Could Horford end up being the worst contract of offseason?

[Moranis]

This Sixers roster just does not fit.  It's hard to tell where the true value of some of these players lays this season.  None of their best players are being utilized appropriately.  I figured defense would carry them and Harris would find a way to be the closer the team needed, but he slinks into the background too often.

My guess is Jimmy Butler saw this from the inside and that is why he wanted no part of staying in Philly.  The guys there all seem to get in each other's way and look to be having as much fun as last year's Celtics.

Guess the grass ain't always greener, eh Al?

Embiid seems to be the problem.  He just doesn't fit well with most of the rest of the roster and given he misses so much time, it is hard to work through those issues.  He is their best and most valuable player though, so it is a tricky situation.  I do think they'd be better off moving on from him as the rest of that roster could work, especially if they get the right pieces for Embiid.

Who takes Embiid?

I think a lot of teams will be open to it this summer (varying degrees of draft picks in the trade, I'm not mentioning them).  Denver, for example, if they think Jokic and Embiid could play together (and I'm not sure they can) could offer something like Murray and Harris for Embiid + filler.  I think that would be an interesting trade.  Sacramento seems like they have some interesting pieces something like Bagley, Bogdanovic/Hield, and Dedmon for Embiid makes some level of sense for both teams.  I think Portland for a package centered around either Lillard or McCollum makes sense.  Washington has Beal.  Minnesota with KAT, though I'm not sure Embiid would want to be there with what is left (Sacto has that, though to a lesser extent as they have more left).  If Butler and Embiid are ok, I think Miami could put together an interesting offer with something like Bam, Nunn/Herro, Winslow, and Olynyk.  Depending on where Golden State's draft pick ends up, I think they could be in the mix with Russell and the draft pick.  Indiana with Brogdon and Sabonis would be interesting.  What about Ayton, Oubre, and the lottery pick.  I'm sure there are plenty of other potential trades out there.  When someone like Embiid, with several years left, goes on the market, teams come out of the woodwork.  The Sixers would get a very nice package if they moved Embiid as a lot of teams would call (including Boston, but I didn't include them as I don't Philly would move him to Boston). 

[nickagneta]

Hubie Brown was talking at the start of the 2nd half that he spoke with the Philly coaches and the coach or coaches alluded to the fact they didn't think Embiid was trying very hard.

That's a very big deal. The "franchise" guy isn't trying hard and mails in a performance against a top notch rival ahead of Philly in the standings.

Embiid was a no show last night. His coaches hinted he wasn't trying. If you are Brett Brown or the Philly front office, that has to get you thinking maybe Simmons is the guy you keep and build with and move on from Embiid.

Problem with this is, of course, Simmons is so much easier to shut down, he also no shows games and definitely doesn't even try to shoot from outside.

If Philly decides to keep them, they should get a new coach. Brown has had tons of time to make this work and is failing. Give someone else the chance

[celticsclay]

Hubie Brown was talking at the start of the 2nd half that he spoke with the Philly coaches and the coach or coaches alluded to the fact they didn't think Embiid was trying very hard.

That's a very big deal. The "franchise" guy isn't trying hard and mails in a performance against a top notch rival ahead of Philly in the standings.

Embiid was a no show last night. His coaches hinted he wasn't trying. If you are Brett Brown or the Philly front office, that has to get you thinking maybe Simmons is the guy you keep and build with and move on from Embiid.

Problem with this is, of course, Simmons is so much easier to shut down, he also no shows games and definitely doesn't even try to shoot from outside.

If Philly decides to keep them, they should get a new coach. Brown has had tons of time to make this work and is failing. Give someone else the chance

Wait so the coaches thought he was not trying but kept playing him? That seems like the craziest part of this

[jambr380]

We've discussed this before, but I also believe PHI should move on from Embiid and acquire a top-tier scoring guard who can create for himself and play off-ball. Of course, Kemba would be great, but that isn't going to happen - so Beal and Lillard would seem like the top targets.

If Philly is stuck with Horford and Harris, it really isn't all doom and gloom. They should be playing C and PF, respectively anyway. And with Simmons' height, they would still have plenty of size. A legit #1 scoring threat would really help that team run a lot smoother and they would get a lot more easy buckets on the fast break and even in the half court without Embiid down low. I would think there would be quite a bit more ball movement, too, making everybody happier.

