5 moves the Sixers can make to turn season around

1. Treat Tyrese Maxey like a star

Despite Embiid’s two near-miss MVP runs and the acquisition of James Harden, perhaps the most interesting storyline of the 76ers over the past couple of seasons has been the emergence of Tyrese Maxey into a bona fide superstar. Philadelphia’s “process” yielded years of top picks with the promise of a championship in the not-so-distant future. But names like Jahlil Okafor and Markelle Fultz (and now even Ben Simmons) proved nothing but major disappointments. Despite ongoing pleas to trust the process, it was this 21st overall pick in 2020 who has offered the most upside and hope that Philadelphia can eventually make a championship run.

That said, the surprise superstar comes with its own set of challenges, namely finding the right role for him on a team with one former MVP and a perennial favorite to win the MVP. Maxey remains very much the “third guy” among the big three. But Harden is not the player he was in Houston, and it’s time to start treating Maxey like the team’s number two. Harden’s injury absence naturally moved him into this position, but Maxey needs to remain in this position going forward. Offensive schemes must focus on Maxey and highlight this emerging star’s talent. This might be the simplest move the 76ers can make, but it would pay dividends in the long run to turn Maxey into a star in his own right.