As we know, last offseason the Philadelphia 76ers made two big moves that will ultimately shape their future in one way or another. In July 2024, [they signed Paul George](https://thesixersense.com/76ers-baffling-paul-george-choice-quickly-spiraling-full-blown-disaster), and in September, they re-signed Joel Embiid. Knowing what we know now about these transactions as they relate to the state of the team, this should scare Sixers fans.
I say that because of the way the front office fully leaned into these two players, and it has completely backfired. There's always the chance for things to turn around, but it certainly isn't a good outlook as of right now.
In order to properly contextualize this situation, we should look back at both of those specific deals that are shaping where the 76ers are right now. The Paul George signing happened right at the start of free agency, immediately after the LA Clippers decided not to keep George in Southern California.
At the time, there were disputes between George and the Clippers' front office over dollar amounts on contracts, and the discussion ultimately ended when PG wanted to add a no trade clause into his contract that LA simply didn't agree with. When the two parties came to this impasse, that was when George began to look around the league and see where he could get another deal.
Signing PG and Embiid has completely backfired for the Sixers
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Obviously, Philadelphia quickly swooped in and signed George to the massive deal that he agreed to. In the minds of the front office members of the Sixers, the four-year, $212 million amount was one that was worth it for a player of his caliber. In theory, without the use of hindsight, I can understand how you would get to that conclusion.
But of course, it was a flat out disaster season for George with the 76ers. Injuries piled up, and the team ended up at the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference. PG looked a step slow, and a lot of his counting statistics went down from the previous season with the Clippers.
Then, when we talk about the Embiid contract, it's another massive one connected to a player with a ridiculous amount of injury history. The Sixers got Joel back in town on a three-year, $192.9 million extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through the end of the 2028-29 season.
All in all, these two contracts have handicapped the 76ers financially. If it wasn't for the [in-house development of Quentin Grimes](https://thesixersense.com/76ers-clearly-fleeced-mavericks-with-quentin-grimes-trade), things would be looking even more bleak. As it currently stands, Sixers fans have plenty of legitimate reason to be concerned with the direction of their team's front office going forward.