10 Semi-Final Thoughts on this Woeful Ass Season

Zo puts a bow on 82 games of blugh.

1. Doomed from the start is an understatement. This thing was down hill at the sight of the first knee hyperextension.

2. You can fire Nick Nurse — and they probably will, it’s the easiest thing to do in a vacuum — but it’s not just a change in the locker room voice thing, and I’ll get into that in later points.

3. Tyrese Maxey, from me at least, gets an incomplete grade for this year. Up and down, with mostly down, injury woes included, so here’s hoping he takes a long vacation and unplugs before getting right this summer.

4. Seen a lot of folks say “this is why you can’t build around Maxey” — which I agree with but not in the same way. Building for Tyrese Maxey requires putting resources that you don’t have into play to then acquire guys who are much younger, athletic and skilled than who you have now. I just think it would take so long to put the perfect team around him when they’ve already spent forever trying to do that for the guy who is currently their best player.

5. This iteration of a Big 3 is probably done for sooner than we think — and to be honest I’m very fine with that.

6. Nick Nurse aside, it’s way past due for some of that front office to answer for what turned out to be massive transgressions.

7. This team is in so much limbo right now and it’s a sort of weird feeling for me as a fan. On one hand, you’re about 60% assured a top-five pick — on the other hand, Joel Embiid is owed a king’s ransom next season and is set to have his second knee surgery in just over a year any day now.

Well At Least We're Crushing the Tanking Part of the Season

8. Quentin Grimes is a DUDE for sure man. My Goodness.

9. The 2026 deadline could be NUTS. I think Daryl Morey and crew will initially intend to run it back, just to see what happens given the fresh blood in Grimes and a healthy Jared McCain returning — but if shit sours fast in the first few months I think the PG domino will be first to fall.

10. If the pick (WHEN THE PICK) lands in the top 6, say 5 probably, I think Tre Johnson is the guy; anywhere 3-5 I think you’re in Derik Queen/Ace Bailey territory.