Dean Wade lived two houses down from the St. John High School gym, and had a set of keys.
Well, his mother, Trish, did. She was the school’s volleyball and track coach in their town located “in the middle of nowhere, Kansas,” Dean said, and he often swiped those keys to let himself in for his own workouts.
“I lived in the gym,” Dean recalled Tuesday. “That was all I ever really knew was basketball.”
That commitment eventually led Dean Wade to the NBA, where he elevated himself from an undrafted player on a two-way contract to complementary contributor on the Cleveland Cavaliers team that advanced to the Eastern Conference finals this year. The 6-foot-9 forward has earned a reputation as a versatile defender — he guarded point guards, wings, and power forwards during the playoffs — who can space the floor on offense.
“A big reason was just kind of fit,” Wade said of why he joined a team that now boasts All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown alongside entrenched stars Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
Wade acknowledged during Tuesday’s introductory session with Philly media that, while growing up in a place with a population of less than 1,200, the NBA felt like a “cool dream” but not exactly a realistic option.
Still, Wade was part of an athletic and competitive household. Older sister Teresa was a standout volleyball player like their mother. Their father, Jay, played college football at Kansas State. Dean, though, was the “worst loser” if a parent beat him in a no-stakes card game.
On the basketball court, Wade developed into the state’s top high school player in 2015 — despite playing for one of its smallest schools — and a four-year standout at Kansas State. After Wade was not selected in the 2019 draft, a Cavaliers front office featuring new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey signed him to a two-way contract to split time between the G League and NBA teams.
“I think [Gansey] had a big say in that,” Wade said.
Dean Wade has shot 36.7% on three-pointers in his career. Phil Long / AP
Still, Wade was not regarded as a defensive stalwart when he first entered the NBA. During a candid conversation with Cleveland assistants, he learned that committing to that end of the floor would be his path to earning meaningful minutes.
So he got stronger in the weight room. He embraced his stints in the G League. And in his second NBA season, a barrage of injuries suddenly pushed Wade into 19 starts that made him believe he could “truly stick in this league.”
Now, Wade relishes whenever a ballhandler isolates against him, and the game becomes “head up, and who’s better?”
“I’ve got to play with that little chip on my shoulder,” Wade said. “I love that competitive spirit, where it’s just whose will is going to outlast whose? That’s where I enjoy the defensive part of it. …
“You don’t want to let any of your teammates down. You know how important you are on the defensive end, and you’ve got to do your job so everyone else can do their job.”
Wade averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 59 games last season for the Cavaliers, and earned praise from teammates such as All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell for his postseason defense.
Now, Wade gets to play alongside Brown, who is a stout defender in addition to his offensive excellence. Wade called Brown “definitely one of the toughest people I’ve had to guard” because of his blend of size, athleticism, skill, and “edge.” Wade also has experienced Maxey’s blazing speed firsthand, acknowledging the All-NBA guard has blown by him a time or two.
So Wade’s goal on offense is to be enough of a three-point threat — he has shot 36.7% on an average of 3.2 attempts in his career — to give those perimeter scorers, plus Embiid, space to operate. He vowed to put himself in position to grab offensive rebounds. And he brings plenty of experience with playoff intensity, through team success and missteps.
Wade won’t need a set of keys to enter his new home gym in Camden. He will navigate his first Sixers season alongside Gansey, who regularly was among the first faces he saw wherever he walked into the Cavaliers’ practice facility.
And when asked about what he expects from Philly, Wade leaned on a tidbit he picked up from former Sixer and Cavalier Georges Niang.
“It’s the best fans in the world — as long as you’re playing the right way,” Wade said of Niang’s message. “I feel like I take pride in playing the right way.”
Adem Bona’s $2.3 million salary for the 2026-27 season became fully guaranteed Tuesday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Adem Bona’s contract becomes guaranteed
Adem Bona’s $2.3 million salary for the 2026-27 season became fully guaranteed Tuesday, after the Sixers did not waive the reserve big man before July 7.
Bona, who is entering his third NBA season, is expected to compete with newcomer Ariel Hukporti for the backup center job behind Embiid. Last season, Bona shared that role with veteran Andre Drummond, who left the Sixers in free agency to sign with the New York Knicks.
Bona averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game in 2025-26. He impressed with his athleticism and rim protection, but struggled to stay out of foul trouble and limit mistakes. He was a second-round draft pick in 2025.
Hukporti, who on Monday signed his one-year, $3.4 million contract, was a part of the Knicks’ championship team.
Now, the 24-year-old big man is ready to learn from Embiid — and “just do my job.”
Hukporti believes that will encompass the “dirty work” on the defensive end, where his athleticism allows him to switch onto multiple positions. He also plans to be a reliable screen-setter for the Sixers’ guards headlined by Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Ariel Hukporti (left) has averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in limited minutes across 79 games in his first two NBA seasons.Chris Szagola / AP
“Just the little things that make a big impact when it comes to winning,” said Hukporti, who was New York’s third-string center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.
