{"id":1341,"date":"2026-05-11T12:03:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/76ers-offseason-preview-free-agency-draft-assets-and-joel-embiids-future\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T12:03:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:03:29","slug":"76ers-offseason-preview-free-agency-draft-assets-and-joel-embiids-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/76ers-offseason-preview-free-agency-draft-assets-and-joel-embiids-future\/","title":{"rendered":"76ers Offseason Preview: Free Agency, Draft Assets and Joel Embiid’s Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The 76ers had a changing of the guard during the 2025\u201326 campaign, and it will color everything they do moving forward. A roster built around veterans Joel Embiid and Paul George has shifted dramatically and is now led from the backcourt. Getting swept by the Knicks in the second round was a disappointing way to end the season, but Sixers fans should be excited about the future. <\/p>\n

Read more Patriots Schedule Tracker: Confirmed Games, Rumors & Everything Else We Know<\/a><\/p>\n

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Philly earned the seventh seed in the East thanks to a 109\u201397 win over the Magic in the opening play-in game. The reward was facing a Celtics team buoyed by the return of Jayson Tatum. Buoyed by the return of Embiid, who was recovering from an appendectomy, the Sixers authored a miraculous comeback from down 3\u20131 that culminated in a Game 7 victory on the road. All that momentum was stopped cold against the Knicks, who dominated their second-round series.<\/p>\n

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Embiid only played 38 games this season as he battled several injuries. Meanwhile, George was on the court for 37 regular-season games, due to knee surgery recovery and a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. Those absences allowed the team’s lead guards to shine. <\/p>\n

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More: <\/strong>76ers Season Grades-Evaluating Philadelphia’s Rollercoaster Year After Second-Round Sweep vs. Knicks<\/strong><\/p>\n

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While he’s been evolving into a superstar over the past three seasons, Tyrese Maxey fully seized control of the team this season. He set career-highs in points (28.3), rebounds (4.1), assists (6.6), steals (1.9) and minutes per game (38.0). Meanwhile, rookie VJ Edgecombe established himself as a legit Robin to Maxey’s Batman. The No. 3 pick from the 2025 draft averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 35.0 minutes per game. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. <\/p>\n

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Maxey and Edgecombe’s emergence this season reinforced that Daryl Morey and the team’s front office should be focused on building around them and turning the page for the franchise. <\/p>\n

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76ers’ 2026 free agents<\/h2>\n

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The Sixers have a few free agents who impacted the team this season that they’ll have to make decisions on. Kyle Lowry plans to retire, so he’s off the board. Starter Kelly Oubre Jr. and key rotation guard Quentin Grimes are unrestricted free agents, and the team has decisions to make there. The issue is that Philadelphia will have no cap space to work with. <\/p>\n

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The massive money owed to Embiid ($58.1 million), George ($54.1 million) and Maxey ($40.8 million) will take up around $153 million next season. That likely leaves the non-taxpayer mid-level exception or the taxpayer MLE available, depending on who they re-sign and for how much. <\/p>\n

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Unrestricted free agents<\/h3>\n

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