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3 reasons why it’s championship or bust for Philadelphia 76ers

By Michael Ivanoskos

Mar 20, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) reacts to the crowd in the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) reacts to the crowd in the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia 76ers
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 14: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks with James Harden #1 against the Denver Nuggets at the Wells Fargo Center on March 14, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Nuggets defeated the 76ers 114-110. 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) /

The Philadelphia 76ers have all the makings of a squad that is built to win now and not tomorrow. Sixers fans may disagree with this take, but it is not short-sighted in the least to say they have a relatively short window for success.

Expectations from media outlets and the NBA community have dubbed Philly as a frontrunner for making it out of a loaded Eastern Conference after they acquired megastar James Harden in a blockbuster trade-deadline move with the Brooklyn Nets.

3 reasons why it’s championship or bust for Philadelphia 76ers

The trade saw the Sixers trade Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks to the Nets for James Harden and Paul Millsap. This was a move that sets Brooklyn up for the long haul with young players and picks and gives Philly more of a win-now approach.

Since Simmons was likely never going to lace up for Philadelphia for the rest of the season, it’s essentially just trading depth away for The Beard in the form of Curry and Drummond.

Most people would consider the team that got the consensus best player in a deal to be the clear winner, and I think that’s true here. But there’s a difference between winning in the short term versus the long-term/bigger picture of it all.

I’ll go as far to say the next two seasons for the Sixers are total failures if they do not come away with at least one championship. It’s banner or bust for this aging Philadelphia core, especially considering their limited cap flexibility with all these super-sized contracts they are tied to.