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  1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  2. <feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en">
  3.  <title>Liberty Ballers -  All Posts</title>
  4.  <subtitle>Honestly have no idea what we’re arguing about anymore.</subtitle>
  5.  <icon>https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50717/lb-fav.png</icon>
  6.  <updated>2025-04-30T14:30:00-04:00</updated>
  7.  <id>http://www.libertyballers.com/rss/current/</id>
  8.  <link type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" rel="alternate"/>
  9.  <entry>
  10.    <published>2025-04-30T14:30:00-04:00</published>
  11.    <updated>2025-04-30T14:30:00-04:00</updated>
  12.    <title>‘I think [Embiid and PG] are the two worst contracts in the NBA right now’</title>
  13.    <content type="html">  
  14.  
  15.    &lt;figure&gt;
  16.      &lt;img alt="Memphis Grizzlies v Philadelphia 76ers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0ModGSxTUGQcztN70-55MjCkx7Y=/0x0:4456x2971/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74058030/2181892625.0.jpg" /&gt;
  17.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  18.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  19.  
  20.  &lt;p&gt;Trysta Krick joins Liberty Ballers for a podcast putting a fork in one hideous 2025 for the Sixers — and the NBA analyst doesn’t sound too optimistic about their future either. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="W0apNC"&gt;Liberty Ballers interviewed basketball analyst and sports comedy personality, Trysta Krick. The host of ‘The Heat Check with Trysta Krick,’ goes ALL IN on some of the ways things have fallen apart for the &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"&gt;Sixers&lt;/a&gt; from Joel Embiid’s health and contract extension, to Daryl Morey’s biggest weakness as a GM, to Paul George’s shortcomings, the organization never living down the loss of Jimmy Butler, and she even goes in on “delusional” Philly fans who stanned for Ben Simmons way longer than they should have. &lt;/p&gt;
  21. &lt;p id="j0bXz9"&gt;Spoiler alert, Krick admits she thinks the Sixers have the two worst contracts in the &lt;strong&gt;entire league,&lt;/strong&gt; since Philadelphia still owes Embiid and PG a combined $410.5M in combined salary over the next four seasons.&lt;/p&gt;
  22. &lt;p id="ddcwq7"&gt;Listen to the full pod here on Youtube, and read some of the scorched earth teasers from the podcast below. &lt;/p&gt;
  23. &lt;div id="UayvZ5"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qIjalb_Xe7c?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  24. &lt;div id="QVSyrx"&gt;
  25. &lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"&gt;
  26. &lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;I had the pleasure of joining &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/DavidEarly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@DavidEarly&lt;/a&gt; of Liberty Ballers to talk all things Sixers, including my long and sometimes rocky history with Philly fans ... it was a ton of fun !!! &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Check it out wherever you get your podcasts and watch it here on YouTube:&lt;a href="https://t.co/3cfl2J3do1"&gt;https://t.co/3cfl2J3do1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Trysta Krick   (@Trysta_Krick) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/Trysta_Krick/status/1917422703126151393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;April 30, 2025&lt;/a&gt;
  27. &lt;/blockquote&gt;
  28. &lt;script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
  29.  
  30. &lt;/div&gt;
  31. &lt;h3 id="sTkziO"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trysta Krick on...&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
  32. &lt;p id="N3zb6k"&gt;Should the Sixers have traded Joel Embiid following his 2023 MVP season? &lt;/p&gt;
  33. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="3YJ3GY"&gt;Krick: “I was ready to let go of JoJo right after he won MVP. Right after. Because that’s when his value was the highest. You need to get rid of players — and [Daryl Morey and Elton Brand are] in the building, if you run this team you’re in the building, you know everything that JoJo goes through. His knee hasn’t been unswollen in a long time.... It’s like he’s an injury velcro. So if you know that and he wins MVP. there’s a lot of teams like the &lt;a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com"&gt;Knicks&lt;/a&gt; at one point that were clamoring for him. Just fleece them.... I know he’s f—ing electric when he’s playing on the court and he’s healthy. But he’s never healthy. So get what you can, lots of picks, probably some good players, because as of now you’re just kind of in this situation where you’re having a very expensive asset that’s no longer seen as an asset. And you saw how that was with Ben Simmons when it took forever to get rid of him.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  34. &lt;p id="VwTXzX"&gt;The Sixers most likely would have laughed at any offer that didn’t include Jokic, Giannis or perhaps Anthony Edwards back in 2023. But maybe they should have worked the phones at least a little more. (I mean if Luka Doncic was had by the &lt;a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com"&gt;Los Angeles Lakers&lt;/a&gt; &lt;em&gt;that &lt;/em&gt;cheaply, you never know.) &lt;/p&gt;
  35. &lt;h3 id="bPCif7"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;On Paul George&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
  36. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="tBLRNm"&gt;Krick: “I was sort of like on the fence. I wanted to kinda like get on the positive, optimistic side of Paul George, but... this guy is a combination of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. He’s got mental stuff, he’s not built for the bright lights, he withers under them. They call him ‘Pandemic P’ for a reason. He was again in a fetal position in the Bubble next to his bed cause he couldn’t handle the pressure. And he has injury issues like Joel Embiid. I don’t know why you pay that guy max money.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  37. &lt;p id="FtZby2"&gt;Ouch. It’s harsh but so far, fair. And Trysta was only getting warmed up. &lt;/p&gt;
  38. &lt;blockquote&gt;
  39. &lt;p id="DqEG7T"&gt;Krick: It just seems like [the 76ers] have been interested in the flashy headlines trying to win the offseason, trying to win the day, instead of building a roster that makes any damn sense.... &lt;/p&gt;
  40. &lt;p id="eT1odS"&gt;And then [George] had to cancel the podcast cause he’s getting ripped in the media.”   &lt;/p&gt;
  41. &lt;/blockquote&gt;
  42. &lt;h3 id="PbKP4B"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Is the best case scenario here that the 2023 MVP, the exemplar of The Process, never plays in Philly (or anywhere) again? &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
