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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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The Philadelphia 76ers seriously upgraded their starting lineup this offseason, first adding Jaylen Brown via trade with the Boston Celtics and then signing one of the greatest players of all time, LeBron James.
James comes in a two-year deal, where he'll attempt to win his fourth championship with the fourth team he's suited up for in his legendary career.
Brown will attempt to win his second championship after leading the Boston Celtics to one in 2024 and earning NBA Finals MVP honors for his performance.
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That leaves two All-Stars in the starting lineup, who have yet to claim a championship: Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. According to NBA legend Tracy McGrady, there's no question which player is the team's "X factor" in the coming season.
"Joel Embiid," McGrady told co-host Vince Carter on their podcast, explaining it can't be anyone from the bench.
"Anfernee Simons is gonna be who he is. [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] is gonna be who he is. We know who these guys are. They're gonna be vital parts to this. We don't know what we're getting for Joel Embiid," McGrady said.
More news: VJ Edgecombe Sends Clear Message on 76ers’ Expectations With LeBron James
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"If he's healthy, but we don't know how many times we're gonna have him available," he said regarding Embiid. "If that five is healthy, I don't give a damn what they got on their bench."
Embiid is a seven-time NBA All-Star, two-time scoring champion, and claimed the 2023 Most Valuable Player Award. In that 2022-23 season, the 76ers big man averaged career highs with averages of 34.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals, along with 11 rebounds per game.
However, the 76ers have been unable to get past the Eastern Conference Finals, and Embiid's injury issues throughout his history in Philadelphia have plagued them. In the past three seasons, he's never played in more than half of his team's regular-season games.
That's why T-Mac and others have good reason to express concern about this lineup should Embiid get hurt again, as it could be a major blow to their chances.
Some believe they might be able to withstand the loss of Embiid due to the other stars they have, who also include VJ Edgecombe in his sophomore season. There's the possibility that they'll have enough talent and scoring power to keep winning and not risk their star center on some occasions.
However, having a dominant big man as part of a team's attack has been crucial in many teams' championship runs, and it'd be tough for Philly to contend with teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs without Embiid.
More news: Jaylen Brown Puts Celtics on Notice Ahead of 76ers Season
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