As if LeBron James’ decision to join the 76ers wasn’t enough, the franchise is now adding further reinforcements.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reportedly has negotiated a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies with the intention of joining the Sixers on a one-year, $3.9 million deal and team up with James, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The pair won a title together in 2020 as members of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA’s COVID-19 bubble.
Just in: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. The two-time NBA champion with the Lakers and Nuggets, who was part of 2020… pic.twitter.com/tNM1m9crjx
Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists for the Grizzlies last season. The shooting guard originally joined the franchise via trade to help stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. compete in the Western Conference. But the team has entered a rebuild, and Morant and Jackson were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz, respectively, within the past five months.
Caldwell-Pope, 33, will join a win-now team as he enters the latter years of his NBA career. The Sixers have become a legitimate title contender this summer after adding James and completing a blockbuster trade to land All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, teaming them him with the preexisting core of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe.
Caldwell-Pope played some of his best basketball alongside James and averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in four seasons (2017-18 to 2020-21) in Los Angeles, three of which (2018-19 to 2020-21) overlapped with James. He took his game to another level in the 2020 postseason and played key defense vs. former Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler while averaging 12.8 points in the NBA Finals.
Caldwell-Pope, who also won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2022-23 while averaging 10.8 points in 76 games (all starts), would bring instant credibility and defensive presence to the Sixers’ bench rotation. He also shot better than 40% from three-point range three times since 2020-21, which would help a Sixers team on which spacing will be at a premium as they strive to create offense for James, Maxey, Brown, and Embiid.
One of the original three-and-D prototypes, Caldwell-Pope is a 36.5% career three-point shooter, though his numbers have dipped slightly in recent years. He’s averaged 11 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 13 seasons with the Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Lakers, and Detroit Pistons.
“He loves Maxey, so we don’t even have to talk about that.”
Rich Paul, Klutch Sports CEO and LeBron James’ agent, said those words on the Game Over podcast, as he laid out the framework for what would become James’ latest shocking free-agency decision.
Before James picked the 76ers, Paul let the general public know that the summer orchestrated by Mike Gansey and Bob Meyers had “changed everything.” That statement was centered on the blockbuster trade orchestrated to land All-NBA guard Jaylen Brown in a deal that sent Paul George to the Boston Celtics.
But shortly after that proclamation, Paul made it clear that Maxey would be a major linchpin if the Sixers were to gain traction with James. And that he was. Reports surfaced that Maxey led the charge as several Sixers players reached out to James and sold the all-time great on a pilgrimage to Philly to close his career.
For James, the Sixers’ ascension to an NBA title contender came with the extra benefit that he could play with Maxey. James was always interested in playing with Maxey, said a source close to James. The addition of Brown to a roster that already included Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe made that a reality.
But if we flipped the switch and went back six years, it would probably be a surprise to Maxey himself that James’ love for — and interest in playing alongside, a source close to James said — him was such a forgone conclusion.
Back then Maxey, who is also represented by Paul, was a rookie guard who had just slipped to the No. 21 pick in the 2020 NBA draft because of questions about his size and outside shooting.
Those questions persisted as he played behind former Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons as a rookie, playing sparingly and averaging 8 points on 30.1% shooting from three-point range.
Maxey’s ability to handle new challenges is what made him a player James wanted to play with.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The shift came the next season, when Maxey stepped in following Simmons’ holdout and eventual trade to the Brooklyn Nets. That year he became a full-time starter and put up 17.5 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 42.7% from deep.
Since then, Maxey has added something to his game every year. He focused on getting teammates involved more, he prioritized getting to the free-throw line more, and he learned to speak up in the locker room more.
When Sixers star Embiid needed a wake-up call, Maxey provided it. When standout rookie Edgecombe arrived ahead of schedule and needed a running mate, Maxey was there. And before George was traded, Maxey pushed him to be more aggressive on offense.
Maxey entered this summer as the unquestioned leader of the Sixers on and off the court, continuing his maturation as the franchise added new pieces to the front office and roster. He reached out to Brown after the trade that ended his 10-year tenure in Boston, and he reportedly led a trio of stars who recruited James directly.
Now that the hard work has paid off, he’ll be greeted with the challenge of playing point guard for a star-heavy roster with the most famous athlete on the planet.
Maxey’s ability to handle new challenges is what made him a player James wanted to play with and called a “little brother.”
But to be clear, James isn’t here for a family moment. He made that clear when he took to social media and explained why he chose the Sixers. That post was about his contemplation of retirement and decision that he still wants to compete. He believes Maxey and Embiid and Brown and Edgecombe can help him do that.
another championship.
