First-Half Season Grades For 76ers’ 3 Highest-Paid Players
With the Philadelphia 76ers sitting at 29-16, they are officially past the halfway point.
Philly has won 16 of their last 20 after going .500 through their first 24 games.
Injuries were one of the main factors that contributed to their slow start.
Joel Embiid missed 11 games, James Harden missed 15 games, and Tyrese Maxey missed 19 games.
Per Spotrac, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and James Harden are the three highest-paid players for Philadelphia.
Here are the first-half grades for Philly’s three biggest investments.
Tobias Harris
It would be a surprise to many to hear that Tobias Harris is the highest-paid player on the 76ers.
Harris is widely considered to be the fourth option on this Philadelphia roster, regardless of what the money says.
While it is impossible to be worth $37 million as a fourth option, Harris had a strong first half of the season.
He has appeared in 40 contests, maintaining availability while his three co-stars missed time.
The counting stats do not jump off the page, but he has filled the role asked of him.
Tobias Harris has been having an under the radar amazing season. Sixers fans’ (including myself) biggest complaint about him was his slow decision making on offense, killing the flow by catching and holding the ball, and he’s just completely reversed that trend this year. https://t.co/gpXx25vNj9
— Daniel Olinger (@dan_olinger) January 11, 2023
Harris is knocking down 1.9 of his 5.1 three-point attempts per game, both of which are high watermarks since joining the 76ers.
He is contributing 16.4 points per game on nearly 60% true shooting while playing solid defense.
Harris has simultaneously been a standout in his role while also not living up to his contract value.
GRADE: B+
Joel Embiid
What more can be said about Joel Embiid at this point?
The 76ers superstar center is averaging 33.6 points per game on a career-best 64.4% true shooting.
This would be his second consecutive season averaging 30+ points per game.
He’s also grabbing 9.8 rebounds per game and dishing out 4.2 assists per game.
41 PTS | 9 REB | 3 AST | 2 BLK
have you voted @JoelEmbiid for All-🌟?
🗳 https://t.co/dy1hdG5RK7🎥 presented by @palottery pic.twitter.com/ytGYIwSTUx
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 18, 2023
On top of the massive offensive workload, Embiid anchors the defense.
His +1.7 Defensive Estimated +/- per Dunks & Threes ranks in the 92nd percentile league-wide.
Embiid has been sensational for the 76ers once again this season.
GRADE: A+
James Harden
Last but not least is James Harden, the player who will be the NBA assists leader once he qualifies.
Harden made waves over the offseason when he took a substantial pay cut to return to Philly.
Harden left $15 million on the table to give Daryl Morey more avenues to improve the roster.
After a questionable postseason run last season, Harden has been much better this season.
The 33-year-old guard is averaging 21.7 points and 11.1 assists per game on 44.5% from the field and 38.2% from three.
His 7.3 three-point attempts per game are his best mark since his final full season in Houston.
Harden’s Offensive Estimated +/- is +5.1, good for the 98th percentile per Dunks & Threes.
James Harden This Season
22.3 PPG
11.2 APG
6.5 RPG
45/39/87 splits
61.3 TS% (same level as mvp harden)
Positive defender.still in his prime just lowered the volume and upped the playmaking with Embiid.🐐🐐 @JGMyGoat pic.twitter.com/qZaxoLHeRI
— max (@hardenand1) January 16, 2023
When paired with Embiid, they are the league’s only teammates to register Offensive Estimated +/-‘s greater than 5.0.
And the eye test confirms that.
Harden and Embiid continue to grow their chemistry running the pick and roll.
Harden missed a good chunk of the season but has been productive to this point.
If only his defense could catch up.
GRADE: A-