The $111M Gamble No One Expected

The numbers don’t lie: even if the 76ers breach the second luxury tax line next season — and they likely will — they’re still planning to keep Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Haliburton (wait… was that Markieff? No—Tyrese Maxey) on the floor.

Yes. That trio. The one that logged exactly 15 games together this year — 7 wins, 8 losses. And yet? They’re not giving up.

It’s not just stubbornness. It’s strategy. Retaining their #3 pick adds $11.1M in cap space for 2025-26. That means they’re willing to pay millions in taxes just to keep this fragile dream alive.

And honestly? I get it.

This Isn’t About Winning — It’s About Redemption

Embiid missed nearly two-thirds of the season. George played through pain like he was auditioning for a Marvel movie villain role. Maxey? Played 52 games but looked like he’d been running drills on Mars.

They were injured messes — but also the messengers of Philadelphia’s frustration.

In a city where sports fandom is tied to identity, losing isn’t failure; it’s betrayal. So when your franchise says “let’s try again,” even after collapse-level injury reports… you don’t question it.

You wonder: Is this courage or delusion?

The Luxury Tax Line Doesn’t Care About Your Heartbreak

Let me be clear: no one should romanticize financial recklessness.

But here’s what most analysts miss: this move isn’t about being rich — it’s about being relevant. The second luxury tax line isn’t a wall; it’s a speed bump if you’re building around stars with championship ceilings.

When you have three players who can carry a team alone… you don’t let them go because payroll got ugly.

Think about it: how many franchises have actually rebuilt successfully after dumping their core mid-cycle? Fewer than you think.

The real danger isn’t paying taxes — it’s letting talent vanish before its time.

Why I’m Rooting (Reluctantly)

I’ve spent years dissecting NBA roster dynamics from my rooftop in Brooklyn, where every game feels like a street debate over justice vs ambition.

So yes, I’m skeptical—my INTJ brain screams “rebuild now!” But then I remember: The Knicks didn’t win big until they stuck with their ‘bad’ core through four seasons of hell. The Warriors didn’t win seven titles by chasing young guns—they built around Steph Curry while paying top dollar early on.

The system rewards persistence more than perfection—especially when your star is medically questionable but emotionally irreplaceable.

The question isn’t “Can they win?” It’s “Are we ready to accept that some stories aren’t meant to end with trophies—but with effort anyway?”

P.S.: If anyone thinks AI referees could’ve saved those 15 games… hit me up after next week’s draft lottery.