Hukporti has averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in limited minutes across 79 games in his first two NBA seasons. Still, experiencing the Knicks’ title run — which featured multiple dramatic comebacks including an epic Game 4 of the Finals — reinforced a mantra of “never give up.”
“No matter what happens,” he said. “You can always win in every situation — the playoffs, especially.”
Coming out of the holiday weekend, the 76ers and NBA at large are still on LeBron James Watch.
Free agency’s initial wave also is over, with players beginning to officially sign new contracts after the moratorium lifted. The Sixers’ new deals with Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons were officially announced Monday afternoon, as was the blockbuster trade for All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown.
Those moves leave the Sixers with only a veteran’s minimum contract available to fill their final full-time roster spot. One two-way slot also is available.
It is still possible, however, to find productive players on those types of small deals. Kelly Oubre Jr. joined the Sixers on a veteran’s minimum contract in September of 2023, before three productive seasons. Last year, Dominick Barlow signed a two-way contract in the middle of summer league, before becoming a part-time starting forward and getting converted to a standard deal.
If James decides to play elsewhere, here is a breakdown of still-available free agents that could fill that spot instead:
Trendon Watford
After the Sixers declined the team option for 2026-27 in Watford’s contract, the versatile forward remains uncommitted to a new team. Perhaps he has already signaled his plans to move on no matter what, after he posted Future’s song “Ain’t Coming Back” on his Instagram story shortly after his option was declined. But if he lingers on the market, could a return to Philly be possible? Though Watford was not a consistent member of the Sixers’ rotation, his close friendship with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey is a perk.
The Sixers declined Trendon Watford’s option this summer but he remains unattached to a team. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Bruce Brown
Brown played a critical role on the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 NBA championship team. Though his return to Denver last season did not feature the same scoring impact, he is still regarded as an offensive connector and played in all 82 games. He averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last season.
DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan, who was reportedly waived by the rebuilding Sacramento Kings on Monday, is still a professional scorer. The six-time All-Star is expected to choose a contender as his next destination after averaging 18.4 points on nearly 50% shooting along with 4.1 assists in 77 games last season. Though deadly from the midrange, the 36-year-old DeRozan has never been a high-volume three-point shooter.
If the Sixers are a tad wary of the raw, unpredictable play of Adem Bona (whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes guaranteed Tuesday) and free-agency addition Ariel Hukporti, Richards is a capable veteran option at backup center. He averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes last season split between the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls.
Guerschon Yabusele had a stellar season for the Sixers in 2024-25 but did not see similar success with the New York Knicks. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Kevon Looney
A Bob Myers connection, Looney spent his first 10 NBA seasons developing into a well-regarded big man on the Golden State Warriors dynasty teams. The 30-year-old only played in 21 games last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, but is another beloved locker room presence.
Nico Batum
The Los Angeles Clippers declined Batum’s $5.9 million team option last weekend, making him an unrestricted free agent. Sixers coach Nick Nurse (and Joel Embiid) had an affinity for Batum’s veteran savvy during his time with the Sixers in the 2023-24 season, when he swung the play-in game against the Miami Heat with his three-point shooting and even became the team’s designated inbounds passer. But he is 37 years old and feels deep family connections to Los Angeles and the West Coast.
Matisse Thybulle has been affected by injuries over four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers after serving as a key defensive cog in Philly. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
KJ Martin
The former Sixer is a non-shooter but hyper-athletic forward who is a lob threat with defensive versatility. He also displayed ability as a small-ball center, and in playing in the short roll alongside Maxey. Last season, he played for the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Gary Payton II
Another Myers connection, Payton has been a physical defender even going back to his college days. The 33-year-old averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 73 games for the Warriors last season.
Amir Coffey
Coffey boasts prototypical wing size at 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds. He also is a career 38.2% shooter from beyond the arc, including when he connected on nearly 41% on 3.4 attempts in 72 games for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25.
Ben Simmons
Obligatory inclusion of Simmons, who recently told Men’s Health that he is attempting an NBA comeback and would consider a return to the Sixers.
The 76ers’ blockbuster trade for All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown, along with the free-agency signings of defensive forward Dean Wade, scoring guard Anfernee Simons, and reserve big man Ariel Hukporti became official Monday when the NBA’s moratorium period was lifted.
Brown was acquired in exchange for Paul George and four draft picks. Here is how the Sixers described the complicated draft compensation going back to the Celtics, in a news release:
A 2028 first-round pick (the LA Clippers’ own) that, if it is top 16, instead becomes the unprotected right for Boston to swap its currently held 2028 first-round pick (the worst of Boston’s and San Antonio’s) with the better of the LA Clippers’ or (if the Sixers’ is top eight) Sixers’ 2028 first-round pick.
