- The Philadelphia 76ers won 54 games last season but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2023 playoffs in seven games
- James Harden has requested a trade from the Sixers
- Philadelphia fired Doc Rivers and hired Nick Nurse
The Philadelphia 76ers had a successful 2022-23 regular season. They went 54-28 and finished as the third seed in the Eastern Conference. James Harden led the NBA in assists per game, and Joel Embiid won the MVP Award.
The Sixers swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2023 playoffs and had a 3-2 lead over the Boston Celtics in the second round. However, the Celtics won Games 6 and 7 against the Sixers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Philadelphia has yet to reach the conference finals in the Embiid era.
The Sixers fired Doc Rivers as head coach and hired former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse. Let’s take a look at who Nurse will likely start in 2023-24.
Point Guards
Starter: James Harden
Reserve: De’Anthony Melton
In 58 games for the Sixers last season, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from 3, and 86.7% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Harden felt Sixers president Daryl Morey was “ghosting” him before free agency started. Rather than wait for Morey and Philadelphia to present whatever offer they had come up with once free agency opened on July 1, Harden decided to pick up his $35.6 million player option for next season before the June 30 deadline and request a trade.
The Sixers agreed to search out a trade upon Harden’s request after the former MVP picked up his player option. However, Philadelphia’s asking price for Harden was steep and no teams were willing or able to meet it.
Harden was fined $100,000 by the NBA for calling Morey “a liar” during his Adidas tour in China. Harden no longer has a relationship with Morey. The Beard called Morey a liar since he wasn’t traded quickly after opting into his 2023-24 player option.
The Sixers believe they will be a title contender with Harden’s return alongside Joel Embiid and the team is determined to find a way to make it work with Harden next season. However, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Harden will never play for the Sixers again and has no plans of taking part in training camp if he’s still on the team. It will be fascinating to see how this situation plays out.
Shooting Guards
Starter: Tyrese Maxey
Reserves: Patrick Beverley, Danny Green
Tyrese Maxey is one of the top young players in the NBA. He averaged 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season while shooting 48.1% from the field, 43.4% from beyond the arc, and 84.5% from the free-throw line.
In the 2023 playoffs against the Nets and Celtics, Maxey put up 20.5 points, 4.8 boards, and 2.3 assists per game. The youngster has career averages of 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Maxey was the 21st overall pick in the 2020 draft and has turned into a fan favorite in Philadelphia.
Maxey, who will become a restricted free agent next offseason, believes the Sixers will still be a dangerous team next season whether James Harden is on the roster or not.
“We have talent,” Maxey said on his podcast. “We have the reigning MVP on our team. We have to go out there and expect to win and expect to still try to complete our goal. It’ll be definitely even more difficult now that one of our best players, as of right now, decided he doesn’t wanna come back and play, and that’s how life goes.”
Small Forwards
Starter: Tobias Harris
Reserve: Kelly Oubre Jr.
Tobias Harris has been the subject of trade rumors and backlash ever since he signed a five-year, $180 million contract with the Sixers in July 2019. He’ll make $39.3 million next season, the final year of his deal.
The Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Cleveland Cavaliers reached out to the Sixers about a Harris trade this offseason, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The 30-year-old Harris averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists last season while shooting 50.1% from the field, 38.9% from beyond the arc and 87.6% from the free-throw line.
An anonymous member of the Sixers told Keith Smith of Spotrac that the franchise “loves” Harris, whose father said the team hasn’t used his son correctly on offense. Harris also called out Sixers fans, saying casual supporters don’t understand how valuable he is.
Power Forwards
Starter: PJ Tucker
Reserve: Danuel House Jr.
PJ Tucker appeared in 75 games for the Sixers last season. He averaged 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 42.7% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc, and 82.6% from the free-throw line. Tucker and James Harden are very close friends, which is why Harden took less money last summer so the Sixers could sign Tucker.
Harden wants the Sixers to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers, who want to acquire Tucker in a Harden trade, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Los Angeles covets Tucker’s ability to guard multiple positions.
“PJ Tucker is another guy who could be out the door and was a key player they brought in recently,” Scotto said on his podcast. “James Harden and Tucker are great friends, and remember, Harden gave up about $15 million for PJ and Danuel House to be on that Sixers team last season. As I reported previously on HoopsHype, Tucker has come up in the trade talks between the Sixers and Clippers. The Clippers covet Tucker’s ability to guard multiple positions and defend the league’s top opposing scorers.”
If Harden and Tucker remain on the Sixers, both players will be starters.
Centers
Starter: Joel Embiid
Reserves: Mo Bamba, Paul Reed
Joel Embiid averaged 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds last season while shooting 54.8% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free-throw line. He won the MVP Award over Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
In 394 regular-season games with the Sixers, Embiid is averaging 27.2 points and 11.2 rebounds. He has made six All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams, and three All-Defensive teams and won one MVP Award.
Embiid, who signed a four-year, $210 million contract extension in 2021, has given the Sixers assurances that he is “OK” riding out the current drama with James Harden, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
