The Philadelphia 76ers are both a team in transition and an NBA championship contender. The transition part revolves around the ongoing Ben Simmons saga, but as soon as that is solved, Philly will resume its perennial push for the title...
For the most part, the Philadelphia 76ers know what they have on their roster. For now, at least. Until this franchise brokers the long-awaited Ben Simmons blockbuster, it will largely rely on players who were around last season...
The Philadelphia 76ers rank among the 2021-22 NBA season's biggest unknowns. They will be good—they haven't had a losing record in four seasons—but the question is whether they can be great...
Typically, the closer an NBA team is to championship contention, the less it has to learn from summer league. The Philadelphia 76ers , who just snagged the East's No...
The Philadelphia 76ers are in a strange place. Normally, the idea of a team trading away a 25-year-old All-Star would be laughed out of existence. But in this case, it doesn't qualify as a remotely bold prediction...
There are two reasons why the 2021 NBA offseason became As The Ben Simmons Saga Turns for the Philadelphia 76ers . For starters, he's an available All-Star, which puts him in a class of his own...
76ers Trade Rumors: No. 28 Pick Being Shopped; Philly Eyeing Vets or Future Assets
Jul 23, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 1: President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 1, 2021 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to trade the No. 28 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, according to the PhillyVoice's Kyle Neubeck.
Neubeck reported "all signs point to Philadelphia moving No. 28 somewhere else." The front office is hopeful of flipping the pick for a proven veteran or future assets.
The Sixers are looking to win a title, so it's unlikely a prospect at the back end of the first round would immediately help them achieve that goal.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Philly to land VCU guard Nah'Shon Hyland in his most recent mock draft. Hyland averaged 19.5 points per game and shot 44.7 percent from the field in 2020-21.
Head coach Doc Rivers wasn't afraid to lean on Tyrese Maxey this past season. Maxey averaged 15.3 minutes per game in the regular season and appeared in all 12 of the team's playoff games.
However, Neubeck cited Maxey and the young players already on the roster, explaining there may not be a ton of minutes available for another emerging talent to work on their development.
Philadelphia would probably struggle to land a difference-maker for a late first-round pick, but the selection could be leveraged to add depth behind Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
Playmaking is an obvious area of concern after the Sixers struggled in that area in the business end of the season. Aside from Simmons, the team labored to find a floor general in the postseason, with Tobias Harris and Embiid finishing second and third on the team in assists.
Depending on what happens with Danny Green, who's an unrestricted free agent, Philly could also flip its first-round pick for a vet who fits the three-and-D mold.
76ers' Dwight Howard Nicknamed Tyrese Maxey 'Mad Max'; Joel Embiid Praises SG
May 9, 2021
Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey plays during an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Tyrese Maxey exploded for 22 points in place of an injured Ben Simmons in the Philadelphia 76ers' 118-104 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday and earned himself a nickname from Dwight Howard in the process.
The veteran center told reporters how he came up with the moniker:
"I call him Mad Max! He gets out on the court he causes havoc, he gets downhill, he's getting to the basket. I think he's getting his touch and he's getting a little bit better of a feel for the game of basketball. This year has been really tough for a rookie, no Summer League, not a lot of practices, and stuff like that so for him to come in and do what he's doing and playing big minutes and guys like Ben and Seth is out. I think he's stepped up and he's done a great job. I'm real proud of him."
Maxey has excelled all season when given a chance to play with the first unit, averaging 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in seven starts. His playing time has been inconsistent most of the season—as is wont to be the case when a rookie plays for a championship contender—but his ability to create off the dribble should give the Sixers an added dynamic in the postseason.
Joel Embiid said the "game becomes easier" with Maxey on the floor and credited him with giving the Sixers offense the push it needs when Simmons is out of the lineup.
Simmons is not expected to miss much time, but getting Maxey some minutes down the stretch could help boost his confidence for his first try at playoff basketball.
The Philadelphia 76ers might be perched atop the Eastern Conference standings, but they shouldn't use that as an excuse to sit out trade season. For starters, no club should feel totally complacent with its roster...