The Sixers’ 2031 unprotected first-round pick.
The most favorable 2028 second-round pick among Golden State’s, Milwaukee’s, or Oklahoma City’s.
The more favorable 2030 second-round pick among Phoenix’s, Portland’s, or Washington’s.
Brown is coming off the best individual season of his career, in which he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists and finished sixth in MVP award voting. He propelled the Celtics to 56 regular-season wins — before they were upset by the Sixers in the playoffs’ first round — while playing the bulk of the season without fellow star Jayson Tatum, who was recovering from Achilles surgery.
Brown, new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, and owner Josh Harris also provided statements about the deal:
Brown: “I’m excited to begin this next chapter in Philly. From every conversation I’ve had, it’s clear this is a group that’s hungry, competitive, and committed to winning; and that’s the kind of environment I’ve always embraced. I’ve always believed that success comes from sacrifice, accountability, and putting the team above yourself. I’m looking forward to building with this group, earning the trust of my teammates, and chasing something special together.
“Off the court, I’m just as excited to become part of the Philly community. Throughout my career, I’ve believed basketball can be a catalyst for creating real impact, and I’m eager to continue expanding the work of the 7uice Foundation, investing in youth, education, and opportunities that leave a lasting difference. I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I’m ready to get to work. #Throwtheballup”
Jaylen Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists and finished sixth in voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Gansey: “Jaylen has proven himself as one of the league’s top players year after year. He is a dynamic playmaker with a versatile skill set that positively impacts the game on both ends of the floor. His wealth of experience, high basketball IQ, poise, and leadership will benefit this franchise for years to come.
“A perennial All-Star and All-NBA talent, Jaylen also has a special ability to elevate his game on the brightest of stages, as evidenced by his world championship and Finals MVP selection. We couldn’t be happier to officially welcome him as a 76er.”
Harris: “I am incredibly excited to welcome five-time NBA All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. Throughout his career, Jaylen has proven to be one of the best two-way players in the league. He knows what it takes to win at the highest levels and I can’t wait to see him alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.
“I also want to thank Paul for his contributions during his time in Philadelphia. Paul and his family were active in our community, and we’re appreciative of their time and impact here.”
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens held a news conference to address the trade Monday afternoon, saying moving Brown provides future financial “optionality” under the new collective bargaining agreement because he and Tatum are on supermax contracts. Though Brown ($57 million) and George ($54 million) will make similar salaries in 2026-27, Brown’s current contract runs three more seasons to George’s two (including a player option for 2027-28). Brown also will become eligible to sign a two-year, $142 million extension on July 26.
“We have to make really hard decisions with every piece of information that we have,” Stevens said. “And, ultimately, this is the decision that we came to. Obviously, in many circles, that’s not popular, and we understood that coming into it.
“That’s just something that you have to really consider and weigh, but, ultimately, the reasons that we’ve made the decisions are the ones I’ve shared.”
Wade’s contract is for four years and roughly $39 million, The Inquirer confirmed via a league source. Simons’ deal is for two years and $12.3 million with a player option on the second year, while Hukporti’s is for one year and $3.4 million, The Inquirer confirmed.
Wade, who is projected to slide into the starting power forward spot next to Brown, is known as a stout defender, and averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 59 games last season. He developed from an undrafted player in 2019 to rotation contributor while Gansey was in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager.
Simons will be tasked with providing needed scoring punch to the Sixers’ bench. He averaged 14.3 points and shot 38.5% on 6.9 three-point attempts per game in a season split between the Celtics and Chicago Bulls. He also averaged 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Hukporti is expected to compete with Adem Bona for the Sixers’ backup center spot. Hukporti was the third-string center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson on the NBA champion New York Knicks, and averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.1 minutes in 79 games across his first two NBA seasons.
The 76ers on Monday announced their Las Vegas Summer League roster, headlined by first-round draft pick Labaron Philon Jr.
Johni Broome, a 2025 second-round draft pick whose rookie season was interrupted by knee surgery, also is on the roster. Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert, who have either signed or agreed to a two-way contract with the Sixers, are not part of the team.
The team will be coached by Sixers player development associate coach TJ DiLeo, who held the same role last year. DiLeo, the son of former Sixers coach and executive Tony DiLeo, played at Temple and has worked his way up the Sixers’ staff since 2021.
The Sixers play their first game in Las Vegas Thursday against the Detroit Pistons. Their other set games are Saturday against the Indiana Pacers, July 14 against the Houston Rockets, and July 15 against the Orlando Magic.
Andre Drummond will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the New York Knicks, ESPN reported Friday night.
Drummond’s departure became likely when the Sixers on Wednesday morning agreed to sign 7-footer Ariel Hukporti, who had been the third-team center on the Knicks’ championship team, to a one-year, $3.4 million contract. Hukporti will compete with Adem Bona, whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes guaranteed on Tuesday, for the backup role behind Joel Embiid.
