In February 2022, the 76ers were a team buzzing with excitement, optimism and a ton of hype following a trade for James Harden that created a star duo with Joel Embiid.
Fast forward roughly 16 months, and the Sixers have become a franchise facing growing levels of immediate concern, beginning with free agency this offseason.
When the Sixers acquired Harden via trade from the Nets, many believed it would be the move that pushed Philly into legitimate title contention and could put the Sixers over the top. But after consecutive postseason eliminations in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and with Harden’s future being very much up in the air ahead of free agency, there are obvious reasons for concern.
