Different Season, Same Results

Different season same result. Since the start of phase two of the process call it 2017-18 season the
Sixers have been a perennial playoff team. They have qualified for the NBA’s postseason tournament in
all of those seasons since 2017-18.

2017-18 lost 2nd round to the Boston Celtics
2018-19 lost 2nd round to the Toronto Raptors
2019-20 lost 1st round to the Boston Celtics
2020-21 lost 2nd round to the Atlanta Hawks
2021-22 lost 2nd round to the Miami Heat

In that time, we have gone through two different Head Coach, a complete build up and tear down of
the bench, the acquisition of two “NBA superstars” in Jimmy Butler, and James Harden, and the thankful
trading of the BIGGEST BABY ever to play in Philadelphia ever Ben Simmons.

All of that has equaled the same results losing. This year we were told by the Sixers’ head coach that
winning was hard and that we should feel good about how hard our team competed because in his own
words “I did a great job this year”. The results don’t lie even if our coach is delusional about it.

The Process

We did not sign on to the process all those years ago for these results, did we? We didn’t sign on to the
process all those years ago for these excuses, did we? I say no we did not. The bottom line is this the
Philadelphia 76ers are not a Championship team end of the story.

That pill is certainly a very hard one to swallow after all we have endured as a fan base over the last
decade, but it is the truth.

It seems that every spring, and summer we dissect what has to be done to tweak the roster to bring in
the missing piece, or pieces to take us to al least the 3rd round of the NBA Playoffs. Different season same result.

Tobias Harris: The Most Coveted Over Paid Player in the NBA

This spring and summer will be no different. It has already begun the hypothetical trades are already
bouncing around the internet. Bradley Beal, Dame Lillard, etc., etc., etc. are all the rage right now. In
every scenario it has the Sixers sending Tobias Harris in the deal.

Now I’m not a Basketball expert by no means but I have eyes. I have very real concerns that any team
will take Harris off our hands for what he is being paid and the results that he produces.

Tobias Harris was the youngest player (19) in @NBA when @Bucks drafted him. He showed sparks but has bounced around since. Mammoth contract. Unmovable now. Decision by @sixers to go with him over Jimmy Butler obviously a terrible mistake (which Jimmy reminded them off last night) pic.twitter.com/F41VRDj8pL
— Faux James Franklin (@faux_franklin) May 13, 2022

Maxey is the Future, the Future of What?

So, when faced with that reality we turn to Maxey as the piece that would turn the team’s heads in pulling
off a trade that would get us out from under Harris. When we do that there is a side of the Sixers fan
base that protests such a move because it would damage the future of the team.

I say what future? This has been and will always be until the last resource is expanded about the process
and winning a Championship. The future is going to really hurt, and Maxey will not be able to fix that.
Instead, if left here post-process Maxey will be the lone marketing tool for the franchise to sell any
tickets while the team endures 60-plus loss seasons.

He like all the squad are a sacrificial member of the process. So, including Maxey in any move should be
on the table. Morey can try to find a trade partner for Harris and Maxey all he wants it won’t provide the needed
pieces to win a championship. The Sixers need to learn from the mistakes of the Eagles and other teams
that foolishly held on too long to the wrong pieces. We have waited long enough it is time for the process
to put up or shut up once and for all. Different season same result.

The Real Fix

The real fix for this team can be seen from the past mistake of a fellow Philadelphia Sports Team the
Eagles. Remember folks the 2018 offseason when rumblings and grumblings of moving off of Carson
Wentz might be the best thing for the Birds?

Most people in town got visibly insulted when asked about such a thing. Well, we saw first-hand how all
of that went down.

So, my fix for this team is the mega fix, TRADE JOEL EMBID that’s right I said it. There is no other player
on this team that could bring the value in return right now than number 21. An “NBA superstar”, All
Star, MVP candidate so on and so on.

I have seen enough of Embid to come to this realization he is a dominant presence in the middle, he is a
game-changer, and he is a monster of talent. He is also not a winner, he also doesn’t show up in key
moments, and he is also immature.

Moving off of Embid now would provide at least 3-5 players that could be more productive overall, they
may provide the shooters and the bench depth that we desperately need, they may provide a draft pick
or two to make the future a little bit more desirable, and it will provide a pathway to the finish line of
the Process good or bad.

Time to Put Up or Shut Up

Morey can try to find a trade partner for Harris and Maxey all he wants it won’t provide the needed
pieces to win a championship. The Sixers need to learn from the mistakes of the Eagles and other teams
that foolishly held on too long to the wrong pieces. We have waited long enough it is time for the process
to put up or shut up once and for all. Different season same result.

Matt Bednarczyk

Matt Bednarczyk is your host of Talking Philly Sports With Matty B. He is a proud retired US Army Sergeant First Class, he is also a combat veteran with over 80 months served in Afganistan, and Iraq . Huge Hockey Fan. Matt is a lifelong 4 for 4 Philly sports fan. Born and raised on the Mayfair and Tacony neighborhood lines of Northeast Philly. He brings over 40 years of Philadelphia Sports passion and provides a realistic look at our Major Sports Teams and the most passionate sports fans on the planet. Look for his show live on Edge of Philly Sports.