NBA Team #3: Philadelphia 76ers
The city of Brotherly Love is home to the most loyal fans in professional sports. Subpar performances are not prohibited – simple. Losing in the divisional round of the Eastern Conference Finals did not sit well with residentials last season. It’s a redundant theme, causing temperatures to rise within the organization.
An early playoff exit forced the 76ers to make immediate changes. They fired Doc Rivers after three seasons with the team.
On June 1, Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced that Nick Nurse would become the new Head Coach. A baton swap is a peculiar decision with lingering issues on the table. Nick Nurse will become Joel Embiid’s third coach in eight seasons. Embiid has worked hard to become an MVP but hasn’t had a consistent staff since he joined Philadelphia. If Nurse is unsuccessful in his first year, how will it affect Philadelphia’s centerpiece’s decision to stay with the franchise?
Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and James Harden will have expiring contracts at the end of the 2024 season. A trade requests could put Harden on the market before the regular season tip off. If the Sixers decide to let their role players roam the market, how will their championship chance look in the future? A lack of role players could cause Embiid to consider his career. It will make the road to an NBA title longer, which is not good news for any professional athlete.