The Sixers received jarring and giant midday news hours before their Saturday night matchup vs. the New Orleans Pelicans.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paul George has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA\u2019s anti-drug program.<\/a> In forecasting potential obstacles for the 2025-26 Sixers, no one would have named that news.<\/p>\n So, what now? Here are six initial thoughts:\u00a0<\/p>\n The locker room \u00a0<\/p>\n Following the Sixers\u2019 win Thursday night over the Kings<\/a>, Joel Embiid said the team’s vibes have been \u201cgreat.\u201d A suspension will certainly test that.<\/p>\n George has seemed to mesh nicely with his teammates. He\u2019s dished out plenty of advice and noted the Sixers\u2019 youngsters call him \u201cunc.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s someone I have a good relationship with,\u201d rookie VJ Edgecombe said of George on Dec. 11. \u201cHe\u2019s helped me a lot, just telling me little things and things he\u2019s experienced as a player, as a rookie. We have a personal relationship outside of basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n The 35-year-old has also been glad to support stars Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. He\u2019s come across as a low-key, selfless locker room presence. The suspension shouldn\u2019t irreparably fracture the Sixers\u2019 culture, but it\u2019s worth highlighting the behind-the-scenes challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n Starting lineup\u00a0<\/p>\n In the short term, who should the Sixers start at full strength?<\/p>\n Outside of defensive rebounding \u2014 a weakness in many lineups \u2014 the Sixers appeared to have decent balance lately in their starting unit. The lineup of Maxey, Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., George and Embiid had a plus-3.8 net rating in 83 minutes, per NBA.com.<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s no obvious replacement for George, who\u2019s averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sixers head coach Nick Nurse is a fan of Justin Edwards, but the second-year wing hasn\u2019t even been a rotation regular in January. Dominick Barlow has started 30 times this season and done well as a hustling, offensive rebounding role player, but he\u2019s a subpar, low-volume outside shooter. <\/p>\n The Sixers could consider smaller alternatives like Quentin Grimes and fully embrace a guard-heavy identity<\/a>, but Grimes hasn\u2019t been at his best for quite a while (and missed the last two games with a right ankle sprain). If Jared McCain found the level he showed as a rookie, perhaps he\u2019d be in the conversation as well. Nurse has been intrigued since October by double-big lineups with Embiid and Adem Bona<\/a>, although it\u2019s hard to envision that as an ideal solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mixing up the starters based on matchups might wind up being somewhat sensible for now. Ultimately, every team would love a high-quality, stable starting five.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rotation<\/p>\n We imagine players on the fringe of the Sixers\u2019 rotation will return to more consistent action the next few games.\u00a0<\/p>\n Especially given their position, forwards Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker look like logical candidates for increased playing time. Edwards should have opportunities to shine without George, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trade deadline outlook\u00a0<\/p>\n The trade deadline is Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET (next Thursday) and the Sixers\u2019 situation has grown murkier.<\/p>\n Even prior to George\u2019s suspension, there wasn\u2019t a no-brainer approach for a 26-21 team with a knack for playing extremely close games against all sorts of opponents, great top-end talent in Embiid and Maxey, and an exciting 20-year-old starter in Edgecombe.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to ESPN\u2019s Bobby Marks<\/a>, the Sixers will receive a $5.8 million tax variance credit \u2014 half of what George\u2019s salary would\u2019ve been during his suspension \u2014 and now be $1.26 million over the luxury tax.<\/a> The team will be allowed to sign a player to replace George once he\u2019s officially placed on the suspended list after their Feb. 7 game against the Suns.<\/p>\n Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has a ton of variables to sort through. At a minimum, the Sixers have some clear deficiencies, including defensive rebounding and wing depth. If Morey doesn\u2019t do a stunning star trade, it would be reasonable if he sought upgrades in those departments.\u00a0<\/p>\n Playoff chances\u00a0<\/p>\n As of Saturday afternoon, the Sixers sat sixth in the Eastern Conference.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n They only trailed the No. 2 seed Knicks by 3.5 games \u2026 and only led the No. 10 Bulls by 3.5 games. That region of the standings may very well stay tight through the end of the regular season.<\/p>\n Maxey\u2019s ascent to All-Star starter<\/a> and Embiid\u2019s excellence since late December make it easier to picture playoff success. Over his last 16 games, Embiid has averaged 29.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Health permitting, the Sixers have serious star power.<\/p>\n However, as George\u2019s suspension illustrates, many things can damage contention ambitions. And, even if everything in the rest of the season goes smoothly \u2014 Morey adds a valuable, low-cost piece or two at the deadline; the stars are sharp and healthy come playoff time; George re-integrates well \u2014 the Sixers will need to spring some surprises to go deep in the postseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n George\u2019s future in Philadelphia\u00a0<\/p>\n