  43. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="MU6zuY"&gt;Krick: “I guess the best case scenario is that [Embiid] can never play again for [the Sixers]... he’s never gonna be fully healthy, right?.... Best case for the Sixers is they can get yeah, a medical exemption. That’s the best case. Best case for Joel is probably he goes somewhere else and figures out a way to be a 55 game [season] guy... man, where would that be? That’s a great question.... it would be a smaller market team. It would be a team that is in need of a star. Charlotte isn’t a bad —, a &lt;a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com"&gt;Washington Wizards&lt;/a&gt;, right? Like somebody with cap space, somebody with young players, somebody where he doesn’t necessarily feel like he’s in the spotlight every night. Kinda like you saw with Ben [Simmons] so like a Utah [Jazz]... and maybe a place with very little distractions too.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  44. &lt;h3 id="JxDtG6"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Wait for it...do the Sixers potentially have the two worst contracts in the NBA? &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
  45. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="kNNKw6"&gt;Krick: “Yeah. I think so, honestly. I mean, I think Bradley Beal is one of them too, cause you can’t trade him. You’re not physically allowed to trade him. So he’s up there too. But yeah, I mean you’re talking about guys making supermax money that can’t stay on the floor... now you’re thinking to yourself, man, maybe L.A. [Clippers] did everything that they shoulda done by just letting him walk out the door. And not taking any money back. And you just signed these guys... I think they are the two worst contracts in the NBA right now.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  46. &lt;p id="AvwlHR"&gt;Perhaps in the same vein as Embiid’s troubles might even be Daryl Morey’s potential enabling, per Krick. &lt;/p&gt;
  47. &lt;h3 id="7Q3p4k"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;On Daryl Morey&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
  48. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="JcLr13"&gt;“I guess I’m kinda mixed on Daryl Morey as a whole. He’s done some good things, he’s done some shitty things. He’s great on the margins but I feel he’s just too player friendly. You’ve seen guys kinda wild out, like the James Hardens of the world. And they develop bad habits. If Daryl Morey’s paired with a Jimmy Butler, then he doesn’t need to put Jimmy Butler in line. Jimmy Butler’s putting himself in line... if you coulda gotten Jimmy back at the deadline, that woulda been incredible. That would have been an incredible win. Could you imagine? Maybe trade Paul George over to Miami and a bunch of picks and you get Jimmy Butler back together, and maybe all of a sudden Joel Embiid is taking his recovery process more seriously.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  49. &lt;p id="nSBFqt"&gt;Won’t spoil any more, and we’ll have a follow up post with more heaters. But holy mackerel, Krick pulled no punches. It may be tempting for some of you to dismiss her points. But remember, she does have a pretty darn good track record on this team. &lt;/p&gt;
  50. &lt;p id="JmiJhS"&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  51.  
  52. </content>
  53.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24419052/joel-embiid-paul-george-daryl-morey-nick-nurse-jared-mcain-nba-free-agency-2025-nba-draft-lottery"/>
  54.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24419052/joel-embiid-paul-george-daryl-morey-nick-nurse-jared-mcain-nba-free-agency-2025-nba-draft-lottery</id>
  55.    <author>
  56.      <name>David Early</name>
  57.    </author>
  58.  </entry>
  59.  <entry>
  60.    <published>2025-04-30T13:30:00-04:00</published>
  61.    <updated>2025-04-30T13:30:00-04:00</updated>
  62.    <title>Editor-in-chief mailbag: Ref talk, draft trade ideas, more</title>
  63.    <content type="html">  
  64.  
  65.    &lt;figure&gt;
  66.      &lt;img alt="New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons in Eastern Conference playoffs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/e8OmdUvgze_tZFJvSjDRL-0yt38=/0x32:2400x1632/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74057900/2212728248.0.jpg" /&gt;
  67.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  68.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  69.  
  70.  &lt;p&gt;The one thing I learned this week: youse really don’t like NBA officiating (I agree).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="qLHnrY"&gt;Again, my solicitation for questions turned into something else entirely — this time a lambasting of NBA officiating (which ... fair). Don’t ever change, friends.&lt;/p&gt;
  71. &lt;p id="QtWf2X"&gt;With that said, there were some non-officiating related questions, so let’s get into them!&lt;/p&gt;
  72. &lt;div id="rZR9Zw"&gt;
  73. &lt;div class="coral-comment-embed coral-comment-embed-simple" style="background-color: #f4f7f7; padding: 8px; position: relative" data-commentid="cee001fe-4eb1-4bfd-9356-a0cd270049b2" data-allowreplies="true"&gt;
  74.  &lt;a target="_blank" style="position: absolute; z-index: 0; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24419442/editor-in-chief-mailbag-im-back-baby-nba-playoffs-sixers?commentID=cee001fe-4eb1-4bfd-9356-a0cd270049b2"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
  75.  &lt;div style="margin-bottom: 8px"&gt;BanAc4&lt;/div&gt;
  76.  &lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If Sixers pick at #6 (or #5) how a trade with OKC for Nicola Topic sounds? Maybe Topic + Dieng for the pick and Drummond (Btw can Drummond be traded in draft day if he hasn't picked his option by then?)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  77. &lt;/div&gt;
  78. &lt;/div&gt;
  79. &lt;p id="xccasN"&gt;Someone proposed this idea recently. I don’t dislike the thought, I’m just not sure it’s a match for either side.&lt;/p&gt;
  80. &lt;p id="PviBFD"&gt;For the &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"&gt;Sixers&lt;/a&gt;, the idea of adding future draft capital is a good one with uncertainty surrounding the futures of Joel Embiid and Paul George. I liked Nikola Topic coming out. Though the team is suddenly guard-heavy, you could sell me on his fit here. &lt;/p&gt;
  81. &lt;p id="l8kif9"&gt;The Thunder saw value in drafting him because his injury caused him to fall, but if OKC is already willing to move on before Topic has played a single NBA minute, doesn’t that make you wonder a bit? Like if they’re willing to use Topic to move up for a player in this year’s draft, wouldn’t it behoove the Sixers to simply draft that player themselves?&lt;/p&gt;
