In the days leading up to the NBA trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers faced a wave of uncertainty. All-Star center Joel Embiid suffered a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee and underwent a procedure that will sideline him for at least 6-8 weeks. As the team struggled, going 1-7 in their last eight games, the Sixers found themselves in the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The big question for the Sixers was how they would approach the deadline. If they believed Embiid would return this season, they could make moves to strengthen their roster and maximize his historic campaign. If they were pessimistic about his return, they might consider trading away their expiring contracts and shift their focus to the offseason. Ultimately, they chose a middle-ground approach.
