smart, well-run team makes. If McCain doesn’t work out, no big deal; the Thunder has a bunch of other wings, and a bunch of assets to acquire anybody they might need.

And while it’s understandable why the Sixers went this route, it now seems like their reserve corps, already threadbare, is another man short. This is a team that is ranked 28th in the NBA in bench scoring, at 16.5 points a night. And in Thursday’s loss to the Lakers, their reserves were outscored by a staggering 61-14 margin. Given the precarious health of some of their front-line players, they are really walking a tightrope now.

McCain, for his part, bade a fond farewell to Philadelphia. On Instagram he wrote that Philly will “always be a home for me” and that he was “incredibly blessed to be drafted here.” And on TikTok he sang part of an Olivia Dean song entitled “A Couple Minutes,” notably these lines: “Although it’s over/I’ll always be there.”

Then he closed by saying, “I’ll always love ya, Philly.”

Yeah, it’s a business. We hear that time and again. But is it a good idea to give up on a guy like this? Only time will tell.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-thunder-trade-nba-trade-deadline-daryl-morey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Suns: Second Half Thread

Game Details
When: Saturday, February 7, 9:00 p.m. ET
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-discussion-threads/85979/sixers-suns-second-half-thread

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Headband Hoopers take down Suns

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 7: Joel Embiid #21 and Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers high five after the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 7, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 8
VJ Edgecombe – 7
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Sixers are back in the win column after a 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the desert.

VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid all sported matching headbands for the contest, a rare occurrence, especially for the All-Star guard.

It was a very slow start to this one, as both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net. The Sixers began to pick their offense up in the second quarter, going on a huge run to garner a respectable lead heading into the halftime break.

Once again, they ran into the third quarter wall and the Suns began to pull closer. In the fourth, the Suns would pull to within five, but not enough to withstand the strong performances we saw from our Bell Ringer nominees.

Tyrese Maxey: 29 points, 8-of-21 FG, 3-of-10 3PT, 10-of-11 FT, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal

Maxey once again did not have his most efficient shooting night out West, but there were many pivotal moments that aided the Sixers victory.

Appreciate the person in the crowd who fired Tyrese up pic.twitter.com/NpT8N3WHiC

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His work in the first half took place mainly on the right baseline, finding different angles to drain midrange and fadeaway jumpers. The broadcast revealed his parents were courtside in seats near that baseline, as he pointed to them after the buckets. His speed and decision making were on full display, while mixing in effective ball-handling to open up easy drive opportunities.

Maxey with the slick finish and the Sixers take an 81-71 lead into the final frame pic.twitter.com/oOtkA7eWrC

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His playmaking continues to be a plus during a tough shooting stretch from deep. He had multiple outlet passes against the Suns that led to very easy buckets in transition.

In the fourth he hit a huge step back three, his second of the game, to bury the Suns and force them to resort to fouling.

Joel Embiid: 33 points, 9-of-19 FG, 4-of-7 3PT, 11-of-13 FT, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

Embiid was a dominant force from the midrange. The Suns decided to not double team him, and lived with the consequences of either a made shot or foul committed. His persistence in his approach got into the Suns heads quickly, leading to a chatter-filled second half.

Jo still cooking in the second half pic.twitter.com/UzDrUwzzQa

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

As long as the Suns kept manning him up, he kept cooking and shooting over whoever was guarding him. He would also add a flurry of threes into his offensive attack, including a big one in the fourth quarter to help extend the Sixers lead back into double digits.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 18 points, 6-of-14 FG, 3-of-7 3PT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Oubre Jr. was a much needed third option offensively as VJ Edgecombe had gotten into foul trouble early. He kicked off scoring with a three and helped pick the Sixers scoring up in the second with this highlight dunk:

Lil razzle dazzle from KO. Dunk contest? pic.twitter.com/Ifrbt8iWve

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His defensive presence kept the Sixers in phase with the riled up Suns, still finding composure when they needed it most. After a Suns run in the third, Oubre finished a silky lefty layup to help stem the tide. His play today can make fans feel more comfortable during Paul George’s suspension — though he did have a couple silly fouls late.

Trendon Watford: 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

Watford, along with Oubre, played the glue-guy positions to a tee. Where Oubre was focused on shooting, Watford’s impact was his playmaking. He found multiple shooters after drives, and had a creative possession after setting a screen for Embiid on the elbow. Worth a watch if you missed the game, as more offense like this could be on the horizon.

What a beautiful possession pic.twitter.com/yLBj47KUhc

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 8, 2026

His energy in the fourth quarter was crucial in keeping the Sixers ahead through relentless defense from the Suns, making multiple plays in a row with the ball in his hand.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...biid-tyrese-maxey-kelly-oubre-trendon-watford