  82. &lt;p id="P0pflm"&gt;From the Thunder’s perspective, which player are they moving up for? The bigs are likely not a fit with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein under contract. A ball-dominant guard like Jeremiah Fears likely doesn’t make sense with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander running the show. Maybe OKC values the shooting of Tre Johnson or Kon Knueppel enough for such a move? I’m not sure.&lt;/p&gt;
  83. &lt;p id="0K5HbX"&gt;Maybe if someone like Ace Bailey or V.J. Edgecombe has an unexpected fall down the board that could tempt them, but again, wouldn’t it make more sense for the Sixers to simply take one of those guys themselves?&lt;/p&gt;
  84. &lt;p id="lUk11H"&gt;I’d be on board with the Sixers trading back only if the primary return is serious draft capital. This team needs to get younger and accumulate as many valuable assets as it can.&lt;/p&gt;
  85. &lt;p id="qnmqxf"&gt;Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Kelly Oubre, Jr. would not be eligible to be traded until they officially pick up their player options. The deadline for all players to pick up their options is June 29, so a few days after the draft.&lt;/p&gt;
  86. &lt;p id="ZQZ7ox"&gt;While they can’t be used as trade pieces during the draft, using those contracts for a younger player down the line is an interesting thought. Maybe the Sixers explore a guy like Keegan Murray. The Kings will likely look to shake things up this offseason and maybe the new front office will decide to move on from the previous regime’s No. 4 overall pick from 2022.&lt;/p&gt;
  87. &lt;div id="kdMcQF"&gt;
  88. &lt;div class="coral-comment-embed coral-comment-embed-simple" style="background-color: #f4f7f7; padding: 8px; position: relative" data-commentid="05f780ec-dbff-4486-b054-3b0f0a4c1491" data-allowreplies="true"&gt;
  89.  &lt;a target="_blank" style="position: absolute; z-index: 0; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24419442/editor-in-chief-mailbag-im-back-baby-nba-playoffs-sixers?commentID=05f780ec-dbff-4486-b054-3b0f0a4c1491"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
  90.  &lt;div style="margin-bottom: 8px"&gt;Tendonknightis21&lt;/div&gt;
  91.  &lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;What changes to Nurse’s staff are most likely and what does he and the team have to comment on them?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  92. &lt;/div&gt;
  93. &lt;/div&gt;
  94. &lt;p id="aTphsO"&gt;This is a good question but one I can’t give much clarity on, unfortunately.&lt;/p&gt;
  95. &lt;p id="zOedFa"&gt;I will say this, their developmental staff did an outstanding job. Jared McCain, Adem Bona and Justin Edwards all played as rookies and all three looked ready for NBA minutes. And when you consider how gnarly the roster got at the end of the season, they did an excellent job of assimilating so many new players. Much of the credit goes to the players themselves, but the coaches deserve a little there as well.&lt;/p&gt;
  96. &lt;p id="WFJ8zP"&gt;If the Sixers move on from anyone on the staff, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a player development coach get a shot at a more prominent role. I’m not sure any changes to Nick Nurse’s staff are imminent but I get fans wanting some type of shakeup after this past season.&lt;/p&gt;
  97. &lt;div id="nu4xXW"&gt;
  98. &lt;div class="coral-comment-embed coral-comment-embed-simple" style="background-color: #f4f7f7; padding: 8px; position: relative" data-commentid="dd3e9340-bcad-47f7-bd07-fb85b4cfb79c" data-allowreplies="true"&gt;
  99.  &lt;a target="_blank" style="position: absolute; z-index: 0; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24419442/editor-in-chief-mailbag-im-back-baby-nba-playoffs-sixers?commentID=dd3e9340-bcad-47f7-bd07-fb85b4cfb79c"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
  100.  &lt;div style="margin-bottom: 8px"&gt;JojoTheProcessEmbiid&lt;/div&gt;
  101.  &lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Is the NBA lottery rigged?  Did we get a special deal from Silver for agreeing to build our new stadium in south Philly?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  102. &lt;/div&gt;
  103. &lt;/div&gt;
  104. &lt;p id="4wOopb"&gt;My personal opinion is that way too many people would have to be involved in this conspiracy to work in this day and age. And with social media and the attention the league gets, I’m not sure they could get away with something like that.&lt;/p&gt;
  105. &lt;p id="KkuzyP"&gt;But if it is, the Sixers are certainly due for things to be rigged in their favor. It’s the least Adam Silver can do after the Colangelos.&lt;/p&gt;
  106. &lt;div id="gOrb3b"&gt;
  107. &lt;div class="coral-comment-embed coral-comment-embed-simple" style="background-color: #f4f7f7; padding: 8px; position: relative" data-commentid="7cdf676f-1aaf-493c-a31b-8d6964291e23" data-allowreplies="true"&gt;
  108.  &lt;a target="_blank" style="position: absolute; z-index: 0; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24419442/editor-in-chief-mailbag-im-back-baby-nba-playoffs-sixers?commentID=7cdf676f-1aaf-493c-a31b-8d6964291e23"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
  109.  &lt;div style="margin-bottom: 8px"&gt;noahflax&lt;/div&gt;
  110.  &lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Seriously, why do the Knicks get to play football at the end of playoff games and get away with it?  Is it simple incompetence, or is there something more sinister at play here?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  111. &lt;/div&gt;
  112. &lt;/div&gt;
  113. &lt;p id="VYkWo1"&gt;There was so much ref talk in the comments I felt like I had to address one of the questions. I chose this one because it’s Sixers-adjacent.&lt;/p&gt;
  114. &lt;p id="vPKWEZ"&gt;Typically, I’m a “do enough so the refs don’t impact the outcome” guy. You could argue that if the Sixers simply box out Hartenstein in Game 2 last year, they still win that game. But this is one instance where it really should never have come to that. Tyrese Maxey was fouled multiple times and there appeared to be multiple instances where the Sixers should’ve been awarded a timeout.&lt;/p&gt;
  115. &lt;p id="uYiaSC"&gt;Now, in all likelihood, the Sixers still lose that series. Embiid’s knee felt like a ticking time bomb (and he still scored 50 points in Game 3 and 39 in Game 6!) and it’s difficult to imagine the Sixers winning Game 7 at MSG, but it would’ve been nice to know for sure. The Sixers got robbed at the end of Game 2, plain and simple.&lt;/p&gt;
  116. &lt;p id="OzGQOR"&gt;As our Greg Frank recently wrote though, &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/29/24419873/knicks-pistons-first-round-series-nba-playoffs-sixers"&gt;the Knicks are basically the new Sixers&lt;/a&gt;. They sure look like they have a hard ceiling on the second round for the foreseeable future. I would be pretty surprised if they were able to take down the &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Celtics&lt;/a&gt;, especially after the fight the Pistons are giving them. It appears running your players into the ground does eventually catch up.&lt;/p&gt;
  117.  