Andre Drummond’s role with the Sixers varied wildly and largely was tied to the health of Joel Embiid.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Drummond professionally handled a fluctuating role in 2025-26. For the bulk of the season, he was the starting center in the games Embiid did not play — and was out of the rotation when Embiid was available. During the playoffs, though, Drummond recaptured the role as Embiid’s backup while postseason first-timer Bona struggled. Drummond averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games in 2025-26.
The 32-year-old Drummond joins a Knicks team that needed center depth after backup Mitchell Robinson also reportedly departed for the Boston Celtics. He still is a stout rebounder and big-bodied presence, and his corner three-point shooting has elevated from fun novelty to legitimate offensive weapon. But he is not the most mobile, making him a liability on defense.
Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. also have departed the Sixers, reportedly agreeing to contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers, respectively, on Wednesday. Veteran guard Kyle Lowry also reportedly will retire as a Toronto Raptor next week. Reserve forward Trendon Watford, whose team option was declined by the Sixers Monday, has not yet committed to signing with a team.
Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert have agreed to sign two-way contracts with the 76ers, a source confirmed to The Inquirer on Friday.
Love, an explosive scoring guard, averaged 10.4 points on 38.8% shooting in 49 games as a rookie last season on a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. He attempted six three-pointers per appearance, a potential boost for a Sixers team that struggled from beyond the arc last season.
Love played four years of college basketball at North Carolina and Arizona, then went undrafted last summer.
Rupert, a 6-foot-7 wing with excellent length, has played in 155 games across three NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies. The 22-year-old averaged 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in 16 games for a “tanking” Grizzlies team late last season, including a 14-point effort on 6-of-9 shooting in a March loss at the Sixers.
Rupert, who is from Strasbourg, France, was a second-round draft pick in 2023. He played professionally in his home country and for the New Zealand Breakers before making the jump to the NBA. His sister, Iliana, plays for the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries and his father, Thierry, played in the EuroLeague and for the French national team.
These are the Sixers’ first two-way signings this offseason. They have found success with such contracts in the recent past, with Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, and Dalen Terry getting converted to standard deals by the end of last season.
During a post-practice media session two days before Game 1 of the 76ers’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Paul George was asked extensively about defending the wing tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“Those two guys have won,” George said. “They’re mature. They’re experienced. … If we’ve got a shot to beat them, we’ve got to make it as tough as possible.”
The veteran wing was instrumental on both ends of the floor in that stunning Sixers upset. Brown said as much on a Thursday night Twitch livestream, calling George’s performance “vintage” during that series. And more division-rival matchups between George and Brown are on the horizon — but in opposite jerseys.
George’s two-year stopover in Philly is over, after the Sixers on Wednesday agreed to trade him and four draft picks to Boston in a blockbuster exchange for the All-NBA wing Brown. George, once a perennial All-Star but now past his prime, will be remembered as the flashy free-agent signing in 2024 whose tenure here was regularly interrupted by injuries and suspension.
Much hoopla surrounded George’s arrival, including stories of the Sixers’ brass dodging a storm on their flight to Los Angeles to woo him into agreeing to a four-year max contract after 2 a.m. Eastern time the first night of free agency. The Sixers deliberately cleared cap space — including asking ascending star point guard Tyrese Maxey to wait a year to sign his own max deal — in order to offer such a contract once Tobias Harris’ deal came off the books.
George revealed he had formed a “secret friendship” with fellow introvert Joel Embiid at league events such as All-Star weekend, adding context to Embiid’s nationally televised side-eye to George while on set together at the NBA Finals. Coach Nick Nurse expressed excitement in the clean “1-3-5” fit with Maxey at guard, George on the wing, and 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player Embiid at center.
Paul George (left) and Joel Embiid rarely shared the court together over the last two seasons.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Yet it was foreshadowing when George, who turned 36 in May, hyperextended his knee in a preseason game at the Atlanta Hawks in 2024. He went on to play 78 total games across two seasons with the Sixers, and only 36 with both Embiid and Maxey that yielded an 18-18 record.
At various points during that frustrating first season in Philly, George received painkiller injections in his pinkie finger, adductor, and knee to try and play. He visibly did not have the same burst to get past defenders which had previously helped make him one of the smoothest and versatile scorers of this generation. He sustained another knee injury during an offseason workout last July, prompting arthroscopic surgery and another delayed start to his 2025-26 season.
Then in January, George was abruptly suspended by the NBA for 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
Interestingly, those weeks away may have helped George’s body heal and propelled him to a strong finish. He averaged 21 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 steals in the Sixers’ final 10 regular-season games, and shot a blistering 41.5% on 8.2 three-point attempts per game.
