The Sixers are a Sinking Ship

After another horrible end to the 2022-23 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers made the difficult decision to fire head coach Doc Rivers. Philadelphia was hoping that a small change like replacing the head coach would put them on the path to a title, but things are only going to get worse from here.

Nick Nurse was hired to replace Doc Rivers, and he is certainly a coach that has proven that he can win in the NBA. The problem for Nurse will be that there might not be any players to coach by the end of the 2023-24 season.

It’s been a miserable stretch for the 76ers as they have always seemed to make the wrong personnel choices that have cost them in a big way. Now the power doesn’t even appear to be in their hands as things will get ugly.

James Harden is no stranger to controversy, and he always seems to wear out his welcome everywhere that he goes. This time the opposite is taking place as Harden has requested a trade, but Philadelphia doesn’t want to move him.

You can now find betting odds for Harden’s next team outside of Philadelphia, and there is one team that is a big favorite. The odds for Harden to join the Los Angeles Clippers are set at -250, but it would take a trade to get him there.

Harden has recently called Sixers President Daryl Morey a liar, and the NBA is now investigating him for those comments. There is simply no way that Harden can remain with the team moving forward, and here are the odds for some other potential destinations:

• Chicago Bulls +600
• Houston Rockets +700
• New York Knicks +900

At some point, the Sixers are simply going to have a make a move and try to cut their losses because Harden is not going to be happy playing in Philadelphia ever again.

Center Joel Embiid just won the NBA MVP Award during the 2022-23 NBA season, and he is a player that is good enough to be the centerpiece of a championship team. Embiid won’t be able to do it alone, though, and it’s starting to look like his supporting cast is going to disappear.

The Sixers have made several moves in the past to keep Embiid happy, but losing Harden is going to force the MVP to reconsider his title changes in Philly. Betting odds would now suggest that a trade request is coming from the MVP, or at least the odds are getting tighter.

The odds for Embiid to request a trade before the end of the 2023-24 season are currently set at +200, while him staying put in Philly have odds set at -300. Those odds are much tighter than they should be for a league MVP and a team looking to win a title.

If you do believe that the Sixers will need to make a move, then you can bet on Embiid to be traded by the end of the 2023-24 season at +140. Having the Sixers keep Embiid is still the favorite at -180, but this is going to be an interesting season.

Sixers fans have seen this movie before as they have watched a championship-contending team collapse right in front of them. A Harden trade would be the first major domino, but then Embiid would be the next to go.

Philadelphia is not going to win a title with the current core, and you should expect to see them back in the NBA Lottery within two years.