The Philadelphia 76ers are grappling with an array of issues during the 2024-25 NBA season, largely stemming from injuries and underperformance. The biggest regret surrounding the team centers on the decision to extend Joel Embiid‘s contract, a move that has weighed heavily on their salary cap and future prospects.
Embiid, a perennial All-Star, faced injury problems even before this season, raising questions about his long-term durability. As the Sixers are forced to confront the ramifications of this contract extension, they now find themselves without their leading player, who was sidelined due to ongoing knee issues and will need surgery in the offseason.
Philadelphia had high expectations coming into the season, initially viewed as one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. However, a series of significant injuries, particularly to Embiid and fellow star Paul George, have derailed their championship aspirations, leaving them with the fifth-worst record in the league.
The financial implications of these injuries have also been staggering. With over 96 percent of their payroll currently sidelined, Philadelphia leads the NBA in salary lost to injuries, complicating their cap situation and limiting their ability to improve the roster moving forward.
NBA Analysis Claims Philadelphia 76ers’ Biggest 2024-25 Regret Involves Joel Embiid
Philly’s run this season has been regrettable and a huge part of their woes involves Embiid. This is detailed in an analysis by Dan Favale for Bleacher Report.
Choosing the Embiid extension over the Paul George signing erodes my soul a little bit. The former is (supposed to be) in his prime and not yet two years removed from winning MVP.
And yet, his overall deal may prove more crippling. After factoring in his three-year, $192.9 million extension, the Philadelphia 76ers now owe him over $248 million through 2028-29, his age-34 season. That commitment is tottering on ruinous when he barely ever looked like himself this season before getting shut down, and when the prognosis on his left knee can most charitably be described as unknown.
Looking ahead, the team must focus on retaining their draft pick, which is top-six protected. If they fail to secure a pick within the top six, it will head to Oklahoma City, emphasizing the importance of strategic choices in a season filled with adversity.
As they navigate this tumultuous period, the 76ers face a critical juncture. Decisions made now will define their future, whether they can retool around emerging talent like Tyrese Maxey or remain mired in a cycle of disappointment linked to past decisions, particularly surrounding Embiid’s contract.
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