The Philadelphia 76ers have done a good job navigating some brutal injuries in the early going of the 2022-23 NBA season. Despite just hitting December, they have already played chunks of time without their three best players; Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey.
Embiid has already missed eight games earlier this season but has since returned to the lineup. Maxey is up to seven and counting as he recovers from a small fracture in his left foot that is expected to keep him sidelined for 3-4 weeks. He has been out for about two weeks already and the team has been without Harden even longer.
Harden has appeared in only nine games as he suffered a right foot tendon strain in early November. He is hoping to return to action on Monday against the Houston Rockets, which would mean he will miss at least one more game.
Despite the rotating pieces in the rotation, the 76ers have managed to stay afloat, going 12-10 thus far. It has been a job well done by head coach Doc Rivers, who hasn’t had his Big 3 in the lineup together very much this season but is hoping to by mid-December.
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By that time, some trade talks could start heating up as well. December 15th is an important date on the NBA calendar because it is when a majority of players who signed contracts during the offseason are eligible to be traded.
Looking to contend in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers could be active in the trade market. Tobias Harris is someone that has been mentioned as a potential trade piece and the team could look for some help in the frontcourt as P.J. Tucker averaged 1.9 points per game in November, shooting only 29.4 percent from 3-point range.
Another goal of Philadelphia’s front office could be to get under the luxury tax. As shared by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the 76ers are only $1.1 million over the threshold. If they want to get under the luxury tax it would be relatively easy to do so as they could trade one of Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz and Jaden Springer.
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Thybulle and Korkmaz have both been part of the 76ers’ rotation in the past and have played more recently given the injuries. They are good insurance in case more injuries occur, but when the team is healthy, they are not a part of the regular. That is more than be said for Springer, who would benefit from a change of scenery.
Springer, a first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, hasn’t been part of the rotation since he was drafted. If he can’t get into the mix with Maxey and Harden both sidelined, it is hard to imagine him ever getting playing time in Philadelphia.
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