The Sixers will carry a 3-14 record into Saturday’s game in Detroit. The Pelicans are 4-16 after losing in Memphis on Friday. The two teams have combined for just four wins in the past month and – based on historical NBA outcomes – the odds are heavily against either one making the playoffs.
Still, neither the Sixers nor the Pelicans are prepared to throw in the towel in on this season, despite some compelling reasons to consider a pivot.
As Brian Windhorst of ESPN writes in an Insider-only story, the 76ers’ owe their 2025 first-round pick to Oklahoma City but would hang onto it if it lands in the top six. With uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid‘s health, rival executives are keeping an eye on the situation in Philadelphia to see if bottoming out and trying to hang onto that pick is a route the club contemplates.
However, sources tell ESPN’s Tim Bontemps they don’t expect the Sixers to opt for that path, and certainly not this early in the season. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report (video link) conveys a similar sentiment, noting that he’s been given no indication a major change of direction has been considered in Philadelphia. The team still hasn’t seen its three stars – Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey – play a full game together.
“You would want at least 25 games before you really judge your team and they haven’t had their top guys together at all,” one rival executive said to Windhorst. “Normally you wouldn’t even have this conversation right now; you’d be focused on saving your season.”
“They have the information on Joel’s health and that will probably inform their moves,” another league exec told ESPN. “There’s a lot of things to consider, including what your owner wants to do.”
As ESPN’s duo and Fischer point out, the underwhelming level of competition in the Eastern Conference is one key reason why the Sixers remain optimistic about their playoff chances. Sub-.500 teams like the Hawks, Nets, Bulls, and Pistons are currently vying for three of the play-in spots in the East and are only a few games ahead of Philadelphia in the standings.
Over in the Western Conference, the Pelicans – another team with major aspirations that has been hit hard by injuries – face a more daunting challenge, given the relative strength of their opponents in the West. As Windhorst writes, the idea of taking a “gap” year – like the 2023/24 Grizzlies and 2019/20 Warriors did when they were decimated by injuries – looks like an increasingly tempting option for the Pelicans, who control their own 2025 first-round pick.
But that’s not a consideration in New Orleans right now, sources tell ESPN. Fischer (video link) has heard the same thing and suggests that, like the Sixers, the Pelicans still plan to be an in-season buyer, not a seller, on the trade market.
It’s possible that stance will change before the February 6 deadline. According to Bontemps, rival teams believe the Pelicans have dug themselves too deep a hole in the season’s first few weeks and won’t be able to make up enough ground to be a playoff team even if and when they get healthy. If New Orleans comes to the same conclusion in a couple months, it would certainly impact how the front office approaches the trade deadline.
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, who is in the process of changing agents, remains a player to watch, says Windhorst, citing sources who say the two sides still can’t find common ground on a contract extension. However, finding a suitor willing to give up a desirable package to acquire and extend Ingram – and with whom the forward would be comfortable signing long-term – has been an challenge, Windhorst adds.
Wow, shocker. Genuinely though, the Sixers org can’t exactly “give up” right now because they’re not gonna trade any of the stars, and even selling off the roll players doesn’t really qualify as giving up. They are, effectively, locked in.
It is legit over – the season is done.
Can we stop with the Pelicans please.
> Fischer has heard the same thing and suggests that,
> like the Sixers, the Pelicans still plan to be an in-
> season buyer, not a seller, on the trade market.
Not credible. Currently 4-16, the injury depleted Pelicans need to finish 42-20 to make a projected 10th place in West. Probability less than 0.5%
Skeptical that any NBA exec/owner would 2025-26 wins to improve 2024-25 performance with negligible chance of play-in.
They will need a 10 game winning streak to get there which in the West will be almost impossible to do. Much easier for 76ers to do it in the East.
The Pelicans have some considerate roster issues that wont be addressed when everyone is healthy (if that ever happens) their starting lineup has zero shooting and they dont have center depth. They gotta do better and that most likely starts by trading Ingram for a center.
They would need to be willing to take some bad contracts and trade 1st round picks for that to happen. He is a $36 million hit on any team he is going to so they will need to add a lot of draft picks onto that.
Sixers are a joke. Josh Harris is a fraud. Sell the team. You love the Redskins. Get out. I am boycotting until he is gone. I won’t watch or care.
First the Redskjns are not a team so stop using the offensive word just to be one of those. Second I don’t think Josh Harris gives a crap if you watch the team. His billions are not impacted in any way so try to relax.
At this point the best is to keep Ingram for the rest of the season and give him all the money he wants in the summer or letting him walk as a free agent.
Ingram is not worth max money. Best thing to do is move him now. Clean house and tank for the draft.
Zion in 5 yrs. Has played 190 out of 410 gms. Less than half. This yr he’s only played 6 gms. Well on his way to missing half the yr. I would say trade Zion. But who is dumb enough to take him……
Sixers should see if Covington in favor can save this mess
Trade CJ McCollum, Missi, Robinson-Earl and a 1st to Brooklyn for Claxton and Finney-Smith
Sign Payton and Boston to standard contracts then sign Fultz to one too
Embiid to blazers or pacers. Or here’s a kicker….Embiid for Zion & Hilton Jones.
Hahaha yeah
Embiid to the BLAZERS ……. BLAZERS, centers and good health – these words just don’t mix well.
Embiid for Zion (and assets) …….. DNP’s fpr DNP’s …….. Let’s go.
As a Sixers fan I have more faith in the pelicans
Murray will return and him and CJ will make a solid backcourt. Then on the wings Ingram has been great at times, Trey has stepped up occasionally, there’s Herb for defence and ofcourse Zion when he chooses to play.
They need a centre, Missi has been solid but he can’t be expected to play at that high of a level just yet. Theis has been buns.
If anything I’m listing Zion up for trades and looking for a centre and more depth.
Zion for Ayton, Murray, Rupert and 2 firsts
That’s good depth, good full time centre, some picks and go from there.
Portland Scoot Sharpe Simons Avidja Zion Clingam Camara etc etc they have some exciting players and probably a year or two away from going from young developing to young and contending