  118. </content>
  119.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24420336/editor-in-chief-mailbag-2025-nba-draft-lottery-playoffs-knicks-sixers-pistons"/>
  120.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24420336/editor-in-chief-mailbag-2025-nba-draft-lottery-playoffs-knicks-sixers-pistons</id>
  121.    <author>
  122.      <name>Paul Hudrick</name>
  123.    </author>
  124.  </entry>
  125.  <entry>
  126.    <published>2025-04-30T12:25:01-04:00</published>
  127.    <updated>2025-04-30T12:25:01-04:00</updated>
  128.    <title>Sixers offseason mailbag: The summer of Giannis?</title>
  129.    <content type="html">  
  130.  
  131.    &lt;figure&gt;
  132.      &lt;img alt="Milwaukee Bucks v Philadelphia 76ers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GPP_QgzTMFGxVQAbNtyRPN--_iE=/0x1:4316x2878/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74057766/2208871066.0.jpg" /&gt;
  133.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  134.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  135.  
  136.  &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time in Milwaukee might be coming to an end. Could that affect the Sixers’ offseason plans?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="TVvX62"&gt;The &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"&gt;Sixers&lt;/a&gt; now have even more company in the Went Out Sad This Year department.&lt;/p&gt;
  137. &lt;p id="lsElZB"&gt;After getting routed in their first two games, the Memphis Grizzlies briefly looked like they’d get back into their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They jumped out to a massive first-half lead in Game 3, but Ja Morant suffered a hip injury shortly before halftime and the Thunder pulled off a historic comeback. The Grizzlies fought valiantly without Morant in Game 4, but they couldn’t stave off a sweep. They’re &lt;a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2025/04/29/grizzlies-facing-franchise-altering-decisions-with-ja-morant-jaren-jackson-jr/"&gt;now left wondering&lt;/a&gt; whether to continue building around Morant and how extension talks with Jaren Jackson Jr. will go this offseason.&lt;/p&gt;
  138. &lt;p id="AVQ6hQ"&gt;Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo &lt;a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2025/04/28/damian-lillards-achilles-tear-might-end-the-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-era/"&gt;might have just played his final game&lt;/a&gt; with the &lt;a href="https://www.brewhoop.com"&gt;Milwaukee Bucks&lt;/a&gt; on Tuesday. Damian Lillard tore his Achilles in Game 4, which effectively shuts the door on the Bucks’ short-term title hopes. Giannis has been unceasingly loyal to Milwaukee to date, but both he and the Bucks would arguably be better off moving on from one another at this point. The Bucks are capped out, have virtually zero draft capital between now and 2030 and don’t have a young player like Tyrese Maxey or Jared McCain who gives them hope for the future.&lt;/p&gt;
  139. &lt;p id="OWAekx"&gt;The playoffs are the ultimate moment of clarity for teams. If you get waxed in the first round, you aren’t nearly as close to winning a championship as you might expect. That often sets the stage for explosive offseason moves.&lt;/p&gt;
  140. &lt;p id="GucDes"&gt;So… how do the Sixers fit into this larger picture? Do they have the assets for a Giannis deal? Could they work their way into a larger multi-team trade? Could they pilfer someone from the Grizzlies if they decide to shake things up? That’s what this mailbag is for.&lt;/p&gt;
  141. &lt;p id="LMjwNT"&gt;Drop your top offseason questions either in the comments section below or send them to me on Bluesky &lt;a href="https://bsky.app/profile/btoporek.bsky.social"&gt;(@btoporek.bsky.social&lt;/a&gt;) and I’ll answer as many as I can tomorrow.&lt;/p&gt;
  142. &lt;p id="EC6EQt"&gt;In the meantime, I’ll be wondering where in the hell this version of Tobias Harris was for the past half-decade. (At least James Harden predictably no-showed on Tuesday?)&lt;/p&gt;
  143.  
  144. </content>
  145.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24421006/sixers-offseason-mailbag-the-summer-of-giannis-antetokoumpo-bucks"/>
  146.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24421006/sixers-offseason-mailbag-the-summer-of-giannis-antetokoumpo-bucks</id>
  147.    <author>
  148.      <name>Bryan Toporek</name>
  149.    </author>
  150.  </entry>
  151.  <entry>
  152.    <published>2025-04-30T10:28:34-04:00</published>
  153.    <updated>2025-04-30T10:28:34-04:00</updated>
  154.    <title>Justin Edwards’ NBA journey comes full circle with the Sixers</title>
  155.    <content type="html">  
  156.  
  157.    &lt;figure&gt;
  158.      &lt;img alt="Milwaukee Bucks v Philadelphia 76ers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FTY8edeNFWLb__dTTIDvVZs_7Aw=/0x0:5137x3425/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74057536/2208871061.0.jpg" /&gt;
  159.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  160.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  161.  
