Category: 76ers

Sixers’ Paul George, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey ranked 2nd-best trio in the NBA

Philadelphia 76ers stars Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey are ranked as the 2nd-best trio in the league.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a lot of hype surrounding them following the big addition of Paul George. The Sixers are now led by George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey to form one of the more talented trios in the league.

On top of that, the Sixers have put some solid pieces around them in the form of Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, and Caleb Martin as well as bringing back Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry. The Sixers have had a very good offseason at this point.

With the new Big 3 leading the way, Bleacher Report ranked the top trios in the league with the Sixers coming in ranked No. 2 behind only the Boston Celtics:

Truthfully, there’s a chance no threesome in the league is as well-rounded. Embiid gives you that top-end MVP talent who can anchor a defense entirely on his own. Maxey has transformed into a lethal three-level scorer with developing playmaker chops. George’s off-ball motion will brutalize defenses yet he still has the on-ball skill necessary to generate looks from scratch. His defensive slippage has also been dramatized, even if the Sixers may wind up a little too reliant on him during non-Caleb Martin minutes.

On paper, the Sixers should absolutely be the biggest challenger to the Celtics in the East. With that being said, Philadelphia will need healthy playoff runs from Embiid and George to get the job done. While both are extremely talented players, they both have an injury history and that’s something the Sixers will have to be cognizant of.

 

Report: Sixers, rookie Adem Bona agree on 4-year $8 million deal

The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly agreed to a 4-year $8 million deal with rookie big man Adem Bona.

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Adem Bona with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft as they like what the big man brings to the table in terms of his energy and defensive ability.

Bona has been terrific on the defensive end to begin the summer league as he’s averaging 3.5 blocks in the first four games of the summer circuit per Real GM. Three of those games in Salt Lake City and the other in Las Vegas where he had five blocks to begin the Vegas summer league on Saturday.

As Bona looks to prepare for his rookie season, he and the Sixers have reportedly agreed to a 4-year $8 million deal.

Bona and the Sixers will look to continue his development in the summer league on Monday when Philadelphia takes on the Portland Trail Blazers. He will be matched up with No. 7 overall pick Donovan Clingan as he looks to show off his skill against the young Portland big man.

 

Former NBA guard Brandon Jennings throws down challenge for Sixers

Former NBA guard Brandon Jennings throws down a challenge for the new-look version of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers have gone through a major roster upheaval in the 2024 offseason as president Daryl Morey has taken advantage of the cap space he created. The Sixers are in a fantastic position to contend in the Eastern Conference seriously.

The addition of Paul George is the big highlight for Philadelphia as he will join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to form one of the more talented Big 3s in the league. If those three are healthy combined with the strong supporting cast the Sixers have built, then they should be in a great position in the 2024-25 season.

Former NBA guard Brandon Jennings is throwing down a challenge to the new-look Sixers as he stated on “Gil’s Arena”:

Y’all gave him $212M… to be the third option? Philly better win the championship this year. They better win the championship year. I don’t wanna hear (expletive).

The Sixers certainly still have some work to do, but Philadelphia is also in the driver’s seat of heading toward a championship. A lot of it will depend on injuries, but as long as the Sixers are healthy in the playoffs, they will have a terrific chance at going deep into the postseason.

 

Tyrese Maxey attends Sixers’ summer league contest vs. Pistons

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey was present in support of the youngsters in a summer league win over the Detroit Pistons.

The Philadelphia 76ers continued the summer league on Saturday when they took on the Detroit Pistons in the Las Vegas opener. They played their first three games in Salt Lake City before heading over to Vegas to continue the summer circuit.

The Sixers were able to defeat the Pistons 91-84 thanks to the strong play of Ricky Council IV who had 24 points in a leading effort. The second-year forward out of Arkansas has made a strong effort to the summer schedule for Philadelphia.

The Sixers were able to put on a strong effort in front of their All-Star point guard with Tyrese Maxey on the sidelines. Maxey has been very supportive of the youngsters on the Sixers thus far in the offseason.

Maxey has been a supportive veteran for Philadelphia’s younger players and him showing up tp summer league in Vegas is another example of that. The Sixers will continue to lean on him as time moves forward.

 

Former Villanova coach Jay Wright reacts to Sixers bringing back Kyle Lowry

Former Villanova coach Jay Wright reacts to the Philadelphia 76ers bringing back Kyle Lowry in free agency.

The Philadelphia 76ers were able to bring back Kyle Lowry on a 1-year deal after picking him up in February off the buyout market. The Sixers were in need of another ball-handler after Tyrese Maxey and rookie Jared McCain and Lowry fills that role.

In 23 games with the Sixers, 20 starts, Lowry averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 assists while shooting 40.4% from deep so he still has some game left. He will come off the bench with this new group in an effort to lead the bench unit.

Former Villanova coach Jay Wright, who coached Lowry while in college, took to Twitter to react to the Sixers bringing back the veteran. He tagged Maxey and Joel Embiid as well as he will likely play a role for them as well.

Lowry is a proven veteran who will play a role for this group off the bench and the Sixers will turn to him to be a claiming voice when things get a little rocky.

Tyrese Maxey shares satisfaction with Sixers bringing back Kyle Lowry

Tyrese Maxey shares his satisfaction of the Philadelphia 76ers bringing back Kyle Lowry in free agency.

