Many basketball aficionados feel the Sixers are in a notably worse position following the departure of James Harden, but their player Patrick Beverley shares a contrasting view.
The 76ers made a deal sending away Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers in return for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, an unprotected first-round pick in 2028, two second-round picks, a pick swap in 2029, and an extra first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Beverley believes that even in the absence of Harden or Tucker, and with the new additions, their squad still has the capability to vie for a title in the 2023-24 season.
“As a player, I’ve been part of teams with individuals such as Kawhi, Paul George, James, Dwight – you require every member,” shared Patrick Beverley on the Pat Bev Pod. “However, the way things are evolving and the ball circulation, and the necessity to not only concentrate on one or two players like in the past. It’s been encouraging. Even in their absence, we must find ways to secure victories and remain competitive. I am confident that our competitive drive won’t permit us to settle for anything other than striving to be challengers.”
The Sixers might still make tweaks to their lineup during the season to fortify their team, but Michael Pina of The Ringer remains skeptical.
“The idea of squandering a season of Embiid’s prime—when he hits 30 in March—is a disheartening one,” Pina observed. “Nevertheless, that’s a pessimistic viewpoint to interpret this scenario. Firstly, the group of players who complement Embiid and Maxey on the court, and are worth surrendering draft picks and cap space for, is extremely limited. Maybe a suitable prospect could become accessible in the next few months, but presently, the choices are restricted to players like Buddy Hield, Gary Trent Jr., and Spencer Dinwiddie.”
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