In that first-round series against the Celtics, George drew praise from Nurse and teammates for his stout play while the three-star Embiid-Maxey-George vision suddenly came to life. George added that he was finally “able to do things [on the court] that I was once able to do, again.” But during the New York Knicks’ second-round sweep of the Sixers, George started multiple games strong before his production fell off in the second half.
George, though, expressed optimism during his end-of-season news conference that he could have a “real summer of improving” his game instead of rehabbing an injury. The Sixers made a significant front-office change in replacing Daryl Morey with new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, but it appeared they would be forced to run it back with their core because of the hefty salary committed across multiple seasons.
Jaylen Brown (left) and Paul George will remain division rivals next season, just in different uniforms.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Perhaps Wednesday’s shocking trade is evidence that no contract is immovable.
News surfaced publicly that the Celtics had offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a trade package for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo before last week’s NBA draft. From the outside, it appears that, in the aftermath, the relationship between team and player became irreparable. And though the Sixers swapped one gigantic contract for another in the deal, Brown is more durable, in his prime, and coming off a season when he finished sixth in MVP voting.
George also is an example of the modern NBA’s more transient stars. This will be his fifth team — also including the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Los Angeles Clippers — in a fantastic 17-year career. Before this stunning blockbuster, George had already been traded for future two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander along with former All-Stars Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
There has been a barrage of star-player moves already this offseason, including the Toronto Raptors reacquiring Kawhi Leonard, LaMelo Ball going from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ja Morant moving from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers. All of those have occurred via trade. That can be attributed to the new collective bargaining agreement and “apron penalties,” along with an overarching player philosophy to get lucrative contracts when offered as extensions by their current team and, if necessary, force their way to a new playing destination later.
When asked during his end-of-season news conference about how he felt about his time in Philly — a sports market known for harsh outside criticism for players who are perceived to not be living up to their contracts — George said, “My experience with the fans has been amazing, it’s definitely love here.” He posted a thank-you note to the Sixers and fans on his Instagram Thursday night.
Now, George’s choppy two-year stint in Philly is over.
On a December night in Milwaukee, Kyle Lowry pulled up a livestream on his phone from the visitors’ locker room inside Fiserv Forum.
An elementary school band was playing “Jingle Bells” at their winter concert — including Lowry’s son, Kam, on the trombone.
“Yeah, Kam!” Lowry said, with 76ers teammate Tyrese Maxey looking over his shoulder. “Got to act like you’re there.”
Several NBA players face this reality during the season, when extensive travel and nighttime games take them away from time with their families. The 40-year-old Lowry has experienced this for two decades of a career highlighted by six All-Star appearances and an NBA title. But soon, the North Philly native will be able to share more of those family moments in person, as Sportsnet reported Thursday afternoon that Lowry is retiring from the NBA.
This decision from Lowry has long been expected. He said after the 2024-25 season that he wanted to play one more to reach 20 for his NBA career, though was more coy when asked about those plans in recent months.
He also is about to fulfill his longtime promise to sign a one-day contract to retire as a Toronto Raptor, where he became a franchise icon and 2019 NBA champion. Sportsnet reported that there will be a Lowry event and news conference on Tuesday — matching Lowry’s jersey number — along with future plans to retire his jersey sometime during the 2026-27 season.
That recognition comes after Lowry’s celebratory final visit to Toronto as player for two January games last season. Sixers teammates marveled at the reception he received throughout Scotiabank Arena, taking photos and videos as he held court in front of a massive media scrum at his locker. And when a lopsided score allowed Lowry to check in for the final stretch of the second game, a raucous ovation ensued.
“Probably one of the greatest basketball moments of my personal career,” Lowry said after that game.
Kyle Lowry (right), here with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, served as a mentor to the Sixers’ young stars.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Lowry played parts of his final three NBA seasons with his hometown team, after starring at Cardinal Dougherty High School and Villanova led into his NBA career fueled by undersized tenacity and savvy point guard play.
He joined the Sixers off the buyout market in 2024, reuniting with former Raptors coach Nick Nurse and becoming a starter on a playoff team. A hip injury derailed most of his 2024-25 season, when he candidly acknowledged watching Maxey create space to launch three-pointers and thinking, “Man, I remember when it was that easy to get shots off and have the confidence to do that,” he told The Inquirer then.
In his final season, it was clear Lowry could no longer keep up physically. He appeared in 14 games — sometimes out of desperation when the guard group was depleted by injuries — and scored 17 total points on 4-of-25 shooting.
One could argue the Sixers could have benefited from having another player on the roster who could contribute on the floor more than that version of Lowry. But he was an engaged and respected leader on the bench and in the locker room, particularly for Maxey.
“He talks to me every timeout,” Maxey said during the Sixers’ first-round playoff upset over the Boston Celtics. “And there’s never a moment where he’s going to give me any bad advice. So I always just listen. That’s the biggest thing. If you have a guy like that, you’ve just got to listen.”
