In recent years, the Philadelphia 76ers have made no secret of the fact that their roster will be built around their own superstar Joel Embiid, giving up multiple assets to ensure he has the players around him that allow him to excel. Unfortunately, the Sixers ultimately failed championship-wise, and now the idea of a minor rebuild is unrealistic as they are on track to not have a pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
When pouring FanSideds latest NBA Draft Big Boardseveral things are becoming clear to a plethora of NBA fans, but most notable to 76ers supporters is that previous trades with the Oklahoma City Thunder have destroyed any hope of acquiring a star from this stacked 2026 draft class.
The atrocities of the 76ers’ past continue to haunt them
Philadelphia fans have become accustomed to heartbreak and disappointment when it comes to postseason ambition. It seems like every year the franchise is stuck in a vicious cycle that starts with an overwhelming sense of hope when an exciting group of players are added to the roster, and ends with extreme fits of rage when the 76ers’ dreams come true in spectacular fashion.
In 2020, one of these cycles began with a trade that would see the Sixers acquire Al Horford and Danny Green from the Thunder in exchange for their 2026 first-round pick. To make matters worse, Philadelphia continued to deal with Oklahoma the following year, trading for George Hill in exchange for the 76ers’ 2026 second-round pick (who could also land the Washington Wizards or Phoenix Suns).
Due to Philadelphia’s current position in the regular season standings, Oklahoma is ranked 19th overall. According to Fansides NBA Big Draft Board, this would lead to the 2025 champs selecting 21-year-old Iowa forward Álvaro Folgueiras – an effective off-ball scorer who can contribute positively to the defense. Ironically, this caliber of player is exactly what the Sixers need, highlighting the questionable things they have done recently.
Not all is lost for the City of Brotherly Love as they could still retain this pick if this campaign ends in the same manner as last year’s tragic season. If the 76ers finish the year among the lottery teams, they will retain this pick and have a wealth of outrageous talent to choose from. However, given that teams like the Wizards (3-19), New Orleans Pelicans (4-22) and Los Angeles Clippers (6-19) are in such dire circumstances, this is questionable.
Philadelphia has no room to turn away from a roster with veteran stars like Paul George, who is typically unavailable for selection. To make matters worse, Tyrese Maxey has thrived alongside rookie VJ Edgecombe in the role of the Sixers’ main offensive option. The franchise should build on the exciting young core they have built, but lacks the ability to do so.
The future of the Philadelphia 76ers remains shrouded in a thick fog of uncertainty. With the slew of talent available in the 2026 NBA draft, the Sixers’ past transactions hinder the franchise’s ability to enter a new era under Tyrese Maxey.
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