The Philadelphia 76ers are preparing for the 2023-24 season while dealing with the James Harden saga. The Sixers want to receive either an impact player in a Harden trade or draft picks they can flip to acquire that impact player. The goal with either option is to remain contenders.
If Harden were to change his mind and return to the Sixers, he and Joel Embiid should allow Philadelphia to move forward in the Eastern Conference. The two form a duo that is incredibly tough to stop in the pick-and-roll game.
ESPN has come out with its projections for the season, and the Sixers are projected to finish with 46.9 wins and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference:
This projection includes a full season (70 games) of James Harden. Even if Harden’s availability and play are unaffected by his unfullfilled trade request, Philadelphia might move backward in the East pecking order because of the growth of the young Cavaliers.
The Sixers will remain one of the top teams in the East, but it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming season. While Harden, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey form one of the better trios in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs have a great deal of young talent that figures to get better as time goes on. Then, of course, there’s the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics to contend with as well.
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