76ers' biggest offseason winner never even touched free agency

The Sixer Sense · Jul 22, 2026 12:00 · 3 min read

76ers' biggest offseason winner never even touched free agency — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid before game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 8. 2026. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Joel Embiid was not even part of the open market this summer, but he ended up being the biggest offseason winner for the 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers have had a hell of an offseason so far, and they are not even finished. In fact, they might even be on deck for another jackpot this summer. Yet despite all of their big wins this offseason, the biggest winner from the team is none other than Joel Embiid, who never even touched free agency this year due to the newfound support he will have around him.

76ers' big offseason spells good news for Joel Embiid

At this point last year, Embiid was facing a huge cloud on his future due to all the injuries he had been dealing with. Fast forward to July 2026, and he just saw a ton of pressure get taken off of him ahead of the upcoming season while also being relatively healthy this summer. Heck, his massive extension kicks in at the start of the next campaign as well. No one on the team can possibly top what the superstar center has been graced with as of late.

For years, Embiid has shouldered most of the burden for the franchise on and off the court. That is no longer the case, though. With a new co-star in Jaylen Brown in town and a realistic LeBron James pursuit still ongoing, a lot of attention has now been taken away from the former Most Valuable Player.

Joel Embiid is quietly the biggest winner of the offseason for the 76ers

The 76ers will go as far as Joel Embiid takes them. That has always been the case for this franchise. One could argue that such a dynamic remains the status quo in place, but the degree of truth in that statement has definitely gone down a notch or two.

Tyrese Maxey is inching closer to superstar status. Brown is already one if you factor in his Finals MVP and his MVP contention last season. VJ Edgecombe is one of the brightest young studs in the league. Those factors should be more than enough to give Embiid some relief from the overbearing rhetoric that has plagued him over the years.

Embiid is probably still the best player on this team, at least when he is fully functional and in playing shape. However, the burden no longer predominantly rests on his shoulders. With much more help now in place, the 76ers have no more reason to keep relying on their superstar center as if they are going to completely falter without him.

Regardless of what happens with their bid for LeBron, the 76ers will enter the 2026-27 season as one of the definitive favorites to come out of the East. Joel Embiid will still be the most important factor for Philly, but the huge difference this time around is that he can finally play without the heavy pressure he was constantly under before.