As anticipated, Joel Embiid’s NBA All-Star enjoying accomplice just isn’t leaving the Philadelphia 76ers.
Restricted free-agent guard Tyrese Maxey agreed to a five-year, $204 million contract with the Sixers, in accordance with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 23-year-old is signed by means of the 2028-29 season, becoming a member of latest 76er Paul George as Philadelphia is retooled with a brand new Large 3 to problem the Boston Celtics within the Japanese Convention.
Maxey averaged profession highs of 25.9 factors (45/37/87 taking pictures splits), 6.2 assists and three.7 rebounds per sport this previous season, capturing Most Improved Participant honors and making his first All-Star look.
Embiid and Maxey led Philadelphia to a 47-35 report, seventh place within the East and a berth within the play-in match this previous season. The Sixers misplaced in six video games to the New York Knicks within the opening spherical of the playoffs. Maxey averaged 29.8 factors (48/40/89), 6.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per sport within the sequence.
Maxey’s rise to max-salaried star was surprising. The twenty first general draft decide in 2020, he performed quarter-hour an evening as a rookie, nearly fully off the bench, averaging simply eight factors on 30.1% 3-point taking pictures. He began 74 video games the next season, ending sixth within the Most Improved Participant voting — two years earlier than he gained the award. He performed half the 2022-23 season off the bench, making room for backcourt accomplice James Harden, earlier than assuming the purpose guard duties upon Harden’s exit final 12 months.
This previous season marked an unmitigated success for Maxey, although his defensive deficiencies might come beneath a microscope now that he shall be paid 25% of the wage cap. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson outperformed Maxey of their first-round playoff sequence, regardless of Maxey’s 46-point outburst in Recreation 5.
Maxey remains to be removed from a completed product. Embiid’s happiness in Philadelphia will rely an amazing deal on Maxey’s growth, together with the staff’s prospects in free company. The Sixers entered this summer season with greater than $50 million in cap house, which is just about spent because the groups additionally agreed to free agent offers with middle Andre Drummond and wing Kelly Oubre Jr.