Word on Sixers: Embiid’s Minutes Plan, James Harden Trade Talk

There’s never a dull offseason in the City of Brotherly Love when it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The summer of 2023 proved to be no different. From the jump, the Sixers had question marks after another second-round playoff failure. The top two questions of the offseason pertained to the starting point guard and the head coach.

Will Doc Rivers get fired? Will James Harden be back?

Rivers was let go not long into the offseason process. Meanwhile, Harden remains on board after he picked up his contract option for the 2023-2024 season. The big question is whether he’ll stick around throughout the entire season or not.

That’s something the newly hired head coach, Nick Nurse, has yet to figure out. Joining the Sixers for the first time after a decade-long run with the Toronto Raptors, Nurse has plenty to think about heading into his first season with the 76ers.

One of the primary questions Nurse has to answer is centered around the NBA’s new resting rules. As Joel Embiid has had his fair share of rest nights in the past, Nurse was recently asked about his strategy for Embiid heading into next season, and he shed some light on his potential plan.

Here’s a rundown of the main storylines surrounding the Sixers.

Nurse Talks Music and Managing Embiid - Sixers Wire

“I think that we are looking at it maybe a little different than people think we might be. We’re trying to get him to play more games. Our goal is that it’s going up for him, not not the other direction, and some people would say, ‘Oh, that’s playoffs. Is he going to be?’ We’re just trying to get it going the other direction. I think that’s just what our people believe here that he can play and again, knock on wood, cross our fingers, all that stuff. There’s always things that can come up with that stuff, but I don’t know. I believe in the guys playing as much as they can and let’s see what happens.”

The Latest on Sixers-Clippers Trade Talks - Clutch Points

“Although ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the two teams have not discussed a Harden deal since negotiations fizzled about a month ago, his colleague expects a change in the lack of correspondence. “I don't think we've seen the last of those talks,” Zach Lowe said on Tuesday's edition of NBA Today, via ClutchPoints. “I have a feeling those talks will be reignited at some point.

“It might be foolish to buy into a hunch, but Lowe carries credibility in the industry. Furthermore, his assumption seems like a reasonable conclusion to draw based on the current situation. Harden has directly criticized a high-ranking member of the organization in Daryl Morey. There is no going back. Philly can dig in, but doing so risks negatively impacting the rest of the locker room.”

Which Sixers Players’ Roster Spot Are Least Safe? - Forbes

“After signing free-agent swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. to a one-year deal Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers are up to 16 players on standard contracts, along with three two-way deals and two Exhibit 10 signings. They're now at the full 21-man roster limit with training camp less than two weeks away.

They're also one player over the 15-man regular-season roster limit, which means they'll have to either trade or waive someone before the Oct. 24 season opener.”

Why New Rule Could Force Feed Awful Situation to 76ers - Sixers Sense

“While Harden’s situation remains cryogenic, a holdout could very well be in the cards despite the new CBA stipulation threatening his free agency next year. That creates an interesting dynamic with the rest policy set to kick in.

However, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said that the new rule will interdict the 76ers from a theoretical agreement with Harden to purposefully sit out games until an acceptable trade offer is tendered by another team. Damian Lillard is also in the same boat considering his similar ordeal with the Portland Trail Blazers.”

PJ Tucker Holds Private Workout at Haverford - Haverford Clerk

“On Thursday, the last thing GIAC-goers might have expected was for an NBA player to show up and claim the gym for a workout. Yet, that is exactly what happened on Thursday as the Philadelphia 76ers’ P.J. Tucker took the court. Tucker was on campus to run a private workout, something Haverford was more than willing to accommodate.

”We were happy to provide the space for him to get some work in with his trainers,” said men’s basketball head coach Matt Doherty. He said it was “very cool to have a pro in our gym, especially one with P.J.’s resume.”