  162.  &lt;p&gt;Justin Edwards took a funky path to end up with his hometown team, but the undrafted rookie showed out in his first NBA season with the Sixers.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="Bz58aG"&gt;The &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"&gt;Sixers&lt;/a&gt;’ 2024–25 campaign was anything but memorable, with few bright spots in what many considered a lost season. But amid the disappointment, a few silver linings emerged: including Justin Edwards. Signed to a two-way deal after going undrafted, the Philly native quickly proved he belonged — becoming one of the few success stories in an otherwise forgettable year.&lt;/p&gt;
  163. &lt;p id="SWdqWK"&gt;Edwards began the season on a two-way contract, spending most of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ G League affiliate. Aside from a brief appearance in a blowout loss early in the year, he didn’t see meaningful NBA minutes until the calendar flipped. But once the Sixers gave him a real opportunity, Edwards ran with it — appearing in every game he was healthy for down the stretch.&lt;/p&gt;
  164. &lt;p id="2BztQT"&gt;Over the final 42 games of the 2025 season, Edwards averaged 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks per game. He shot 45.3% from the field and 36.5% from three on 4.5 attempts per night, while logging 27.2 minutes per game. His consistent production and two-way impact earned him a promotion to a standard NBA contract to finish the year, along with a team option for next season.&lt;/p&gt;
  165. &lt;p id="aw9Zwj"&gt;That midseason surge didn’t just come out of nowhere. Edwards’ development in the G League laid the groundwork for his NBA breakout. With the Blue Coats, he honed his shooting mechanics, learned to operate within an offense, and embraced the physicality of pro-level defenders. By the time he got his chance in the big leagues, he looked comfortable — poised, even — on both ends of the floor.&lt;/p&gt;
  166. &lt;p id="sqstv9"&gt;Offensively, Edwards thrived in a complementary role. He didn’t force shots or overextend himself, instead picking his spots and capitalizing on open looks. His three-point shooting was particularly encouraging. At 36.5% on healthy volume, he proved he could stretch the floor — a trait that makes him a viable fit next to high-usage stars. He also flashed a little shot creation, showing the ability to attack closeouts and finish through contact with his long frame.&lt;/p&gt;
  167. &lt;p id="6Ip73K"&gt;Defensively, he brought the kind of energy that earned him the trust of head coach Nick Nurse. With his size, instincts and quickness, Edwards routinely disrupted passing lanes and hounded perimeter scorers. He didn’t rack up gaudy block numbers, but he was rarely out of position and often made the right reads — the kind of stuff coaches love from role players. &lt;/p&gt;
  168. &lt;p id="jHHgec"&gt;What stood out most, though, was how seamlessly Edwards adapted to the NBA pace. Rookie mistakes were rare, and his effort never wavered. Whether he was starting, coming off the bench, or closing out blowouts, he played with a consistent motor. That consistency, paired with flashes of upside, made him one of the few players to make a real impression in a season full of forgettable moments.&lt;/p&gt;
  169. &lt;p id="mq9uDY"&gt;Looking ahead, Edwards could be in line for a bigger role depending on how the Sixers shape their offseason. With veterans like Kelly Oubre Jr. weighing player options and the possibility of adding more youth via the draft, nothing is set in stone. But Edwards has shown he belongs — and for a guy who didn’t hear his name called on draft night, that’s already a big win.&lt;/p&gt;
  170. &lt;p id="x2suVv"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Player Grade: A-&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  171. &lt;p id="uFxTGT"&gt;Justin Edwards surpassed expectations and earned a real spot in the Sixers’ rotation at a time when the team badly needed a spark. His shooting, defensive effort, and steady play stood out — and he looked every bit the part of a long-term NBA contributor. For an undrafted rookie, you couldn’t ask for much more.&lt;/p&gt;
  172. &lt;p id="z0jY5p"&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  173.  
  174. </content>
  175.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24413083/justin-edwards-sixers-player-grade-kentucky"/>
  176.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/30/24413083/justin-edwards-sixers-player-grade-kentucky</id>
  177.    <author>
  178.      <name>Harrison Grimm</name>
  179.    </author>
  180.  </entry>
  181.  <entry>
  182.    <published>2025-04-29T12:56:12-04:00</published>
  183.    <updated>2025-04-29T12:56:12-04:00</updated>
  184.    <title>Knicks-Pistons first-round series looking awfully familiar for Sixers fans</title>
  185.    <content type="html">  
  186.  
  187.    &lt;figure&gt;
  188.      &lt;img alt="NBA: Playoffs-New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kr_By5aQclpzBuvGtyyC4-hSq0A=/0x1:6849x4567/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74055954/usa_today_26031539.0.jpg" /&gt;
  189.        &lt;figcaption&gt;David Reginek-Imagn Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  190.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  191.  
