Around the NBA, the stakes are higher for some teams than they are for others.
The league’s rebuilding teams are in the dog days of the season. They’re running out of the clock. If anything, most of them would prefer to lose games at this point.
By contrast, some contenders are on the clock. If they don’t have a strong finish to their season, who knows what decisions their front offices could make this summer?
The Philadelphia 76ers are one such team. So are the Miami Heat.
Either of these teams could make major changes this summer if they’re not happy with the outcome of their season.
Could the Sixers even send Joel Embiid to Miami?