Good news just keeps coming for the Philadelphia 76ers. Over the summer, they reloaded their roster after having just two players under contract. They maxed out star Tyrese Maxey, added nine-time All-Star Paul George, and now have a strong supporting cast of players, including Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, and Kelly Oubre.
That roster should be able to compete in a stacked Eastern Conference and have enough talent to beat the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks if everything breaks right for them. Leveling up their roster over the summer was only the beginning, however, with the Sixers recently agreeing to stay in Philadelphia after it seemed as though they were going to move to New Jersey. They will even get a new stadium, which was at the center of the dispute over where they would play.
As your Mayor, I'm speaking from my City Hall office with a very important announcement. I am proud to share that I have made my decision, and an agreement has been reached to ensure that our Sixers are staying home.
— Mayor Cherelle L. Parker (@PhillyMayor) September 18, 2024
I wholeheartedly believe this is the right deal for the People… pic.twitter.com/Fnj19mrBOV
With that settled, team president Daryl Morey turned his attention to superstar Joel Embiid, extending him on a 3-year, $193 million contract. The Sixers extend Embiid all but ensure that he will finish his career in Philadelphia, with him turning 30 this season and now under contract for at least the next four years.
JUST IN: Joel Embiid says he is signing a contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers. The one-time NBA MVP will sign a three-year, $193 million maximum extension with the 76ers, with a player option in 2028-2029, sources tell @TheAthletic. pic.twitter.com/BzA0mUO8yc
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 20, 2024
Although there are injury concerns involving Embiid, three top-two MVP finishes in the last four years, including winning in 2022-23, as well as back-to-back scoring titles, were apparently enough to convince the Sixers that he can live up to his new extension.
The Philadelphia 76ers get a double dose of good news before the start of the season.
Now that the Sixers have Embiid under contract for at least four years and as many as five, their core is set for the foreseeable future. Maxey is locked up for five seasons while George is under contract for the next four years and while he may not be a star for that entire time, it does give them time with the new big three.
Maxey is just 24 years old; Embiid is 30, and George is 34, which is a fairly wide age margin, but that might work out in their favor. Embiid should still have at least three great seasons left in him; Maxey's star is still on the rise, while George was brought in with the hopes that he can still play at a high level for at least two more seasons.
Assuming that he can then give them a two-year window before it starts to close. Fortunately, the Sixers have a strong team that should be able to make a run at the Eastern Conference Finals.