  192.  &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Knicks might be up 3-1 on Detroit. But their wins are far from convincing and their fans likely know how this season ends.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="5CxSz8"&gt;As the &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"&gt;Sixers&lt;/a&gt; season winded down, I &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/1/24399002/sixers-playoff-record-2025-nba-draft-lottery-odds-knicks-bucks-timberwolves"&gt;wrote&lt;/a&gt; about how it felt kind of freeing not to have to worry about a spring of inevitable disappointment from the Sixers or the illusion of hope. Perhaps you’ve been watching the &lt;a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/"&gt;Phillies&lt;/a&gt; or are just too nervous about the lottery to even think about anything else related to the NBA. But with the NBA’s first round nearing its conclusion, we wanted to specifically highlight the New York-Detroit series in the Eastern Conference as the kind of series we’re sort of relieved the Sixers aren’t participating in this season.&lt;/p&gt;
  193. &lt;p id="aRRbwO"&gt;The &lt;a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com"&gt;Knicks&lt;/a&gt; finished this season third in the Eastern Conference with a record of 51-31. The Sixers made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons prior to 2024-25. Two of them were not full 82-game seasons thanks for COVID-19. In the five full seasons, they won 255 games which averages out to exactly 51 games per season. Of course, we know that the Sixers never made it past the second round in any of these seasons, and they have not made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 24 seasons. New York’s conference finals drought will reach 25 if it can’t win five more games in this year’s postseason. The Knicks appear poised to square off with the &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Celtics&lt;/a&gt; in the second round, a team they got swept by in four games in the regular season.&lt;/p&gt;
  194. &lt;p id="LjQl9m"&gt;It’s not even so much that the Knicks are not in the league’s top tier of teams, but it’s their struggles to beat the teams in the tier below them that make their first-round series with Detroit feel like a Sixers playoff series. New York slots in with Indiana this year as that next tier in the East below Cleveland and Boston and the rest of the playoff teams in the East are in a tier below Indiana. Historically, the first round is supposed to be a cakewalk for true title contenders. It has been for Cleveland and Boston in the East. Oklahoma City was the first team into the second round out West after sweeping Memphis. The first-round wins for the Cavaliers, Celtics and Thunder are all not competitive games.&lt;/p&gt;
  195. &lt;p id="mIFlbG"&gt;The Knicks look ready to win their series with the Pistons in five games after taking a 3-1 lead on Sunday with Game 5 back at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. But, don’t kid yourself, this has been a competitive series with the Pistons for the Knicks. It took a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter of Game 1 for New York to win by 11. After losing Game 2 at home, the Knicks won both games in Detroit by a combined three points. One of the top talking points in the NBA on Sunday and into Monday was the questionable no-call on Josh Hart who appeared to come into contact with Tim Hardaway Jr on a potential game-winning three-pointer for Detroit. A foul call on Hart would have sent Hardaway to the charity stripe, only needing to make two of three free throws to even the series at two games apiece.&lt;/p&gt;
  196. &lt;p id="SMvefh"&gt;When we look back on the playoff series the Sixers did win in the last seven years, we’ll find a lot of similar game scripts. In 2018 and 2019, the first two seasons they made the postseason with Joel Embiid as the franchise player, the Sixers failed to protect home court against Miami and Brooklyn in the first round and left Wells Fargo tied at one game apiece both years. After comfortable wins in Game 3s of both series, Philadelphia escaped with narrow victories in Game 4 both years to go up 3-1 and would close each series out back at Wells Fargo Center in both Game 5s. A couple of different bounces in those two Game 4s and the Sixers are in a pair of series that would have turned into best-of-threes against playoff bottom feeders.&lt;/p&gt;
  197. &lt;p id="enrWfC"&gt;In 2022, the Sixers did protect home court against Toronto to go up 2-0 before heading to Canada. Remember what happened next? Joel Embiid made a buzzer-beater to win the third game in what is sadly his best playoff moment. Then the Sixers went on to lose Game 4 and get clobbered at home in Game 5 before closing it out in six back in Toronto. That was a Raptors team that was slowly in the process of breaking up its 2019 NBA Championship roster and Nick Nurse’s departure soon followed.&lt;/p&gt;
  198. &lt;p id="92DhvH"&gt;As you can see, there were plenty of postseasons in years past in which the Sixers simply did not pass the eye test in the first round. They were not dominant in the first round the way most true contenders are. They had enough talent on the roster to give each of their second-round opponents a run for their money, but ultimately were a tier below those opponents for many of those postseasons. This is why the 2021 second-round defeat at the hands of the &lt;a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com"&gt;Atlanta Hawks&lt;/a&gt; is the most embarrassing playoff exit for the Sixers of the recent handful of defeats. There is no doubt Philadelphia was more talented than Atlanta and found a way to lose that series which included three home losses.&lt;/p&gt;
  199. &lt;p id="wbfcXr"&gt;Whether the Knicks win in five, six or seven games against the Pistons, they should close the series out now that they hold a commanding 3-1 lead. Then, they will probably lose to the Celtics in five or six games and their season will be over. It’s a script we’ve seen plenty of times before with the Sixers, so if you’re happy not to be doing this same old song and dance again, I don’t blame you.&lt;/p&gt;
  200.  
  201. </content>
  202.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/29/24419873/knicks-pistons-first-round-series-nba-playoffs-sixers"/>
  203.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/29/24419873/knicks-pistons-first-round-series-nba-playoffs-sixers</id>
  204.    <author>
  205.      <name>Greg Frank</name>
  206.    </author>
  207.  </entry>
  208.  <entry>
  209.    <published>2025-04-29T10:45:28-04:00</published>
  210.    <updated>2025-04-29T10:45:28-04:00</updated>
  211.    <title>Adem Bona’s rookie season is another marginal win for the front office</title>
  212.    <content type="html">  
  213.  
  214.    &lt;figure&gt;
  215.      &lt;img alt="NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2Qtmd_QUSaPgoO5EakjEI1GLsMY=/0x1:5420x3614/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74055662/usa_today_25906304.0.jpg" /&gt;
  216.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Kyle Ross-Imagn Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  217.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  218.  
