Facing a steep 0-3 deficit, one could reasonably expect the Philadelphia 76ers to at least put up a valiant effort to send rescue to their own campaign themselves. Instead, the New York Knicks wreaked havoc on them, eliminating them from the playoffs in devastating fashion to the tune of a massive 30-point beatdown sure to rank as one of the worst playoff performances by a team this year.
Now, topping their to-do list this offseason is figuring out which players the front office should want back for the 2026-27 campaign. At least nine players currently on the roster are slated to hit the open market, so there is ample opportunity for the team to draw a soft reset, even if only on the margins.
Be that as it may, here are four players who, at this early juncture, should no longer be part of the 76ers next season.
Quentin Grimes
Grimes, the nominal sixth man for the 76ers this season, basically decided he wants to be as timid as possible when the postseason kicked off. For some reason, he forgot what it was having a scorer's instinct, and given that he and his camp would certainly ask for a handsome pay raise, the front office should probably say "pass" this time around, just like they did last summer. This team does not need a sixth man who lacks assertiveness.
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Oubre has been a fixture on this team for the last three seasons, arguably even turning in his most impactful individual campaign this season for Philly. Having said that, he is unlikely to settle for another major discount, and that should be a signal for the 76ers to look elsewhere. To wit, he is honestly still replaceable, and the team should be abnle to find a less volatile option in the draft or in free agency anyway.
Jabari Walker
Undersized big men have found it more difficult to thrive in the modern NBA –– that is especially true for those who have little acuity on the offensive end. That is essentially the ilk which Jabari Walker brandishes. While he is a solid rebounder and defender for his size, the 76ers have a waning need for specialists, and with bench scoring still being a waterloo for this squad, they should probably seek a more well-rounded option than Walker.
Trendon Watford
Once touted as the best signing of the offseason by the 76ers, Trendon Watford eventually fell out of favor with Nick Nurse. Despite his great all-around production and effective two-way play for the most part, his lack of a three-point shot (which was not the case for him in previous campaigns) ultimately spelled the end of him getting minutes this season. That could very well percolate into his actual stint with the franchise as the 76ers hold a team option with him for 2026-27.