Should Philadelphia 76ers Fans Still Trust The Process?

Philadelphia 76ers fans have been hearing about this “Trust the Process” approach for years. What exactly are they trusting? 

Since drafting Joel Embiid as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Philadelphia hasn't advanced past the Eastern Conference semifinals. 

Following the most recent second-round exit to the New York Knicks, is it time to change the slogan to “Scrap the Process?" At the very least, the franchise is resetting the process as Daryl Morey is out as president of basketball operations.

Is it time to finally part ways with Embiid as well? 

Here’s a look at five areas that the next 76ers president of basketball operations must address to help the franchise become an NBA Championship contender again. 

What is this ‘Trust the Process’ thing all about?

The “Process” dates back to the 2013 season when former front office executive Sam Hinkie put together rosters that were not built to win. The 76ers would accumulate lottery picks with the hopes of one day making Philadelphia an NBA championship contender again. It included putting 76ers fans through some torturous seasons, one of which was the 2015-16 season, when Philadelphia finished 10-72. 

Believe it or not, it’s not the worst record in NBA history. That honor belongs to the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets), who finished the 2011-12 season with a 7-59 record. However, the regular season only included 66 games due to the NBA lockout. The 1972-73 76ers are No. 2 with a 9-73 record.     

76ers failed NBA championship runs

Since the 76ers landed Embiid, the team has not made it out of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Here is a look back at how the 76ers have fared since the 2016-17 season, when Embiid made his debut.

Stop talking about ‘The Process’

Now that the  76ers have filled their vacant front office role, the marketing team might want to create a new catchphrase since “The Process” has yet to produce measurable results. Philly has not made the NBA Finals since 2000. 

This is a fresh opportunity to hit the restart button. The extended championship drought dates back to 1983, which is not uncommon. The Knicks, who swept the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, last won in 1973. New York is playing the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. 

As far as Philadelphia is concerned, a plan that includes finally getting back to the Eastern Conference Finals would be a good starting point.   

Is Embiid still the centerpiece?

When NBA betting markets open for the 2026-27 season, there is a good chance Embiid’s name will be among the league MVP favorites. The problem is that the all-star center can’t make it through an entire season without missing significant time due to injuries. This year included having emergency appendectomy surgery toward the end of the regular season.

He returned and had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in the Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics.

Building the future around All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, on paper, seems like the better approach. He played in 70 games this season and led the squad in points (28.3) and assists (6.6) per game.  

Clean up the salary cap mess

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey finalized a multiyear deal to become the 76ers new president of basketball operations. He is inheriting a roster with over $236.8 million in cap allocations. The bulk of it is tied to three players:

• Embiid - $57,985,752 
• Paul George - $54,126,380
• Maxey - $40,770,520

Going over the salary cap is not an issue for 76ers ownership. Managing partner Josh Harris said during a recent press conference that “the front office absolutely has the green light to go into the luxury tax.” The projected NBA salary cap for next season is $165 million. Based on that number, the 76ers are already over the second apron of $222 million. 

Bob Myers, the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, will be playing an active role in building the 76ers' roster. He previously served as the Golden State Warriors general manager and was part of four NBA championship teams. 

Make better draft picks 

Do you know how many 76ers first-round draft picks are still on the roster since the 76ers selected Embiid? Two. That includes this year’s NBA Rookie of the Year finalist VJ Edgecombe.

Maxey, who the 76ers drafted in 2020, is the other.

Jared McCain, whom the 76ers drafted 16th overall in the 2024 draft, is now playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 76ers picked up multiple draft picks in a mid-season trade.

Check out this 2026 NBA mock draft to see who the 76ers may take in the first round.   

Sign reliable bench players 

The 76ers are in desperate need of reliable bench players. The Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Knicks painted a crystal clear picture of why. New York finished with 137 bench points over four games compared to just 104 for Philadelphia. What makes this number even more glaring is that the Knicks won Game 1 137-98 and Game 4 144-114, creating significant garbage time. Thirty of those bench points came in Game 1 when nine bench players saw playing time. 

During the regular season, Quentin Grimes was the most reliable option off the bench, averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He will be a free agent. 

Current process: The Philadelphia 76ers have serious work ahead 

Time will tell if the 76ers front office finally gets it right. Pulling off a first-round upset of the Celtics or Knicks next time around will not be good enough. Does the front office decide that the current roster makeup isn’t built to win, and trade away key pieces? Based on the recent comments from Harris and Myers, that scenario seems unlikely. If, and that’s a very big if, the current stars can stay healthy, the 76ers can compete with the Eastern Conference’s top teams. 

Whatever the organization decides to call this next phase, the focus needs to be on making Philadelphia a legitimate championship contender.