The Philadelphia 76ers are facing a setback with Joel Embiid, their star center and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, sidelined due to a meniscus injury. It is uncertain how the team will proceed with his treatment, and his return seems unlikely in the near future. While this is undoubtedly bad news for the Sixers, it presents an opportunity for his teammate, Tyrese Maxey, to shine and potentially secure a lucrative contract this summer.
Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in the NBA, players must play in a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for prestigious awards such as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, as well as the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. Additionally, players must average at least 20 minutes per game in all but two of those games, and between 15-20 minutes in the remaining two. Unfortunately, Embiid's injury could jeopardize his chances of meeting these requirements.
Embiid is not the only All-NBA player at risk of falling short this season. Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, a second-team selection last year, has already missed 15 games, leaving him with only two more games to be eligible. Julius Randle of the New York Knicks, a third-team selection last season and an All-Star reserve this year, has been sidelined for the past three games with a dislocated shoulder, potentially ruling him out until after the All-Star break. Even Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, an All-Star starter, has missed several games due to injury and must be cautious to meet the eligibility criteria.
This presents a unique opportunity for Tyrese Maxey, who recently earned his first All-Star selection. With Embiid out, Maxey stepped up and delivered an impressive performance, scoring a career-high 51 points against the Utah Jazz. He became the second-youngest player in over 45 years to achieve this feat while recording zero turnovers in a game. While the Sixers may not require such exceptional numbers from Maxey every night, he will undoubtedly be a crucial offensive force until Embiid's return.
Maxey's strong performances, coupled with his current career-high averages of 26.3 points and 6.4 assists per game, position him well for an All-NBA case if he can maintain this level of play and help the Sixers remain competitive in the playoff race. The CBA's new positionless All-NBA teams may work in his favor if there are more deserving guards than forwards or big men. However, the competition for spots will still be fierce, and Maxey will need to continue his outstanding performance to solidify his case.
Interestingly, the Sixers intentionally delayed Maxey's contract extension last offseason to maintain a lower cap hold for this summer. This strategic move allowed the team to create approximately $55 million in cap space by renouncing their free agents. However, if Maxey earns an All-NBA selection, his eligibility for a max contract starting at 30 percent of the salary cap instead of 25 percent could complicate the team's plans. This potential $7 million-per-year difference may impact their flexibility in future seasons.
For now, the Sixers must rely on Maxey's increased contributions in Embiid's absence. This reliance is likely to result in a surge in Maxey's production on the court. The team's final standing in the regular season will also influence Maxey's chances of making the All-NBA team. If he does secure this honor, Maxey could be looking at an additional $41 million in his upcoming contract—a situation made possible in part by Embiid's unfortunate injury.
It remains to be seen how the Sixers will fare without Embiid and how Maxey will perform in his absence. Nevertheless, this turn of events could have significant implications for Maxey's career and financial future. We will eagerly await the resolution of Embiid's injury and how Maxey continues to seize the opportunity presented to him.