[CelticsElite]

Average Al put up 6 pts

Father Time is really taking a toll

[gouki88]

Average Al put up 6 pts

Father Time is really taking a toll

Him and Mike Conley seem to be competing for who can suddenly fall off a cliff fastest

[Moranis]

Average Al put up 6 pts

Father Time is really taking a toll

Same as Harris, though Al only took 5 shots in his 22 minutes, while Harris took 12 shots in his 25 minutes.

[gouki88]

Average Al put up 6 pts

Father Time is really taking a toll

Same as Harris, though Al only took 5 shots in his 22 minutes, while Harris took 12 shots in his 25 minutes.

Philly fans on Liberty Ballers are really (and, in my mind, rightfully) turning on Harris, as well as turning on the FO for giving him that bonkers contract. He's been essentially the exact same player since his Orlando days

[SHAQATTACK]

Average Al put up 6 pts

Father Time is really taking a toll

Average Al  is now Below Al 

[Who]

If I am Philly, I am more scared of playing Toronto or Miami in the playoffs than I am of Boston or Milwaukee.

Toronto have the size & defense in the frontcourt to matchup well plus explosive outside shooting from their small guards. Miami space the floor so well and pull Philly's bigs and forwards out of the paint. Terrific passing plus outside shooting.

I am not keen on either Toronto or Miami going far in the playoffs. I think they are both a bit lightweight. Both teams need another star talent. But ... both matchup really well with Philly.

Also more scared of Boston than Milwaukee. Boston can best replicate what Toronto and Miami do. Milwaukee does not (too Giannis-centric). Milwaukee is the team they best matchup with it in the East.

[celticinorlando]

I think Philly is soft. And Al does not fit that system at all. Should have stayed in Boston.

[Moranis]

If I am Philly, I am more scared of playing Toronto or Miami in the playoffs than I am of Boston or Milwaukee.

Toronto have the size & defense in the frontcourt to matchup well plus explosive outside shooting from their small guards. Miami space the floor so well and pull Philly's bigs and forwards out of the paint. Terrific passing plus outside shooting.

I am not keen on either Toronto or Miami going far in the playoffs. I think they are both a bit lightweight. Both teams need another star talent. But ... both matchup really well with Philly.

Also more scared of Boston than Milwaukee. Boston can best replicate what Toronto and Miami do. Milwaukee does not (too Giannis-centric). Milwaukee is the team they best matchup with it in the East.

They do match-up fairly well with Milwaukee, but I think Milwaukee is just a better team and I do think they will struggle to really defend Giannis well.  They really could use someone like Covington in that regard.

[Moranis]

Average Al put up 6 pts

Father Time is really taking a toll

Same as Harris, though Al only took 5 shots in his 22 minutes, while Harris took 12 shots in his 25 minutes.

Philly fans on Liberty Ballers are really (and, in my mind, rightfully) turning on Harris, as well as turning on the FO for giving him that bonkers contract. He's been essentially the exact same player since his Orlando days

Yeah Harris is the much larger problem.  Al is overpaid, but he is also paid the 4th most on the team (accounting for Simmons max kicking in) and they always knew that he was likely their 5th offensive option with a fully healthy squad.  Even right now as a 4th option, he is a fairly typical 4th option i.e. some games where he gets going and some games where they don't use him much.  I mean Brook Lopez is Milwaukee's 4th option and Donte DiVincenzo or George Hill is their 5th option.  Al, even with all the negative pub, is still better than those guys.  He is paid too much for that role, but you sometimes have to overpay to land a guy as a free agent.  Similarly, the Lakers 4th and 5th options are Danny Green and KCP (or maybe even Bradley) and the Lakers 3rd option, Kuzma comes off the bench so he doesn't even share a lot of touches with the top guys.  The Clippers have 4 great scorers and then players like Landry Shamet, Patrick Beverley, etc.  No question Horford is overpaid, but his actual production is fairly typical for a guy that is a 4th or 5th option on offense i.e. basically 12/7/4

[SHAQATTACK]

I think Philly is soft. And Al does not fit that system at all. Should have stayed in Boston.

money

[DefenseWinsChamps]

He should have. He's a pretty steady guy mentally, but I do wonder how many times he's had private conversations with friends where he talked about wishing he was in Boston.