One of my favorite shows Hacks returned earlier this month.

In fact, the season debuted the same day the Philadelphia 76ers season ended prematurely once again. The correlation between the two is appropriate considering this moment.

I didn’t know how to begin another one of these blog posts. Where I spew overwhelming optimism. Hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. In reality, it’s not. And I’ll get to that in a minute, but for right now, let’s talk about the one constant since the Sixers first won 50 games and made the postseason during this timeframe: Joel Embiid. He’s played in seven postseasons. His teams have won five series. His teams have lost seven series. He’s missed games. In 2018, he missed the first two games against Miami before returning with a facemask that he strongly disdained. In 2019, he missed Game 3 against Brooklyn. In 2020, the season from hell culminated with a Boston sweep.

In 2021, he missed Game 5 against Washington. In 2022, he missed the first two games against Miami before returning with a facemask that he strongly disdained. In 2023, he missed Game 4 against Brooklyn and Game 1 against Boston. This year, he missed two months following surgery and came back to give the postseason a try.

Injuries have long been Embiid’s story. It’s hard to know if they’re the reason, or simply a reason.  Aside from 2020, every postseason there has been what could be. A moment where things seemed to open up, a light at the end of the tunnel, only for something to get in the way. The most obvious example is 2019 where Embiid lit up Toronto in Game 3 in a truly transformative performance only to follow-up with a Game 4 dud in what could have been the nail in Toronto’s championship hopes. In 2021, the Sixers looked poised to take a 3-1 lead against Atlanta following a 13-point halftime lead. Embiid went 0-12 in the second half in the three-point loss. He came out swinging the next game, scoring 24 points as the Sixers led by 22 at halftime. The Sixers famously lost probably the most infuriating result outside of the Kawhi Leonard game-winner during Embiid’s career.

In 2022, the Sixers had a chance to end Toronto in five at home but played poorly. They easily won Game 6 but not before Embiid broke his face. It’s always something. In 2023, after beating Boston in Game 5, the Sixers were favorites to win the NBA Finals. But you already know how things ended.

What could be.

It’s increasingly annoying to live in what could be.

The very idea that this time will be different, however, makes it worth it.

This year’s version of different can be found in Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, James Harden, Furkan Korkmaz, and Danuel House sized salaries.

Being a Sixers fan is funny because someone could ask you to list the worst transaction made over the last 10 years. Write down six, seven, or maybe even eight options. Then, pull one at random from a hat, or a nice vase.

Voila, a winner.

It would be nice if some 28-year-old All-NBA wing hit free agency, eager to join budding star Tyrese Maxey and Embiid. That’s not reality.

There are several paths for Daryl Morey to take, beginning June 26 with the NBA Draft.

Five firsts to move, only two players for certain under contract, some intriguing free agents to pursue, a bit more potential trade candidates to consider. It’s going to be a wild ride. One with no clear direction, but one with an obvious destination. This season is it. As soon as Maxey signs his extension, the cap space goes mostly poof.

A natural thing to weigh when wondering what they should do is to look at the team’s left competing for the championship. Are there major takeaways in their team building efforts? Are there free agents or trade targets that make more sense than others?

There isn’t a clear blueprint to follow. Each team took chances within the past two years, but let’s focus on one team in particular that feels more similar to Philadelphia.

Dallas had the biggest gamble with Kyrie Irving. Failing to make last year’s postseason proved to be monumental for the Mavericks as they kept their pick which resulted in Dereck Lively. They whiffed on Grant Williams as a sign and trade acquisition last summer, but pivoted midseason flipping him as well as additional salary and draft capital for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford. They hit on Derrick Jones Jr. as a minimum signing last summer.

They’re probably the best team to mimic given how quickly they turned things around. You could argue they’re starting from a similar place. Among the top 6 players in playoff minutes for the Mavericks, Irving and Luka Doncic are the only two from last year’s team. (Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Maxi Kleber are the next three players in minutes played this postseason who have been mainstays. They’ve each contributed during the Mavs run, but have offered nowhere near the impact of Lively, Washington, Gafford, and Jones. I understand Kleber would have more of an impact if he were healthy).

Maxey and Embiid played the most minutes this postseason. Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Kyle Lowry, and Nicolas Batum round out the top 6. The only player I envision could be in the top 6 next postseason outside of Maxey and Embiid, of course, is Oubre.

I won’t begin to understand the nuances that come with running a professional basketball team. Morey has a long track record of success. His critics will correctly point out his lack of championships (winning or even appearances). But he’s constantly had winning teams and deserves the benefit of the doubt given how hamstrung they’ve felt at times these past four years. Having said that, we all watched his press conference after the season. We have long known his obsession with acquiring star players. He’s become the poster boy for the idea. We know he wants Paul George, or Jimmy Butler. A two-way wing plopped between Maxey and Embiid. George would only cost money, while Butler would cost both money and draft capital. I’ll let others debate what’s the better option.

Filling out the roster will require trades, signings, AND draft picks. There’s no readymade max wing available. Offering George that money would be a major risk, but it might be more of a risk not to offer it. Trading two firsts in order to pay Butler would be a major risk, but it might be more of a risk not to do so. Who knows. It’s not my job to make those decisions.

I’m sure I’ve written some variation of “this is the biggest offseason in franchise history” several times over the last half dozen years, which renders the phrase meaningless. It’s a fair point, but this is the biggest offseason in franchise history.

We’re almost a month away from the draft where tangible things will happen. Where the roster building begins to take shape. It’s an exciting time because no matter who they add or do not add you’re able to talk yourself into pretty much anything since they have Maxey and Embiid.

And maybe, just perhaps, they won’t go ahead and blow it.