  219.  &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The youngster from UCLA might develop into a long-term backup center which is something the Sixers have been lacking for a while.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="gah3jY"&gt;With the offseason underway earlier than anticipated back in training camp, there is surely a lot of work ahead for Daryl Morey and his staff. Entering the offseason, Morey and company are in a tough spot. They’ll soon find out if they’re retaining their top-six protected first-round pick in this summer’s draft. They seem to be optimistic about Joel Embiid’s knee and his prognosis for 2025-26, but if they end up landing the fifth or sixth pick in a few weeks, centers will be discussed as options with that selection.&lt;/p&gt;
  220. &lt;p id="TfOz8B"&gt;Regardless of how the next five months go for the &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"&gt;Sixers&lt;/a&gt;, the point remains that there are lots of important decision that need to be made. That’s usually the case when you enter a season with such high expectations like the Sixers did in 2024-25 and end up as one of the league’s worst teams. While the Sixers need to figure out how to shape the top of their roster this year, there were some small wins at the bottom of the roster this season.&lt;/p&gt;
  221. &lt;p id="XmilUg"&gt;Towards the end of the season especially, Adem Bona began to make the most of his playing time. His offensive game is still a ways away from being polished but at the very least he looks like a solid defensive anchor who will rebound well and block a lot of shots. For a player drafted in the middle of the second round, it’s a good foundation to build off of and even if Bona never improves offensively, his defensive floor seems high enough to keep him in the NBA.&lt;/p&gt;
  222. &lt;p id="hvCbAM"&gt;Bona was the 41&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; overall pick in last summer’s &lt;a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft"&gt;NBA Draft&lt;/a&gt; out of UCLA. He played about 15 minutes per game this season and appears to be finding his niche as a nice defensive anchor off the bench. In those 15 minutes per game, he’s averaged over one block and over four rebounds per game. It’s not the biggest sample size of course, but realistically you were just hoping for Bona to showcase enough skills that were worth developing for the rest of his rookie contract and he has done that.&lt;/p&gt;
  223. &lt;p id="U319r3"&gt;Here’s an impressive stat we saw towards the end of the regular season regarding Bona’s rim protection in the second half of the season:&lt;/p&gt;
  224. &lt;div id="Rd7JEi"&gt;
  225. &lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"&gt;
  226. &lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Most Blocks Post All-Star Break For The 2024-25 NBA Regular Season :&lt;br&gt;                                      &lt;br&gt;1.  Myles Turner  —  55&lt;br&gt;2.  Brook Lopez  —  43&lt;br&gt;2.  Donovan Clingan  —  43&lt;br&gt;4.  Evan Mobley  —  39&lt;br&gt;4.  Isaiah Stewart  —  39&lt;br&gt;6.  Adam Bona  —  36&lt;br&gt;6.  Walker Kessler  —  36&lt;br&gt;8.… &lt;a href="https://t.co/IzqqM5Rynk"&gt;https://t.co/IzqqM5Rynk&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://t.co/GZjyT711ez"&gt;pic.twitter.com/GZjyT711ez&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Stat Defender (@statdefender) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/statdefender/status/1910310232225722579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;April 10, 2025&lt;/a&gt;
  227. &lt;/blockquote&gt;
  228. &lt;script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
  229.  
  230. &lt;/div&gt;
  231. &lt;p id="zUkqep"&gt;It stands to reason with a good summer and a strong training camp that Bona would be in line for at least a small uptick in playing time in 2025-26. The Sixers have three more years on Bona’s rookie deal to find out what kind of offensive player he might be able to morph into. If Nick Nurse and the rest of the coaching staff can develop Bona’s offensive game in the years ahead, then there’s a real chance the Sixers will have solved their long-standing backup center problem. Of course, in the most Sixers fashion, there’s a chance they figured out backup center just as Embiid’s future is wildly uncertain.&lt;/p&gt;
  232. &lt;p id="doNsZT"&gt;Some fans are set on the fact that Embiid is never going to get close to the player he once was and the Sixers are saddled with Paul George’s contract for at least a good chunk of the remaining three years it has left. Frankly, it’s probably a fair mindset to have at this point. But under that circumstance, developing Bona for the rest of his rookie contract will be even more important. Whoever is the next long-term starting center for the Sixers, I think it’s a pretty safe bet to assume he won’t be as good as Embiid was. Therefore, the backup center role will become even more important for the Sixers in whatever the next era of Sixers basketball looks like. Perhaps Bona even shows enough improvement to become a starting center, but if he solidifies himself as a backup, it’s still a good win for the Sixers scouting department.&lt;/p&gt;
  233. &lt;p id="eT9mcu"&gt;Plucking Bona out of the middle of the second round should also give fans some optimism that the Sixers might be able to find another rotation player in the early portion of this year’s second round with a draft pick we know they’ll have. If Embiid and George can both be healthier and more available next season, then it looks like there’s some depth behind them already and the offseason hasn’t even started yet. So that’s the glass-half-full way of looking at where the Sixers are right now.&lt;/p&gt;
  234. &lt;p id="1MNfdw"&gt;Finding enough top-end talent to be able to cope with the dwindling health of Embiid and George will be a challenge, though it could get easier with a lottery win and drafting Cooper Flagg. But, what feels certain at this point is that Bona and a few others have earned longer looks and stand a real shot at becoming long-term bench pieces for the Sixers, regardless of who is starting.&lt;/p&gt;
  235. &lt;p id="IV1rPq"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Player Grade:&lt;/strong&gt; B&lt;/p&gt;
  236.  
  237. </content>
  238.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/29/24406909/adem-bona-sixers-player-grades-ucla-nick-nurse-daryl-morey-joel-embiid"/>
  239.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/29/24406909/adem-bona-sixers-player-grades-ucla-nick-nurse-daryl-morey-joel-embiid</id>
  240.    <author>
  241.      <name>Greg Frank</name>
  242.    </author>
  243.  </entry>
  244.  <entry>
  245.    <published>2025-04-28T11:30:00-04:00</published>
  246.    <updated>2025-04-28T11:30:00-04:00</updated>
  247.    <title>Editor-in-chief mailbag: I’m back, baby</title>
  248.    <content type="html">  
  249.  
  250.    &lt;figure&gt;
  251.      &lt;img alt="Los Angeles Lakers v Minnesota Timberwolves - Game Four" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PqepswMgR5yNIfmBvBw8rOvARh8=/0x0:4652x3101/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74053592/2212299910.0.jpg" /&gt;
  252.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by David Berding/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  253.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  254.  
  255.  &lt;p&gt;After a week off, I’m here to answer all your Sixers-related questions as the NBA playoffs trudge on and we inch closer to the lottery.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="cBL8nf"&gt;I needed a week off. I think you all get that?&lt;/p&gt;
  256. &lt;p id="O9yYkv"&gt;I’ve been doing this for nearly a decade and it’s still super hard to detach yourself when the season ends. This is the first full season I covered the &lt;a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"&gt;Sixers&lt;/a&gt; where they failed to make the playoffs. I think it made the transition to the offseason even more difficult. Post-achievement depression is a real thing ... and yes, I view getting through this season as a massive achievement.&lt;/p&gt;
  257. &lt;p id="txckcS"&gt;With that said, I’m feeling recharged and rejuvenated and I’m ready for more questions. The &lt;a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-playoffs"&gt;NBA playoffs&lt;/a&gt; have been mostly entertaining and we’re inching closer to the &lt;a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft"&gt;NBA Draft&lt;/a&gt; lottery. Plus, Righteous Gemstones is ending and The Rehearsal is starting back up!&lt;/p&gt;
  258. &lt;p id="23F4hI"&gt;Hit me with all your questions below and I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can for tomorrow. I’ll also be hanging out in the comments today. Appreciate you all!&lt;/p&gt;
  259.  
