Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal

Inevitably, Philadelphia 76ers fans will balk at this suggestion. There are understandable reasons for that, but we’d suggest they change their thinking.

Tyrese Maxey has tremendous potential. There is every possibility that one day, he’ll be as good as Donovan Mitchell. Here’s the thing: as it stands, Donovan Mitchell is as good as Donovan Mitchell.

Meanwhile, championship windows are notoriously narrow. The Sixers are currently facing one that’s wide open, but it won’t stay that way for long.

After all, James Harden is 33 and may already be on the decline. Joel Embiid is just 29, but big men with his injury history don’t have the best reputation for long-term production. If the Sixers can flip Maxey for Mitchell, they maximize their odds of making use of the little time they have remaining.

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If Maxey develops into a star in Utah, this may sting down the road. On the other hand, if a trio of Embiid, Harden and Mitchell reaches its ceiling, Sixers fans should have an NBA championship to ease their pain.