The Philadelphia 76ers are facing an uphill battle in the absence of Paul George, who has been suspended for 25 games. The team's latest win against the New Orleans Pelicans showcased a promising duo - Jared McCain and Joel Embiid - that could be crucial to their playoff push.
McCain, whose performances have been inconsistent this season, finally found his form after spending more time on the court with Embiid. The center acknowledged that playing off Embiid creates opportunities for others, adding that he loves playing alongside him and believes it's easy to do so. McCain knocked down four threes in the win, three of which came while Embiid was on the floor.
This partnership between McCain and Embiid could be a key factor in the Sixers' success, reminiscent of their past partnerships with JJ Redick, Seth Curry, and Tyrese Maxey. However, it remains to be seen whether this duo can replicate the same level of excellence as their predecessors.
Maxey has been vocal about the importance of McCain stepping up his game, stating that the young guard needs to attack and shoot when given the opportunity. The coach also acknowledged the value of having a reliable scoring punch from McCain, especially with George's suspension looming large.
The team is exploring options to bolster its rotation at the five behind Embiid, with Day’Ron Sharpe emerging as an attractive target. As an elite backup center, Sharpe would provide a significant upgrade over Andre Drummond and his contract is considered a bargain by most standards.
Another player who could be on the radar is Saddiq Bey from the New Orleans Pelicans. The Villanova product has been in a red-hot stretch this season, scoring 34 points against the Sixers last week, and would provide an exciting addition to the team's roster.
Justin Champagnie from the Washington Wizards is also worth considering as he makes only $2.3 million this season and his salaries for the following campaigns are non-guaranteed. He is a near-minimum rotation piece who could fill a larger role in the Sixers' lineup while George is suspended, making him an attractive option for the team to consider.
McCain, whose performances have been inconsistent this season, finally found his form after spending more time on the court with Embiid. The center acknowledged that playing off Embiid creates opportunities for others, adding that he loves playing alongside him and believes it's easy to do so. McCain knocked down four threes in the win, three of which came while Embiid was on the floor.
This partnership between McCain and Embiid could be a key factor in the Sixers' success, reminiscent of their past partnerships with JJ Redick, Seth Curry, and Tyrese Maxey. However, it remains to be seen whether this duo can replicate the same level of excellence as their predecessors.
Maxey has been vocal about the importance of McCain stepping up his game, stating that the young guard needs to attack and shoot when given the opportunity. The coach also acknowledged the value of having a reliable scoring punch from McCain, especially with George's suspension looming large.
The team is exploring options to bolster its rotation at the five behind Embiid, with Day’Ron Sharpe emerging as an attractive target. As an elite backup center, Sharpe would provide a significant upgrade over Andre Drummond and his contract is considered a bargain by most standards.
Another player who could be on the radar is Saddiq Bey from the New Orleans Pelicans. The Villanova product has been in a red-hot stretch this season, scoring 34 points against the Sixers last week, and would provide an exciting addition to the team's roster.
Justin Champagnie from the Washington Wizards is also worth considering as he makes only $2.3 million this season and his salaries for the following campaigns are non-guaranteed. He is a near-minimum rotation piece who could fill a larger role in the Sixers' lineup while George is suspended, making him an attractive option for the team to consider.
[gif of Joel Embiid and Jared McCain making a killer combo] 
They're like two peas in a pod, except one pea is way more dominant 
. And yay, a new player to add some excitement to their lineup! 
[image of Saddiq Bey dunking] Justin Champagnie might be a cheap thrill but he's still worth considering 
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. He's already been injured more times than I can count, what if he gets hurt again? And let's be real, he's not exactly a reliable leader on the court. McCain and Maxey are the ones who need to step up their game, not the other way around. Plus, having Embiid would just give them a scapegoat for losing games when George is out 
. Day'Ron Sharpe or Saddiq Bey would be way better investments than keeping Embiid on the payroll. And let's not forget about Champagnie, he's got skills and he's cheap! Why not take a chance on him? 
so I'm loving how the 76ers are experimenting with McCain and Embiid together - it's like they're trying out a new recipe 
. The fact that McCain is finally finding his form after spending more time on the court with Embiid is huge, especially since he went ice-cold before that 
. And can we talk about how awesome it would be to see Maxey and McCoy click in the same way JJ Redick and Curry did back in the day? 
. And I mean, who wouldn't want a cheap and non-guaranteed Justin Champagnie contract 
. I mean, we all know how great their partnership can be when they're both clicking on all cylinders 
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and Embiid's words about playing off each other being super effective 
. It feels like the team is really starting to gel. Now, adding Sharpe or Bey would be like getting a whole new level of energy in that lineup 
! And Justin Champagnie? He's like the ultimate cost-effective solution 
. Sharpe or Bey could be the missing piece to that puzzle... but either way, it's all about how this team comes together and makes their next move 
mccain's been struggling this season but with embiid, he's finally found his groove and is killing it from three! 
Saddiq bey is also looking like a great option & i'm all for justin champagnie getting a shot too 
saddiq bey is also looking solid right now & champagnie is super cheap 
. The team is definitely making some smart moves with Sharpe and Bey coming in, I think McCain needs to keep his form up to make a real impact 
and can we pls talk about day'ron sharpe tho 
️. Bringing in some backup bigs like Sharpe or Bey could give them an extra boost, but for now, let's just enjoy the ride 
!
. And Justin Champagnie is an interesting option - he might just be the steal of the season 
. Let's see how this all unfolds and hope the Sixers can stay in the playoff hunt 
. And let's be real, having a reliable scoring punch like McCain behind Embiid's dominance would make them almost unstoppable 
... and what about Embiid? He's been playing well too, and it looks like they've got a good partnership going on 
... I don't know if this duo can replicate the same magic as JJ Redick and Tyrese Maxey though 
... Saddiq Bey from the Pelicans could be a good signing too 
... we'll see how this all plays out, I guess 
. That partnership could be huge for the Sixers' playoff push. And can we talk about how cool it is that they're exploring options to bolster their rotation? 
. Saddiq Bey's been on fire and would bring some much-needed scoring punch. Justin Champagnie might seem like an odd choice but if he can fill the gap, that's all that matters 
saddiq bey is also looking interesting, i love watching him play, all those threes are a nice bonus