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Since the offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have found themselves in one of the league's biggest stalemates. After formally requesting a trade and not receiving one, Ben Simmons remains on a hiatus from the team, still hoping for that trade to come as he racks up millions in fines.
With the 2022 NBA trade deadline now just over a week away, all eyes are on the Sixers. Organizations around the league are patiently waiting to see if Daryl Morey will settle for the best package available or prolong this saga into the offseason.
Based on some of the latest rumors regarding this situation, it seems unlikely a trade goes down before Feb. 10. The Sixers have been heavily linked to James Harden, and the Sacramento Kings, one of the most aggressive suitors for Simmons, reportedly ended their pursuit of the three-time All-Star.
From the beginning, Morey made it clear he was going to be patient in this ordeal. Despite coming off a poor performance in the postseason, he has no intentions of selling low on the former No. 1 pick. Until a high-level player who legitimately increases the Sixers' odds of competing for a title becomes available, Morey will hold on to his biggest trade chip.
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Despite being without the services of one of their All-Stars, the Sixers have managed to hang around in a tight Eastern Conference. Currently, they sit only one game behind the Chicago Bulls for the top spot in the standings. Part of this is because of the MVP-level play of Joel Embiid, but the emergence of another Sixer has provided a major boost.
With Simmons away from the team, Tyrese Maxey was thrust into the starting lineup. After irregular playing time as a rookie, the 21-year-old found himself as the team's full-time point guard in Year 2.
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Everyone expected this experiment to take time and have growing pains, but that has not stopped Maxey from showing great flashes. All areas of his game have taken big steps forward as he continues to grow as a floor general, as evidenced by his monster performance in a huge win over the Memphis Grizzlies without Embiid. The youngster poured in 33 points and handed out eight assists in the thrilling overtime win.
Maxey dished 2.0 assists per game as a rookie and has increased that to 4.7 this season. Even with more on his plate as a playmaker, he continues to provide a strong scoring punch as well. The former first-round pick is scoring just under 17 points per game and shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
This stellar play from Maxey has not only helped the Sixers on the court but behind the scenes as well. His ability to step in and hold things down at point guard gives the team some breathing room as they seek a suitable return for Simmons.
If not for Maxey's ability to adapt his game, the Sixers would have had no answer on who will facilitate the offense. This desperate need for a true point guard might have forced Morey to facilitate a deal sooner than he may have liked.
Maxey has proven to be a foundational piece for the Sixers with his array of stellar performances this season. He is a rising star in his own right and makes life easier for Morey to play the waiting game in hopes of acquiring a high-level talent.