The Philadelphia 76ers were able to bring back Kyle Lowry in free agency after agreeing to a 1-year deal with the veteran guard. The Sixers picked up Lowry off the buyout market in February and he played an important role as a veteran to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

Lowry may be losing a step here and there, but he is an important piece on this roster. He knows coach Nick Nurse like the back of his hand and will be a great voice on the roster for young guards like Maxey and Jared McCain.

In fact, Maxey took to Instagram to share his satisfaction and approval of the Sixers bringing back Lowry.

Lowry averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 assists while shooting 40.4% from deep for the Sixers after being picked up. He will look to continue to make an impact for this team as they look to win their first title since 1983.

Kelly Oubre Jr. happy that Sixers signed Caleb Martin in free agency

Kelly Oubre Jr. is happy the Philadelphia 76ers brought in close friend Caleb Martin in free agency.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers made their big move in free agency with the addition of Paul George. However, another addition that will make a big impact is Caleb Martin.

The Sixers brought in Martin on a 4-year deal to help push them over the hump in the East. Martin has a ton of experience winning with the Miami Heat and will look to carry that with him over to the City of Brotherly Love.

Kelly Oubre Jr., who re-signed, played with Caleb’s twin brother Cody Martin while with the Charlotte Hornets. Oubre has a lot of love for Caleb and the Martin twins for what they bring to the table.

“I’m really excited to talk craft with Caleb, because I played with his brother Cody,” Oubre said. “Him and his brother Cody, they tag teamed me when I was at Findlay (Prep), knocked me out of the national championship tournament when they were at Oak Hill–but that’s my brother from afar.”

In fact, Oubre feels as if he has formed a “triplet” with both the Martin twins. He is looking forward to what Caleb brings in terms of his hustle.

“I’m like a triplet at this point,” Oubre laughed. “I’m really excited, man, because he goes really hard and everybody respects his work ethic and what he brings to the game. I think Philly fans will fall in love with him, too.”

The feeling appears to be mutual. Caleb was asked about his relationship with Oubre and gave a lot of praise to his new Sixers teammate.

“Kelly’s a really good dude,” said Martin. “I know he spent a lot more time, especially with my brother Cody, but for the times I’ve been around Kelly, it’s like I’ve known him for years. Just a good dude. An easygoing dude.”

Oubre is one of those players who is about his business, but he also wants to keep it fun and have everybody laugh. The veteran forward is certainly a great personality to have in the locker room and Martin acknowledged that.

“He’s about his business, but he likes to have a good time doing it so that’s the type of guys that you need implemented in your group to try and keep business fun at the same time and try to have fun as much as you can because of how tough the journey can be,” Martin finished. “He’s gonna be a big piece of what we try to do.”

When can Sixers trade KJ Martin after signing new 2-year deal?

When can the Philadelphia 76ers include KJ Martin in a trade after signing him to a new 2-year deal?

The Philadelphia 76ers brought back KJ Martin on a 2-year $16 million deal to continue to build the roster around their trio of stars. The Sixers still have some work to do, but to have Martin back is a nice move at this stage of the offseason.

On the one hand, the Sixers have another bench piece on the roster and somebody who is familiar with coach Nick Nurse’s offense. He will be a useful player for Nurse and the Sixers on the floor.

On the other hand, Martin can also be used in a trade down the line.

Philadelphia appears to have signed Martin to something called a “balloon deal” which is a short-term contract with an average annual value higher than his actual market. With all due respect to Martin, this is a deal above the market and could be included in a deal.

Per capologist Yossi Gozlan, the Sixers can move Martin on Jan. 15.

In the meantime, Martin is a superb athlete and somebody who works his tail off to improve as a player. He will continue to grow as a youngster in this league and will look to take steps forward with more playing time.

Joel Embiid, Sixers in Eastern Conference Group A for NBA Cup tournament

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are placed in Group A in the 2024-25 NBA Cup Tournament.

The 2024-25 season will feature the second annual in-season tournament that has a new name: The NBA Cup.

All 30 teams will be divided into six, five-team groups. Joel Embiid and the Sixers will be in Group A in the Eastern Conference. They will be joined by the New York Knicks, the Orlando Magic, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Charlotte Hornets with games beginning on Nov. 12.

Each team will play the four other teams in its group, and eight teams will advance to a single-elimination tournament playoff capped by the title game in Las Vegas in early December. The Sixers were eliminated in group play in the initial NBA Cup Tournament in the 2023-24 season.

Embiid and the Sixers, of course, were knocked out of the playoffs by the Knicks in 2024. Philadelphia will be looking to make a statement against the Knicks when the group play begins in November with a new look team led by the addition of Paul George.

Sixers to bring back forward KJ Martin on a 2-year $16 million deal

The Philadelphia 76ers will bring back forward KJ Martin on a 2-year $16 million deal.

The Philadelphia 76ers are continuing to build their roster around their new Big 3 of Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. They were able to bring in Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, and Caleb Martin in free agency and now, they have brought back some of their own free agents.

Kyle Lowry agreed to a deal on Thursday to return, and now, the Sixers will bring back another of their own: KJ Martin.

The Sixers acquired Martin from the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden deal and he played 58 games for the Sixers after the deal. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds for Philadelphia while shooting 54.4% from the floor.

Martin is an athletic forward who will be in the running for some playing time in the coming season. Another option for him and the Sixers could be as a potential trade chip, but for now, he knows what coach Nick Nurse expects and one has to assume he will be able to earn some more playing time.