Added Lowry about his connection with his younger teammates: “I really give to them the purity of how I feel about them. Like I said, sacrifice. I don’t care about myself as a basketball player. I know in my career what I’ve done. … I’m the ancient man in this locker room. I embrace it, and they embrace me.”
Lowry also was the first Sixer on the floor for pregame warmups — including on the day they were about to be swept out of the playoffs by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks. Two hours before tipoff of Game 4, Lowry was sweating through his Adidas long-sleeve shirt while playing one-on-one against a player development coach inside Xfinity Mobile Arena.
He will no longer need to commit to such workouts because his fabulous basketball career is over.
More time to attend those elementary school band concerts.
Anfernee Simons has agreed to sign a two-year, $12.3 million contract with the 76ers, a source confirmed to The Inquirer on Thursday afternoon.
After trading for star Jaylen Brown on Wednesday night, the Sixers turned to some much-needed bench bolstering after losing sixth man Quentin Grimes, who reportedly will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Simons has averaged a career 14.9 points and shot 38.1% on 6.6 three-pointers per game during his eight-year career with the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls.
Simons also was one of Brown’s teammates with the Celtics last season. Simons averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 49 games before being traded to Chicago for reserve center Nikola Vučević on Feb. 5.
To sign Simons and stay under the first apron, where they are hard capped, his contract will come out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception. Ariel Hukporti’s one-year, $3.4 million deal, which was agreed to Wednesday, will come out of the $5.5 biannual exception.
Simons joins a Sixers guard group that already features All-NBA third-teamer Tyrese Maxey and VJ Egdecombe, who finished third in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year. Simons’ addition could cut into the initial playing time for rookie-to-be Labaron Philon Jr., who was the 22nd overall pick in the draft.
The Sixers’ roster currently sits at 14 players. Reserve center Adem Bona’s contract becomes guaranteed on Tuesday, while Dalen Terry’s nonguaranteed deal and Jabari Walker’s partially guaranteed deals become guaranteed Jan. 10.
Anfernee Simons shot 38.1% on 6.6 three-point attempts during his eight-year career. Jim Davis
This is another step in the Sixers going all in to become a legitimate Eastern Conference threat.
They finished last season seventh in the East standings (45-37) and, after their stunning rally from down three games to one to upset the Celtics, were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks. In addition to the Sixers’ blockbuster trade for Brown, the Toronto Raptors reacquired former star Kawhi Leonard and the Miami Heat traded for two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Current depth chart
Point guard: Tyrese Maxey, Labaron Philon Jr.
Shooting guard: VJ Edgecombe, Anfernee Simons, Dalen Terry
Small forward: Jaylen Brown, Justin Edwards
Power forward: Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker
Center: Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti, Johni Broome
After a relatively slow start to NBA free agency, the Sixers made a shocking trade Wednesday evening, acquiring Jaylen Brown for Paul George and four draft picks.
Since the Brown trade, the Sixers have also emerged as potential suitors for LeBron James. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Sixers are suddenly contenders again after the Brown trade, writes columnist David Murphy, who believes it was a steal for the Sixers. The national media seems to agree.
Report: Kyle Lowry to retire as a member of the Raptors
Sixers guard Kyle Lowry passes the basketball against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, April 12, 2026 in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
A bit of unsurprising news: Kyle Lowry, the Philly native-turned-Sixers veteran guard, is officially retiring from the NBA, per a report from Sportsnet.
Per Sportsnet’s report, Lowry will make good on his long-publicized commitment to sign a one-day contract with Toronto, where he became a franchise icon and won the 2019 NBA title, to retire as a member of the Raptors.
At the end of the 2024-25 season, Lowry said he wanted to play one more season to reach 20 for his career, though was more coy when asked about that plan in recent months.
Lowry, who played in 14 games last season, was almost exclusively a trusted and enthusiastic veteran on the bench and locker room, particularly for All-NBA point guard Tyrese Maxey. Lowry initially joined his hometown Sixers off the buyout market in 2024, and averaged 4.7 points and three assists in 72 games with the franchise.
Shortly after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Sixers are making a pitch to LeBron James, his ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst also linked James to the Sixers and discussed how the Sixers might go about trying to recruit James: by using Tyrese Maxey’s connection through agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports.
“A key factor in any sort of Philadelphia pursuit of LeBron is Tyrese Maxey. That is not only because of his talent, which is awesome, but he’s one of Klutch’s core clients,” Windhorst said. “He’s basically a part of LeBron’s extended family, so you would not only have Jaylen Brown as the addition, you would have Tyrese Maxey as your drawing card.”
