As the dust of defeat settles, the Philadelphia 76ers face an uncertain and potentially transformative offseason after a disheartening second-round exit from the NBA playoffs. This exit marks another chapter in their frustrating five-out-of-six years trend of reaching the playoffs only to falter in the second round. It's a cycle that has spurred questions about the effectiveness of their strategy, famously dubbed "The Process", and raised speculation about the need for an organizational revamp. Adding to the drama, the futures of the team's prominent figures, namely Doc Rivers, James Harden, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris, are hanging in the balance. A prominent sports betting platform, BetOnline, has offered special odds providing fascinating insights into the 76ers possible offseason outcomes.
Top of the speculation is whether the 76ers will bid farewell to their coach, Doc Rivers. Despite Rivers' expressed intention to return for another season and his impressive record of improving the 76ers' win ratio over three seasons, the recent playoff disappointment has stirred doubts. BetOnline odds currently suggest a 76% implied probability that Rivers will be fired.
Will Doc Rivers be Fired by the Philadelphia 76ers?
Yes -400 (~76%)
No +250
Doc Rivers’ team failed to close out the Boston Celtics in Games 6 & 7, two opportunities to lead to the franchise to its first Conference Finals since 2001. This continues a bothersome trend for the coach in the year’s biggest games. Even considering his 2008 championship run with the Celtics, Rivers falls to 4-12 ATS in Game 7’s (6-10 SU) as head coach, and 17-32 ATS (17-32 SU) in games where his teams have a chance to close out their opponent.
The future of James Harden with the Sixers is also uncertain. The guard, who led the league in assists and played a crucial role in Embiid's MVP win, has yet to deliberate on his offseason decision-making. Harden, following his lackluster performance in the series, has a 64% implied chance of playing for a different team next season according to BetOnline. He could either opt into his $35.6 million player option for next season or become an unrestricted free agent.
Will James Harden be on the Sixers next season?
No -200 (~64%)
Yes +150
Like his coach Doc Rivers, James Harden is no stranger to coming up short in the year’s most pivotal contests. James Harden is now 1-9 in his last 10 elimination games. In those games Harden has averaged 21.5 PPG, shooting only 39% from the field in those contests.
Joel Embiid, the team's MVP, is also a topic of conversation, though the odds of him being traded seem less likely. The center, despite the team's playoff loss, expressed his praise for Rivers and the team. The betting odds reflect a 93% implied probability that Embiid will remain with the 76ers next season (-2000).
Will Joel Embiid be Traded by Philadelphia 76ers?
No -2000 (~93%)
Yes +1500
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Joel Embiid’s drop-off in scoring – from 33.1 PPG in the regular season to 23.7 PPG in the playoffs – is the largest drop-off by that year's MVP in NBA history.
Finally, the odds of Tobias Harris being traded are more balanced. Harris, an integral part of the team for the last 5 seasons, has a 57% implied chance of not being traded (-150), showing that his future with the 76ers remains more open-ended.
Will Tobias Harris be traded by the Philadelphia 76ers?
No -200 (~64%)
Yes +150
These odds, courtesy of BetOnline, reflect the swirling uncertainties surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers in the wake of their playoff exit. The team's performance has always been under scrutiny, but the focus now intensifies on the individuals. The offseason will reveal whether these betting predictions hold true.