  260. </content>
  261.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24419442/editor-in-chief-mailbag-im-back-baby-nba-playoffs-sixers"/>
  262.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24419442/editor-in-chief-mailbag-im-back-baby-nba-playoffs-sixers</id>
  263.    <author>
  264.      <name>Paul Hudrick</name>
  265.    </author>
  266.  </entry>
  267.  <entry>
  268.    <published>2025-04-28T11:00:00-04:00</published>
  269.    <updated>2025-04-28T11:00:00-04:00</updated>
  270.    <title>Ricky Council IV’s future with the Sixers uncertain after disappointing sophomore season</title>
  271.    <content type="html">  
  272.  
  273.    &lt;figure&gt;
  274.      &lt;img alt="Chicago Bulls v Philadelphia 76ers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0EC9fb0baoBlkPl2ZHJZC9ARFu8=/0x0:7422x4948/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74053502/2209529849.0.jpg" /&gt;
  275.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  276.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  277.  
  278.  &lt;p&gt;After a promising rookie year as an undrafted free agent, the 23-year-old Council underwhelmed in his second season in Philadelphia.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="FwmOB8"&gt;It wasn’t long ago that Ricky Council IV was the most talked-about name in the Sixers’ 2023 draft class, despite the team not having a pick. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Council quickly turned heads with his rare blend of athleticism, finishing ability, and knack for drawing fouls — traits not often seen in a rookie. It didn’t take long for Sixers fans to buy in.&lt;/p&gt;
  279. &lt;p id="yY9Hgv"&gt;Council entered this past season with expectations to build on what was widely viewed as a promising rookie campaign — but things didn’t go as planned. Despite nearly doubling his playing time, his production took a noticeable step back. His field goal percentage dropped from 48.2% to 38.2%, and his three-point shooting plummeted from 37.5% to 25.8%. Among players with at least 200 three-point attempts, Council ranked dead last in the league.&lt;/p&gt;
  280. &lt;p id="90XSRs"&gt;While the Sixers’ season was a rough one overall, it did offer valuable reps to end-of-bench players as the team’s tank quietly took shape. Council was among those who saw extended minutes, but he struggled to make the most of them. More often than not, head coach Nick Nurse leaned on rookie Justin Edwards or even two-way players instead — perhaps a sign of Nurse’s dwindling trust in Council’s role on the roster. &lt;/p&gt;
  281. &lt;p id="gGrfNJ"&gt;On the surface, it might seem like Nick Nurse was simply rotating through his options and giving everyone a fair shot. But one specific instance painted a different picture. In multiple blowout games, Nurse chose to play David Roddy — a newly signed two-way player who appeared in just three games before the team moved on — over Council. It was a subtle but telling move that raised questions about where Council stood in the rotation.&lt;/p&gt;
  282. &lt;p id="hWLBzV"&gt;While others made the most of their extended minutes, Council never quite found the same rhythm we saw during his rookie year. After a largely uninspiring season, the Sixers are expected to explore all options as they look to reshape the roster — and Council’s future will be no exception.&lt;/p&gt;
  283. &lt;p id="xot3v5"&gt;As of now, Council is set to earn $2.2 million next season, with a team option worth $2.4 million for 2026–27. However, his contract is non-guaranteed, meaning the Sixers can waive him without taking a hit to their salary cap. It’s a low number in NBA money, but does it make any sense to bring him back? &lt;/p&gt;
  284. &lt;p id="n6lm50"&gt;Barring major changes, the Sixers’ wing rotation already has several key pieces in place. Paul George is expected to return, and rookie Justin Edwards should still be in the mix, whether via his team option or a restructured long-term deal. Kelly Oubre Jr. also has a player option this summer. If he’s back in any capacity, that’s three wings already positioned for significant rotation minutes — and that’s before factoring in any draft picks or offseason additions.&lt;/p&gt;
  285. &lt;p id="JJnmZm"&gt;While Council’s salary is relatively low, a change of scenery might benefit both sides. At this point, it’s clear Nick Nurse’s trust in him is minimal. And even with expected roster shake-ups, the opportunity for Council to carve out a meaningful role in Philly might simply not be there.&lt;/p&gt;
  286. &lt;p id="bjwkFy"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Player Grade: D-&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  287. &lt;p id="7QmVVh"&gt;Ricky Council IV entered the season with momentum and real expectations after a standout rookie campaign — but failed to take the next step. The efficiency drop-off, lack of development as a shooter, and increasingly diminished role under Nick Nurse all paint a picture of a player who struggled to find his fit. While the athletic tools and flashes are still there, the Sixers needed more than just potential this year.&lt;/p&gt;
  288. &lt;p id="CqQud6"&gt;Given his limited production and the growing logjam at the wing, it’s hard to justify a roster spot unless significant improvement is made. Council’s story isn’t over — a fresh start elsewhere could unlock his game — but his sophomore campaign in Philly was undeniably a step backward.&lt;/p&gt;
  289. &lt;p id="RlzrLX"&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  290.  
  291. </content>
  292.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24413038/ricky-council-iv-sixers-uncertain-disappointing-sophomore-season-philadelphia-76ers-nba-offseason"/>
  293.    <id>https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/4/28/24413038/ricky-council-iv-sixers-uncertain-disappointing-sophomore-season-philadelphia-76ers-nba-offseason</id>
  294.    <author>
  295.      <name>Harrison Grimm</name>
  296.    </author>
  297.  </entry>
  298. </feed>
  299.  

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