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Imagining Joel Embiid without the Philadelphia 76ers is not easy, and the same goes for vice versa. Embiid has put the 76ers among the elite teams in the last few years. However, other teams are already eyeing the 2023 MVP, who becomes a free agent after the 2026-27 season, according to reports.
Embiid signed a hefty four-year $213 million contract with the 76ers in 2022, earning him $52 million on average each season.
Looking at the circumstances unfolding in Philadelphia, there are questions circulating about the star player’s satisfaction with the management.
He is 29 years old and has yet to make a single trip to the NBA Finals. In terms of pairing him with star players, the front office has left no stone unturned. They signed Jimmy Butler, who left for the Miami Heat. The James Harden saga is not even close to coming to an end, and Embiid finds himself entangled in the drama.
After Damian Lillard joined Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks, there is no doubt that Joel Embiid is having wandering eyes. He wants to win a championship in Philadelphia, and perhaps the 76ers have just one asset in Tyrese Maxey.
Moreover, in 2024, the 76ers will have massive cap space. The team could use it to sign a star player alongside Embiid. It would give them a chance to lure him into signing a new contract and possibly winning a championship.
Joel Embiid and 76ers' fate in 2023-24 season
A lot of what happens in Philadelphia and how far it goes into the season depends on two factors — what James Harden decides about his future with the team and the level of improvement Maxey shows in the coming months. If Harden comes back to play, the 76ers are one of the favorites to come out of the East.
Tyrese Maxey has shown that he can create his own shot even in the absence of Embiid. He is one of only a few players who have shot over 40% from the 3-point line and that too in a high volume.
Joel Embiid has said that he likes the new system under Nick Nurse. Apparently, Embiid did not like Doc Rivers’ style of gameplay where he had to take the majority of the offensive responsibility. If Philly is able to acquire at least one more star player, it could change the fate of the Eastern Conference.
