George and Embiid Under Fire: Are the 76ers Headed for a Major Shake-Up?
Yesterday, the 76ers suffered a dramatic 134–142 double-overtime loss to the Hawks.
But beyond the final score, this game carried deeper meaning: after more than eight months, Embiid, George, and Maxey finally shared the floor again.
Yet their long-awaited reunion did nothing to ease Maxey’s burden.
Maxey exploded for 44 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds, dragging the team until the final seconds. Embiid managed only 18 points, and George finished with 16, with both veterans forced to sit late in overtime due to minute restrictions.
After the game, Embiid admitted feeling guilty.
He praised Maxey for carrying the team but avoided answering when asked whether he can still return to MVP shape.
The truth is difficult to ignore: injuries are accelerating the decline of both Embiid and George. On paper, they remain the franchise’s star duo. On the court, however, their impact has shrunk dramatically—while their $50M+ salaries have grown into heavy burdens on the franchise.
And this uncomfortable situation?
The Philadelphia front office created it themselves.
Last summer, the 76ers had a real chance to reset and go younger. But their analytics-driven leadership chose a different path. They believed keeping the Embiid–Maxey core and adding a reliable third option on the wing could sustain their title hopes.
Following this logic, they pursued George aggressively and handed him a 4-year, $212M deal. Two months later, they doubled down, giving Embiid a 3-year, $193M extension, bringing his total five-year take to $301M—a massive commitment to a star who will be 34 when the deal ends.
But hopes of a championship faded quickly.
Last season, George appeared in only 41 games, averaging a modest 16.2 / 5.3 / 4.3—numbers unworthy of a supposed No. 3 option. His fit, rhythm, and understanding of the system were all off.
Embiid’s situation was even worse: only 19 games, 23.8 points, and a knee injury that never truly healed. His mobility noticeably regressed, and his style increasingly clashed with the league’s faster pace.
Their injury issues even spilled over to Maxey, throwing the entire system into chaos. The 76ers finished with just 24 wins, slipping into tank mode by season’s end.
This year hasn’t been much better.
Embiid has played only 7 games, still clearly hampered by his knee. George has appeared in five games since returning, but strict load management remains in place. His production—14 points per game and 31% from three—makes him barely the sixth-best scorer on the team.
Some analysts argue that simply having Embiid and George back is a positive first step. Establishing a stable rotation is essential if the 76ers hope to climb from ninth in the East. Their talent is still needed.
But what if both stars have already entered irreversible decline?
What if their best years are permanently behind them?
Meanwhile, Maxey is entering his prime with a vengeance.
This season he is averaging 32.3 points, 7.6 assists, 8.1 free-throw attempts, and 11.7 points in the paint—all career highs.
Rookie guard Acecume has also emerged as the team’s second-most reliable player. He shocked the league with 34 points in his debut and is now averaging 15.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds while playing 36.4 minutes, second-most on the roster.
McCain, last year’s promising rookie, is regaining form too—scoring 15+ in three of his last four games. And don’t forget Grimes, who stepped up when all the stars went down last season and is currently averaging 17 points as a key scoring option.
All four rising contributors are under 25, and they represent the real future of the franchise.
The 76ers' total payroll stands at $195M, only slightly above the luxury tax. This gives the team enough flexibility to keep testing the “big three” experiment a little longer.
But if Embiid and George remain limited, and the young players continue to surge, this youth movement could become the perfect reason for the 76ers to pivot early—toward a younger, faster, healthier core.
And at that point, the franchise might reassess its stance toward George and Embiid’s massive contracts entirely.
