Forget Joel Embiid? Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe could ignite a new, faster Sixers era. Discover the pivot's potential and pitfalls.
Colin Cowherd's argument on The Herd was blunt: "Edgecombe & Maxey… this works," he said, suggesting Philadelphia may have a new direction to take.
The idea is easy to understand. Tyrese Maxey has already become the engine of the offense when Embiid is not on the floor, and VJ Edgecombe is a young, explosive wing who can score, rebound, and run in transition. Edgecombe is averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season, while Maxey is at 28.3 points and 6.6 assists per game.
That is why the concept of trading Embiid has traction. It would allow Philadelphia to lean into speed, athleticism, and quick decision-making instead of continuing to build around Embiid's isolation-centric playstyle. A more guard-driven style would also match the way Maxey likes to play, downhill, in space, and with as much pace as possible.
But the downside is obvious. When Embiid is healthy, he is still a fantastic player, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists over 38 games this season. Philadelphia's offense posted a 118.5 offensive rating with Embiid and a 112.9 without him. This is a huge drop-off and a reminder of how much his presence changes the floor on both ends. Trading that away would remove a player who can change an entire defense simply by being on the court.
The cap sheet is the other obstacle. Embiid's 2025-2026 cap hit is 55.2 million. So any serious trade involving him would have to match salaries while convincing another team to take on a player with a long rap sheet of injuries. That is a steep ask, even before considering what Philadelphia would want back.
Overall, the case for a Maxey-Edgecombe future is about identity. It would be a team built around speed and youth instead of half-court isolation.
The case against it is that Embiid still gives the Sixers a ceiling most teams can't match. Cowherd's idea works as a hypothetical vision; making that vision a reality is a tougher ask.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.