The Philadelphia 76ers could look a lot different next season. Right now, the only players they have under contract for 2024-25 are Joel Embiid ($51.4 million) and Paul Reed, whose $7.7 million salary is fully non-guaranteed unless the Sixers win a playoff series).
We can safely assume that Tyrese Maxey will either re-sign with the Sixers this summer or have whatever offer sheet he signs matched. But Philly could still use more firepower to support those two, especially since Embiid has averaged only 42.8 appearances per season since the Sixers drafted him in 2014.
Whenever Maxey plays without Embiid this season, the Sixers score at a rate that ranks in the 60th percentile leaguewide. A healthy LaVine could help on that front.
Over the five seasons prior to this one, LaVine had generally been a boost to his team's offensive ratings. His high-volume three-point shooting would help when Embiid is on the floor, too.
Since the start of the 2018-19 season, LaVine has averaged 2.7 threes while shooting 38.5 percent from deep. With that kind of shooting on one flank and Maxey's on the other, Embiid's catches in the middle of the floor would be harder for defenses to collapse on.
LaVine probably wouldn't help a ton on defense, but if you start with an offense-first core with those three and build out with grit and defense from there, the Sixers could be in the title hunt for the next few years of Embiid's prime.
The reigning MVP turns 30 this month and has a lengthy injury history. Finding another star to carry some of his burden could preserve the rest of his prime.
