Philadelphia’s biggest dilemma right now revolves around Joel Embiid and the 76ers‘ so-called ‘Big 3.’ During the offseason, Daryl Morey, the Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations, made a bold move by signing Paul George in free agency, creating a star-studded trio with Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey. Expectations soared, but just 16 games into the season, the Sixers are in a dire situation, sitting at 3-13 and second-to-last in the conference.

Morey may need to reevaluate his strategy, as former NBA player Chandler Parsons suggested on Run it Back: “You can’t move on now. Can you possibly shut down a Joel Embiid? Can you just fully take them off the team this year and chalk it up to next year? I think we’re getting somewhere close to that.”

Parsons emphasized that despite the team’s on-court struggles, players of Embiid’s caliber are not easily dismissed or sidelined.

In addition to their poor start, the Sixers have been plagued by injuries, with George, Maxey, and Embiid struggling to stay healthy. While trade rumors surrounding Embiid and George have surfaced, Chandler Parsons believes such moves would be premature. Sharing his perspective, Parsons said: “To trade them right now, there’s no real value. These guys have to prove they can be on the floor, or their contracts are massive, and I think that would be extremely premature to be looking to move on from these guys.”

Parsons has a point. With their hefty contracts and injury history, finding teams willing—and able—to take on players like Embiid or George would be challenging. Instead, Parsons suggests patience is key. The Sixers need to focus on getting their stars on the court together, as their lack of shared playing time has hindered their progress.

For now, the Sixers might need to endure the tough times and trust that time and health will help them address their issues.

“He hasn’t been a pro” – Former NBA player makes fresh accusation against Joe; Embiid

Joel Embiid has found himself under scrutiny, and not for the reasons fans would hope. Former NBA star Greg Anthony recently called out the Sixers’ centerpiece, accusing him of lacking professionalism amid the team’s struggles this season. In an interview with Stephen A. Smith on his show, Anthony didn’t hold back, stating: “If what we’re hearing is true, then that means he hasn’t been a pro because there’s just no excuse for you being late to everything.”

Furthermore, Anthony emphasized the importance of leading by example, saying: “Generally, your best players are your hardest workers. If you go to Boston, they’ll all tell you Tatum and Brown are the hardest workers… That’s the formula for a championship-level team. You don’t think Jokic is the hardest worker in Denver? Like your great players set the tone by leading with example.”

Anthony believes Embiid should be held accountable, and he makes a valid point. As the face of the franchise, Embiid’s actions and work ethic directly influence the entire organization. The Sixers center needs to rise to the challenge, setting the tone for the team both on and off the court.

It might seem like a tall order, but the situation in Philadelphia demands nothing less. The Sixers are in a deep slump and far from being contenders. To even keep their playoff hopes alive, they must start stringing wins together—and Embiid is undeniably the key to turning their season around.