Fantasy Basketball Exit Interview: A second-round sweep pushes 76ers to confront future
The Philadelphia 76ers pulled off one of the more stunning upsets in the 2026 NBA playoffs, knocking off the Boston Celtics in seven games at TD Garden. In hindsight, that might as well have been their championship. The New York Knicks were waiting in the second round and made it a quick, ugly series. The celebration didn't last long in Philly, as they were swept in four games, leaving a fanbase wondering where it goes from here. With that in mind, heres a recap of the Sixers season and what to expect from a fantasy perspective going forward.76ers backcourt: The present and the futureTyrese Maxey is locked in as a first-round fantasy pick heading into next season. He is reliably the engine of everything Philadelphia does offensively and he proved it again this season. He finished sixth in High Score and fifth in 9-cat leagues, exceeding his 18th overall ADP. What sets him apart is his availability paired with top-end production thats why he was so integral for both Philly and fantasy managers. Maxey played in 70 games, averaging career highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game, while shooting 37% on 3s and 89% from the line at a high volume. Hes an All-NBA talent and has become one of the best guards across fantasy basketball at just 25 years o.VJ Edgecombe is on a star trajectory after an outstanding rookie campaign. The third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft ranked 74th in High Score and 57th in 9-cat leagues, far outpacing his 121st preseason ADP. Whats even more impressive is that he went undrafted in 57% of leagues. He was one of the top fantasy pickups of the season. I came away even more encouraged for whats next after hearing his pledge to improve his shooting this offseason. I expect hell be off draft boards by the sixth or seventh rounds next season.Aging stars with expensive commitmentsJoel Embiid made it through well, sort of. Availability was a consistent issue during the regular season, with the former MVP playing in just 38 games, perpetuating his narrative as a fantasy headache. Thatll likely continue because the Sixers need a healthy Embiid for the postseason. He was the difference-maker in the first-round series against Boston, leading them to defeat the Celtics for the first time in a playoff series since 1982. That wont help in fantasy, and Id anticipate his 46th overall ADP falling even further ahead of next season. With Kawhi Leonard back to his former self, Embiid is now the greatest high-risk, high-reward player in the game.Paul George's best days as a fantasy asset are behind him. Despite finishing 72nd in High Score average and 31st in 9-cat, like Embiid, he played fewer than 40 games. George was suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA anti-drug policy, which he attributed to an error in his medication. True or not, PGs body is failing him. Its pretty concerning that PG admitted to spending this offseason figuring out how to get his explosion back. George is 36, coming off another letdown, averaging 17-5-4 on 43% shooting. I wouldnt draft George inside the top 75 like this season, as the injury and production arent worth the cost.Final thoughtsEmbiid's massive three-year contract, which lasts through the 2028-29 season, kicks in this offseason, complicating any trade scenario. George is also sitting on the books for an average cost of $55M for the next two seasons. Changes are inevitable after the embarrassing sweep by the Knicks, and the front office may feel the heat. Philadelphia holds the 22nd pick in a deep draft the price for the (questionable) Jared McCain trade giving them at least one asset to work with. The core four are all draftable heading into next season, but Maxey and Edgecombe provide the most upside. Id stay away from Embiid and George and look to see which players re-up (Kelly Oubre Jr.), leave (Quentin Grimes) or join the squad.
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