The Philadelphia 76ers have drawn a line in the sand ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline.

As I reported for ESPN 97.3, the Sixers have made star guards Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe completely unavailable in trade talks leading up to the deadline. The Sixers view both guys as building blocks for the future, and aren’t looking to move either. 

With those two off of the table, and Joel Embiid and Paul George also extremely unlikely to be traded, the Sixers have limited paths to improvement at the deadline. Perhaps they’ll be able to upgrade around the edges of the roster, but that’s about it. 

More: Joel Embiid sends loud and clear message to 76ers’ front office ahead of NBA trade deadline

Also included in the article for 97.3 is the tidbit that the Sixers are looking to maintain financial flexibility after the current campaign, and thus aren’t looking to take back multi-year contract(s) in a deal, unless the player is viewed as a long-term fit in Philly. This also further limits potential trade options for Philly. 

Without moving one of Maxey, George or Embiid, the Sixers simply don’t have the salaries available to make a major splash at the deadline. That doesn’t mean they can’t upgrade, but it’s difficult to see a way that they could substantially raise the ceiling of the team at the deadline. 

Daryl Morey is a shrewd executive, so if anyone can identify a good deal, it’s him. Still though, Sixers fans should temper their expectations when it comes to this year’s trade deadline. 

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