Potential 76ers implosion in offseason could benefit Raptors

Some might find it unfair for Toronto Raptors fans to throw stones at the Philadelphia 76ers for ending their season in embarrassing fashion. I, however, am not one of those people. This is a time for looking at the MVP in Joel Embiid and (to paraphrase David Byrne) ask ourselves, “Well, how did we get here?”

The 76ers losing to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 is not an inherently embarrassing act, especially when Jayson Tatum had one of the greatest performances in NBA history. Losing while Embiid goes 5-18 from the field, James Harden puts up a pathetic second half, and Doc Rivers chokes yet another close playoff game is pathetic.

The Raptors organization has to be loving this. On top of the fact that one of their biggest rivals was officially knocked out of the postseason race, the 76ers’ roster is being held together with string and duct tape. Daryl Morey’s master plan is starting to crumble before them.

Doc Rivers seems like a lock to get the boot after this debacle, and Harden’s links to the Houston Rockets will likely get stronger with the idea of him abandoning a championship team no longer possible. The 76ers, as we know them, might break up, and that is good news for the Raptors.

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The Toronto Raptors could benefit from the 76ers’ losing ways.

Harden, for all his innumerable faults in the postseason, is still an All-Star-level player fresh off leading the league in assists. There’s value in him, and replacing it while still paying Embiid and Tobias Harris such expensive contracts is a one-way ticket to mediocrity.

Perhaps players like Harris could be shipped away in a trade to clear cap room. Maybe rising youngsters like Paul Reed are jettisoned? With Philly unable to even reach the conference finals, a hard reset might be the best way to get Embiid players that can help him win.

Playing Embiid will always be difficult for the Raptors, and Fred VanVleet has shown some genuine struggles when it comes to defending Tyrese Maxey, but the 76ers may not be as lethal without Harden. The other option, of course, involves Philly keeping the band largely together. Toronto has shown that they can at least make the 76ers sweat. 

The Raptors and their fanbase got to see a hated rival fall before an offseason tidal wave of change that makes some of their more interesting pieces available via trade or free agency. After such a hard season, this should make fans crack a smile.