Philadelphia 76ers: How would James Harden’s departure impact Joel Embiid?

There’s one real question that could end up shaping the Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason. 

Over the next few weeks, the dialogue surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers will be difficult to digest. There will be calls for a rebuild, many insulting the likes of Joel Embiid and James Harden for their lackluster performances in Game 7, and even the demand for firing Doc Rivers. And once all the knee-jerk reactions and noise dissipate, the Sixers will be left with some big decisions to make – likely all regarding the three biggest names in the organization.

But at least in my opinion, there’s one question that the Sixers should be trying to answer most. It revolves around Embiid. Not Harden or Rivers.

With the growing probability or possibility that James Harden ends up leaving in free agency, how will that impact Embiid and his standing with the Sixers? Because as far as I’m concerned, that’s what the Sixers organization and their fans should be most preoccupied about.

The Philadelphia 76ers can’t retool without Joel Embiid

The Sixers could survive with the loss of Harden. The same could be said about Rivers. Harden and Rivers have been instrumental to the team’s success in recent years, but Embiid is the heart and soul of the Sixers. The loss of Embiid is not something that the Sixers would be able to easily recover from. That’s the type of move that could set a franchise back a decade.

Let’s be honest here for a bit. I’m not sure how willing Embiid is going to be to go under another complete retooling in Philly. That’s essentially what they’d be doing if they ended up losing Harden. The Sixers don’t just need to think about whether Embiid would be turned off by Harden leaving, but also if he truly believes the organization would have a plan to continue to improve the roster after losing both Harden and Ben Simmons.

That’s the ultimate offseason-defining question for Philadelphia. And that’s not just something that the Sixers should already be thinking about but it’s also something that they should already be planning for.

When the offseason meetings begin (if they haven’t already happened), the Sixers must present a plan that appeals to Embiid – with and without Harden. And if they whiff on that supposed presentation, it could have huge implications for the team’s future with Embiid.

Heading into the offseason, you can’t help but wonder – how much, if any, will Embiid be moved by what Harden elects to do?

Many are quick to proclaim that the Sixers blow things up or start a new “process.” But I’d argue that such a decision isn’t Philly’s to make. Instead, that decision hinges on Embiid. And what he plans to do this offseason.