The Philadelphia 76ers will look to throw their hat in the ring in what should be a wide-open Eastern Conference in the 2025-26 season. With the talent the Sixers have on their roster–although there are injury questions–they can make a deep run into the playoffs if they can get some health luck.
The Sixers will rely on Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, but there will be other factors that will decide Philadelphia’s season. President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and the front office went out and brought in some younger, versatile players in an effort to work their way through an 82-game season. The goal is to get to the playoffs and deliver a healthy Embiid and George to the postseason to give themselves their best chance at chasing down a title.
Here are three X-Factors for the Sixers in the coming season:
Jared McCain
Limited to only 23 games in his rookie season due to a laterally torn meniscus that required surgery, McCain’s shooting and ball-handling abilities are going to be extremely important for this group. He shot 38.3% from deep in the 23 games he played as a rookie and he showed an impressive ability to move without the basketball and find open spots on the floor to fire up an assortment of 3s. That will be important playing next to Embiid and George. As far as the ball-handling is concerned, one has to believe coach Nick Nurse will have him run with the second unit often. That bench unit needs a consistent ball-handler and McCain will likely fill that role as well for this group.
Trendon Watford
A new addition, Watford has the skill set the Sixers have been looking for in a 6-foot-8 role player. He can handle the ball, make plays for others with his passing, moves well without the ball, and can grab a rebound to push the break in transition. Philadelphia wants to play fast and take advantage of the young group of guards (Maxey, McCain, VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes) and Watford is somebody who will play a big factor in that respect because he has the size and ability to push the ball. He isn’t much of a 3-point shooter, but what he can do is score at the basket and give the Sixers a real presence at the power forward spot–and is the only real power forward on this roster at this point.
Health
Let’s face it. This is the biggest factor for the Sixers heading into the new season. The Big 3 of Embiid, George, and Maxey played a grand total of 18 games together, and they finished only 15 of those games, finishing 7-8 in those 15 games. If those three are healthy–more specifically if Embiid and George are healthy–then the Sixers will be serious contenders in the East. This is one of the more talented rosters in the league and Philadelphia will be able to make a deep run into the postseason if it can finally get a clean bill of health. One will have to keep an eye on the status of Embiid and George on a nightly basis to get a read on the Sixers.