"The Process": The Grand Experiment Failed and the Impossible Embiid Dilemma

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On May 10, 2026, as the New York Knicks danced off the floor at Xfinity Mobile Arena following a 30-point blowout and a 4-0 second-round sweep, the “Process” era in Philadelphia didn’t just end—it was unceremoniously buried.

Thirteen years after Sam Hinkie famously began the “Trust the Process” era, the 76ers find themselves exactly where they started: watching the Conference Finals from the couch. The experiment has failed, and the organization is now staring down the barrel of a $193 million contract for a superstar whose body may no longer be able to cash the checks.

The Failure of the Vision

The Process was built on a simple, analytical premise: the worst place in the NBA is the middle. By losing on purpose to accumulate high-lottery talent, the Sixers aimed to build a sustainable dynasty. They found their superstar in Joel Embiid, and later a dynamic engine in Tyrese Maxey, but the results have been historically stagnant.

The Ceiling: In 13 years, the 76ers have failed to reach a single Eastern Conference Final.

The Outdated Model: While the league shifted to perimeter speed and “positionless” basketball, Philly doubled down on a center-centric, isolation-heavy offense that bogs down in the playoffs.

The Sweep: The 2026 sweep by the Knicks, characterized by New York’s relentless switchability and shooting, was a loud declaration that the Sixers’ roster construction is a relic of 2006, not 2026.

The Albatross: Can You Trade $60 Million?

The user’s question—do they keep Joel Embiid or let him walk?—unearths the most terrifying financial reality in the NBA. Thanks to the 3-year, $192.9 million extension he signed in late 2024, Embiid is not a free agent. He is under contract through 2029.

Season	Estimated Salary	Age
2026–27	$57.9M	32
2027–28	$62.6M	33
2028–29	$67.2M (Player Option)	34

The idea of “eating” this contract is a non-starter. In the NBA, you can’t just release a player and stop paying them. If the Sixers waived him, they would still owe him nearly $200 million, and that money would stay on their salary cap, preventing them from signing anyone else.

The Dilemma: Asset or Liability? Philly now faces two equally painful paths:

1. The “Trade Him Now” Approach

The argument for trading Embiid is that his value will never be higher than it is today. Despite the injury concerns (holding his hip and back throughout the Knicks series), he remains a top-tier defensive force and offensive hub.

The Obstacle: No team wants to pay $70 million to a 34-year-old center with a history of knee and back surgeries. A trade would likely require Philly to take back other “bad” contracts or settle for fewer draft picks than a superstar usually commands.

2. The “Stay the Course” Approach

With Tyrese Maxey (25) and rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe (20), the Sixers finally have a young, athletic core. Some argue that keeping Embiid as a “luxury piece” while the kids take the wheel is the best path forward.

The Obstacle: Between Embiid ($60M), Paul George ($54M), and Maxey ($41M), the Sixers hit the salary cap with just three players. They have no financial flexibility to put a championship-level supporting cast around them.

The Verdict

The Process failed because it prioritized “assets” over “winning basketball.” Now, the Sixers are stuck with the ultimate asset that has become the ultimate anchor.

Moving Embiid is the only way to truly “Process” the next era. While his contract is massive, there is always a desperate contender (think Miami, New Orleans, or even a return to a desperate West team) willing to gamble on a “Final Piece.” If the 76ers hold onto Embiid through 2027, they risk watching the superstar’s body break down completely, leaving the franchise with a $70 million bill for a player who can only give them 40 games a year.