The last three months have been tough for 76ers fans. For starters, those who wanted a deep playoff run were let down once again when Joel Embiid & Co. were bounced from the second round for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
The team’s financial situation also made it impossible to sign players outside of cheap deals Understandably, a good chunk of the fanbase wonders just how much Philadelphia can improve on last year’s results by only adding names like Patrick Beverley, Mo Bamba and Filip Petrusev.
On top of that, star guard James Harden reportedly requested a trade in July.
With the Sixers’ future uncertain, it’s natural to wonder just how much of the current roster will still be around once the 2023-24 NBA campaign concludes.
Here’s a look at three 76ers who won’t be in Philly by the end of the season.
76ers Trade Candidates in 2023-24
1. James Harden
Harden being a prime trade candidate shouldn’t be surprising given the aforementioned trade rumors.
The 33-year-old veteran will hit free agency at the end of the campaign after opting into his player option. While some fans have faith that a resolution can be worked out to keep Harden in Philly, all signs point to a broken relationship between the player and the front office.
The 76ers can’t afford to lose Harden for free in the offseason, especially with winning during Embiid’s prime being a top priority. The best solution is to move on from the disgruntled shooter sooner than later to get some help for the present as well as the future.
There’s no denying that Harden can still produce to some degree. He just averaged 21.0 PTS/6.1 REB/10.7 AST with 60.7% true shooting over 58 games last year.
However, finding a team willing to accept his $35.64 cap hit (per Spotrac) is another issue of its own.
Nevertheless, general manager Daryl Morey has experience in this area after the Ben Simmons saga. Only time will tell if he moves on from Harden before the season starts or waits closer to the trade deadline.
2. Patrick Beverley
The ink on Patrick Beverley’s contract is still fresh, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be a Sixer once the playoffs began.
Beverley is no stranger to being moved in recent years. He’s been traded three times over the last two years with the 76ers being the fifth organization he’s joined over that stretch. That isn’t even to mention how the Los Angeles Lakers traded him just seven months after acquiring him last offseason.
The 35-year-old’s declining play also makes him susceptible to being moved. Beverley’s field-goal percentage has declined in each of the previous four seasons, going from 43.1% in 2019-20 to just 40.0% last year.
That’s without mentioning how his minus-2.9 offensive box plus/minus was considerably below his career average of minus-0.4. With Beverley’s offense clearly falling off, a defensive decline would make him detrimental to Philly’s championship aspirations.
The former three-time All-Defensive team member is also on a cheap, one-year deal. Whether it’s to bring in a new body or to just move on from Beverley in general, the 76ers won’t have issues moving his contract if need be.
With his inability to stick around on a team for long, don’t be surprised if Beverley ends the season in a different city.
3. Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris has played for five teams over the years but has played more games in a 76ers jersey (308) than any other team. While the former 2011 first-rounder has been a fan favorite throughout his tenure, his contract has become a burden.
Harris is set to make just north of $39.2 million this season, according to Spotrac. While that’s a fair cost for a perennial All-Star in 2023, the 31-year-old isn’t close to being at that level.
His 14.7 PPG and 5.7 RPG in 2022-23 were among the worst marks of his career. There are players out there who can contribute similar numbers for a fraction of the cost.
While Harris’ contract wasn’t exactly moveable in past years, that’s no longer the case. He’s a free agent next summer, meaning any interested teams — whether they believe he can bounce back or need an extra body — won’t be stuck with an expensive long-term commitment.
It was reported earlier this offseason that multiple teams have called the 76ers about Harris’ availability, adding more fuel to a potential departure. Chances are that any return Morey can get for the declining veteran now will be better than it would be near the trade deadline.
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