Ben Simmons’ five-year, $177 million max extension that he received in 2019 was looked at as the worst value contract in the league following his dismal series against the Hawks in 2021. Fast-forward to present day, there seem to be much worse contracts in the league today, driven by the NBA’s continuously rising salary cap. And the Sixers are responsible for two of the deals that have arguably topped Simmons’ as the most ill-advised among the lot.
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Tim McMahon brought up this point on The Hoop Collective, underlining the massive salary Joel Embiid is due to receive in the final year of his contract.
“[Embiid] is a dude who, with this extension is owed $67 million in 2028-29,” McMahon said. “The Ben Simmons contract for a long time was the worst contract in the NBA. Sixers have two contenders right now.”
After pointing out that Embiid played in just 39 games last season, McMahon stated that he doesn’t expect the former MVP to exceed that number many more times in his career. As a star being paid one of the best packages in the NBA, that amount of absence from Embiid will drown the franchise.
Paul George’s contract with Philadelphia has also played a role in the franchise’s downfall. The Sixers inked the 34-year-old to a four-year, $211 million deal last summer. George has endured one of the worst seasons of his career since then.
The 15-year veteran is posting just 17.3 points on 42% shooting, two of his lowest marks since he entered the league in 2010. And, after entering the season with high expectations, the Sixers have experienced a worst-case scenario thus far.
The future looks bleak for the 76ers
Philadelphia will need Embiid to manage his injury enough to remain a force in the coming years or the franchise will essentially have $67 million in dead money.
The seven-time All-Star has posted some of the most dominant campaigns in recent NBA history. But his inability to stay on the court makes his contract of egregiously terrible value.
Similarly, the team will need George to at least play at All-Star level as he enters into the twilight of his career. With a contract that runs through his age-37 season, it’s not reasonable to expect George to remain a top talent in the league.
But if he doesn’t, the Sixers will be strapped with not one, but two of the worst contracts in the entire association for the next three years.