The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to emerge as a strong suitor for LeBron James due to the Tyrese Maxey connection, per @WindhorstESPN
Maxey, who shares the same Klutch Sports agency as LeBron, is viewed as a major recruiting tool for Philly. pic.twitter.com/6GCoUHgl9y
Shams: Sixers are ‘trying to make a pitch to LeBron James’
"I'm told the Sixers are also trying to make a pitch to LeBron James… Include the Sixers & maybe 1 or 2 other teams in due time in that mix. The Sixers get Anfernee Simons & they’re obviously trying to continue to add to this team.”
Jalen Brown says he’s ‘still processing’ in first statement since trade
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is ready to get after it in Philly.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
New Sixer Jaylen Brown has spoken. On Thursday, less than 24 hours after he was traded from Boston to Philly, the veteran released a statement on social media. Here it is in it’s entirety:
“First and foremost, thank you to the Most High, even in the midst of adversity. I’m here with gratitude.
“I’m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city. I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.
“The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me.
“Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something.
“I’m big on respect and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here I love you, and to the shiftaz we are locked in for life
“As one chapter closes, another begins.
“I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia. Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how.. through the work.
Anfernee Simons has agreed to sign a two-year, $12.3 million contractwith the 76ers, a source confirmed to The Inquirer Thursday afternoon.
After trading for star Jaylen Brown Wednesday night, the Sixers turned to bolstering their bench after losing sixth man Quentin Grimes, who will reportedly sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Simons has shot 38.1% on 6.6 career three-pointers during his eight-year career with the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls.
Simons also one of Brown’s former teammates with the Celtics last season. Simons averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 49 games before being traded to Chicago for reserve center Nikola Vucevic.
To sign Simons and stay under the first apron, where they are hard capped, his contract will come out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception. Ariel Hukporti’s one-year, $3.4 million deal, which was agreed to Wednesday, will come out of the $5.5 biannual exception.
LeBron’s connection to Sixers president Mike Gansey
Sixers president Mike Gansey (left) and NBA star LeBron James competed in high school, where James beat out Gansey for Mr. Basketball Ohio in 2001.Tom Gralish and Charles Fox / Staff Photographers
The prospect of James coming Philadelphia was already picking up steam on social media following the Brown trade. Then, Steven Gansey, the younger brother of new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, looked to add fuel to the fire.
On Wednesday, Steven posted a throwback photo of his brother (far right) alongside James (second from the right) in high school on X. He captioned the post with the eyeballs emoji, insinuating a connection.
As the photo shows, Gansey and James have crossed paths. The two Ohio natives competed in high school. Gansey, who went to have a memorable collegiate career at West Virginia, finished as the runner-up to James in the 2001 Mr. Ohio Basketball race.
Over a decade after facing LeBron on the court, Gansey served in a variety of roles in Cleveland during James’ second stint with the Cavaliers. In 2016, when James willed the team to a 3-1 comeback over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, Gansey received a ring as the team’s director of development league operations.
Signing James would also be in line with the Sixers president’s resume. Gansey has previously shown that he is not scared of making splashy moves — and bringing in one of the NBA’s all-time greats is a cannonball.
As the Cavaliers general manager, Gansey was part of a front office that traded for stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Now, during his first offseason leading the Sixers, he executed a trade for Brown — another top-tier player. So it wouldn’t appear Gansey is too risk-adverse to add another star to the Sixers roster.
The Sixers swapped Paul George and four draft picks for Celtics forward Jaylen Brown.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Wednesday’s trade between the Sixers and Celtics has left many puzzled, especially in Boston. In exchange for Paul George and four draft picks, the Sixers are getting Jaylen Brown back from Boston.
So who won the trade? Here is what the national media is saying …
ESPN — Sixers: A- | Celtics: D+
ESPN wrote that — with two guards like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe and a center like Joel Embiid — Brown could be the fit that the Sixers needed, but that’s also not guaranteed. Meanwhile, the Celtics didn’t fair nearly as well.
“Swapping Brown for George makes the Celtics worse. It clearly makes them worse,” Zach Kram wrote.
The Athletic — Sixers: A | Celtics: D+
Swapping out George for Brown is what the Athletic predicts to be a big difference maker for the Sixers and their role in the Eastern Conference, especially when comparing their most recent seasons, in which Brown had one of the best of his career.
“The Sixers can now roll out a perimeter attack of Maxey, Brown, and Edgecombe, which is going to be nearly impossible for teams to match up against,” Zach Harper wrote. “On the nights Embiid is available and active, they could be one of the best teams in the East. On the nights when Embiid is struggling or unable to play, they’ll still be fine.”
CBS Sports — Sixers: A+ | Celtics: D-
When ranking the worst contracts in the NBA in March, the now-36-year-old George’s deal was No. 4. Moving off that contract and adding Brown is a win-win in CBS’s eyes.
“Brown is coming off a Second-Team All-NBA season. There is a credible reason to believe that the season was fool’s gold,” Sam Quinn wrote. “… He is not, in fact, a Kevin Durant-level individual scorer. But the 76ers did not pay a Durant-level price.”
