The Sixers now have even more company in the Went Out Sad This Year department.
After getting routed in their first two games, the Memphis Grizzlies briefly looked like they’d get back into their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They jumped out to a massive first-half lead in Game 3, but Ja Morant suffered a hip injury shortly before halftime and the Thunder pulled off a historic comeback. The Grizzlies fought valiantly without Morant in Game 4, but they couldn’t stave off a sweep. They’re now left wondering whether to continue building around Morant and how extension talks with Jaren Jackson Jr. will go this offseason.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo might have just played his final game with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Damian Lillard tore his Achilles in Game 4, which effectively shuts the door on the Bucks’ short-term title hopes. Giannis has been unceasingly loyal to Milwaukee to date, but both he and the Bucks would arguably be better off moving on from one another at this point. The Bucks are capped out, have virtually zero draft capital between now and 2030 and don’t have a young player like Tyrese Maxey or Jared McCain who gives them hope for the future.
The playoffs are the ultimate moment of clarity for teams. If you get waxed in the first round, you aren’t nearly as close to winning a championship as you might expect. That often sets the stage for explosive offseason moves.
So… how do the Sixers fit into this larger picture? Do they have the assets for a Giannis deal? Could they work their way into a larger multi-team trade? Could they pilfer someone from the Grizzlies if they decide to shake things up? That’s what this mailbag is for.
Drop your top offseason questions either in the comments section below or send them to me on Bluesky (@btoporek.bsky.social) and I’ll answer as many as I can tomorrow.
In the meantime, I’ll be wondering where in the hell this version of Tobias Harris was for the past half-decade. (At least James Harden predictably no-showed on Tuesday?)
