When the Sixers return to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday night to face the New York Knicks, the roster will look a little different-but not dramatically so. The recent trade deadline brought some movement, but not the kind that shakes up a locker room overnight.
Gone are Jared McCain and Eric Gordon, both shipped out during the Sixers’ extended West Coast swing. Neither deal brought back a player in return, meaning Philly’s rotation remains relatively intact, just a bit thinner.
The new additions? Patrick Baldwin Jr., signed to a 10-day contract as a contingency while the team sorted out Dominick Barlow’s standard deal, and Dalen Terry, who was added on a two-way contract to backfill Barlow’s previous spot.
With just one game left before the All-Star break, the Sixers are in a bit of a holding pattern-still competitive, still dangerous, but also clearly in transition. Here's how national analysts are seeing the current state of the team.
NBA.com Power Rankings: 12th (up two spots)
John Schuhmann zeroed in on the Sixers’ evolving backcourt, especially in the wake of McCain’s departure to the defending champs. While the trade raised eyebrows, the numbers tell part of the story.
McCain was ninth in minutes per game and 10th in clutch-time minutes. When it mattered most, Nick Nurse leaned on Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes.
And the results speak for themselves.
That trio has logged 436 minutes together this season, outscoring opponents by 9.4 points per 100 possessions-a dominant stretch that helped the Sixers stay afloat even during stretches when Joel Embiid wasn’t at full strength. Early in the season, those three-guard lineups were a staple. But with the roster getting healthier, Nurse has dialed back on them, opting for more balance and size depending on the matchup.
ESPN Power Rankings: 13th (no change)
Tim Bontemps highlighted the ripple effects of the McCain trade-not just for Philly, but for the team that acquired him: the Oklahoma City Thunder.
There’s been plenty of debate in Philly about whether moving McCain was a savvy long-term play or a short-sighted cost-cutting move. The Sixers did duck the luxury tax in the process, and they picked up a first-round pick and three seconds. But what really stands out is that OKC, a top-10 team, was the only contender to part with a first-rounder at the deadline-and they did it for McCain.
That’s not nothing. Thunder GM Sam Presti doesn’t toss around first-round picks lightly.
In fact, the last time he traded one for a player under contract was in 2016, when he sent a first to Philly for Jerami Grant. That pick eventually became Tyrese Maxey.
So if Presti sees something in McCain, it’s worth paying attention.
The Athletic Power Rankings: 12th (up one spot)
Law Murray didn’t mince words: the Sixers didn’t exactly swing for the fences at the deadline. Eric Gordon’s contract was offloaded to Memphis, and that was about it.
No splashy additions. No big roster shakeups.
But still, this team is playing good basketball.
Dominick Barlow, promoted from a two-way deal to a standard contract, has started more games than anyone on the roster not named VJ Edgecombe or Tyrese Maxey. That says a lot about how much the team values his steady presence.
And then there’s Joel Embiid-since January 16, he’s been the NBA’s leading scorer. That’s a remarkable turnaround for a player who, not long ago, looked like he was running on fumes.
Embiid’s resurgence has been one of the league’s best stories over the past month. He’s back to playing at an MVP level, anchoring both ends of the floor and giving the Sixers a real shot to make noise in the second half of the season.
Where the Sixers Stand
So here’s where things sit: the Sixers didn’t make a big splash at the deadline, but they didn’t need to blow it up either. They’ve got a core that’s been quietly effective, a superstar playing like one again, and a backcourt trio that’s proven it can hang with anyone when they’re clicking.
Sure, the roster’s a little thinner now, and the front office chose flexibility and future assets over immediate reinforcements. But with Maxey growing into a star, Embiid back in dominant form, and a coaching staff that knows how to mix and match lineups, the Sixers are still a problem in the East.
They may not look all that different on the surface, but this team is evolving-and the second half of the season will be all about finding out just how far that evolution can take them.