However, not all outlets were quite as critical of the Celtics.
Yahoo! Sports — Sixers: A | Celtics: B
Yahoo! Sports minced no words in declaring that Philly got the better player in the deal, while also dumping a worse contract. There are, however, still concerns with Brown’s fit with the Sixers.
“Brown isn’t necessarily a strong outside shooter, which is a necessity alongside Maxey and, in particular, Embiid,” Morten Stig Jensen wrote. “Overall, though, Philly takes a step forward here with a pretty durable 29-year-old coming off an outstanding season.”
Bleacher Report — Sixers: A | Celtics: A
Like the rest of the experts, Bleacher Report gave Philadelphia high marks on acquiring Brown, but they also gave the Celtics an A, largely because of what they got back.
“For the Celtics, things had clearly gotten untenable between Brown and the organization. And getting multiple first-rounders for him, considering how widely accepted his future departure was, is good value,” the Bleacher Report staff wrote. “Plus, though he’s entering his age-36 season, George can still be helpful in a complementary role next to Jayson Tatum (and will be more willing to be in that role).”
— Mia Messina
// Timestamp 07/02/26 9:38am
Murphy: The Sixers are suddenly contenders again
Swapping Paul George for Jaylen Brown is a major upgrade.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The 76ers did the unthinkable on Wednesday. They did it to such an extent that it still isn’t thinkable. In fact, it’s barely believable.
Not only did the Sixers come from out of nowhere to stun the NBA by acquiring Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown, and not only did they do it for a criminally cheap price, they also somehow managed to ship out the remaining two years and $110 million remaining on Paul George’s contract.
And, just like that, a new window of title contention has arrived.
That’s the most important takeaway for Sixers fans. Brown is a player who transforms the Sixers in both the short and long term. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP and a sixth-place finisher in regular season voting this year, the longtime Celtics wing is basically the exact player you would create in a lab if you were dreaming up the prefect star to maximize a team with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in the backcourt. He has the size, versatility and defensive chops to help make up for however much of that they give away at the guard position. He is a straight-line player who can get to the rim through traffic with or without the ball in his hands. He is an adequate and willing three-point shooter who showed signs of being much more than that earlier in his career. He can alternate seamlessly between primary and secondary scoring roles. Basically, he is the exact player the Sixers would have been crossing their fingers to have a chance to draft at some point in order to make the Maxey-Edgecombe pairing a legitimate contender.
Even if only half of that was true, the Sixers would have still been justified in making this deal. The unprocessable thing about this deal is the mind-bogglingly low price that Gansey somehow managed to finagle from a Celtics team that doesn’t make many bad decisions.
What moves can the Sixers still make — and is LeBron one of them?
LeBron James is a free agent. Do the Sixers make sense?Mark J. Terrill
Swapping out Paul George’s contract for Jaylen Brown’s still creates a top-heavy cap sheet. The Sixers are now about $2 million under the luxury tax and $10 million below the first apron, where they are hard-capped. And assuming Hukporti’s salary comes out of the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, the Sixers still have $2.6 million from that to spend along with the $5.5 million biannual exception.
The Sixers could add two more players to reach 15 on the full-time roster, though they have often only carried 14 to stay under the luxury tax.
It is reasonable to expect the Sixers will focus on adding one more guard — unless LeBron James wants to come to Philly, of course.
James’ agent, Rich Paul, told Max Kellerman during the pair’s Game Over podcast released Wednesday that he had spoken to between 12 and 14 teams about James. The Sixers would be silly not to be among that group that has reached out, or to join it after the addition of Brown. Gansey’s brother, Steven, also threw gas on the social media speculation when he posted a photo on X of Gansey and James as high-schoolers in Ohio and the eyeballs emoji.
Additionally, Bona’s $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes guaranteed on July 7, while Jabari Walker and Dalen Terry’s deals become fully guaranteed Jan. 10.
Resetting the Sixers depth chart after Jaylen Brown trade
The Sixers have added a few pieces — and lost a few more — so far in free agency, with players like Jaylen Brown and Dean Wade arriving and Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes all moving on.
Here’s a look at how their depth chart pans out after those deals:
Point guard: Tyrese Maxey, Labaron Philon Jr.
Shooting guard: VJ Edgecombe, Dalen Terry
Small forward: Jaylen Brown, Justin Edwards
Power forward: Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker
Center: Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti, Johni Broome
Legitimate movement occurred Wednesday, when the Sixers added Ariel Hukporti but rotation players Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes reportedly decided to join other teams.
It was a seismic winnow swing for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, banking on the Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey era rather than toggling between two timelines or fully pivoting into a rebuild around the Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt. It also was an effort to keep up in an Eastern Conference that already boasts the NBA champion New York Knicks, along with revamped Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors teams that recently traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard, respectively.
To recap …
In: Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti
Out: Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes
Unsigned: Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, Kyle Lowry