I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.
Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team,” James wrote on social media, “and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
So cue a new challenge for Maxey. He’s gone from No. 21 pick to starter to All-Star to All-NBA to key cog in the LeBron signing. We’ll soon see what comes next.
The 76ers are reportedly among LeBron James’ top three preferred free-agency destinations as teams continue to court him deep into the summer. The other options are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has deep Ohio ties, said the pendulum appears to be swinging toward the Cavaliers, but the Sixers and several other NBA franchises are not counting themselves out.
So you’re telling the Sixers there’s still a chance? They’ve been here before, vying for James’ services most recently in 2018 as he considered teaming up with a young Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Now the Sixers once again have an attractive roster centered around Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.
It could be a while before we learn James’ final decision, but here are five things that make the Sixers attractive to the 41-year old.
LeBron’s quest for a new challenge
James has done all there is to accomplish in basketball. He has four NBA titles, 10 Finals appearances and he owned the Eastern Conference for a decade. And there’s even lore surrounding those titles, as he brought one championship to his home state and resurrected franchises in Miami and Los Angeles.
He holds the NBA’s all-time record for scoring, minutes played, games played, and more. All-time greats in sports are constantly looking for new challenges, and James is running out of options. So if he’s looking for a place to retire, the Cavaliers hold the sentimental edge and Florida is the retirement capital of the country. But only the Sixers offer new territory.
Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid battled in last year’s first-round series between the Celtics and Sixers. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Jaylen Brown trade
Prior to the Brown trade, folks in Philly saw James’ departure from the Lakers on the news ticker and kept moving along. The addition of Brown created a potential starting lineup of Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown and Embiid. And while Dean Wade was a great free-agency addition, James could look at that lineup and slot himself in at power forward and see a real title contender. That’s the moment “everything changed” for the Sixers’ chances of landing James, according to James’ agent and Klutch Sports owner Rich Paul.
The Eastern Conference has also presented a level of parity that could benefit the Sixers. While the East has won two of the last three titles, no team has made a repeat Finals appearance since James’ Cavaliers made it four straight times. Brown’s Celtics made the Finals in 2022 and won in 2024 and he knows how to get back. Famously, the Sixers haven’t made it past the second round since 2001, but it’s a notch in their belt to have someone who understands that process.
Tyrese Maxey’s Klutch ties and infectious personality
Maxey’s rise continues. Originally selected with the 21st pick out of Kentucky in 2020, Maxey had to wait his turn for the Sixers. He played behind Simmons and competed with Shake Milton for minutes. But once given a full-time role, Maxey’s star took off. He became a starter, then an All-Star and then an All-NBA performer. Now, Maxey is one of the pillars of the Sixers’ pitch to James after averaging 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists and leading the Sixers to the postseason.
There’s also the personality piece, because Maxey’s infectious persona and work ethic have been lauded by everyone in the Sixers’ organization. And, of course, as Klutch Sports clients with deep ties to Paul, James is familiar with both sides of Maxey. And Paul has repeatedly said that James “loves” Maxey.
The greatness of peak Joel Embiid
That it took this long to get to Embiid should say something about the state of things. Embiid played only 38 games last season and called that a success because he learned more about managing his knee that could benefit the Sixers going forward. Of course, it was to some extent because he played only 19 games the year before because of knee surgery. And when available, Embiid was exceptional in 2025-26, including a stretch where he looked like his old MVP self. He averaged 26.9 points on 48.9% shooting, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 38 games.
Then, when he appeared primed for a healthy postseason, Embiid was diagnosed with appendicitis and missed multiple games in the Sixers’ first-round series against the Boston Celtics. But then he showed flashes once again, powering the Sixers to a series win after they went down three games to one. He averaged 28 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in four games and the Sixers were 3-1 in games he played. And then he was drained as the Sixers were swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks. The highs and lows with Embiid are stark, but the highs are great enough that even a player like James could hold out hope.
Mike Gansey (second from left) and Jameer Nelson (right) have been busy filling out the Sixers’ roster this summer.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Competence in the front office
Previous iterations of the Sixers tried to land James, but they weren’t always taken seriously. They had talent with Simmons and Embiid in 2018, but weren’t stout up top as Brett Brown served as interim president of basketball operations and head coach. Former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey took big swings in recent years but saw trades for Paul George and James Harden fail to lift the team.
Things appear to have taken a turn this summer. Mike Gansey, Bob Myers and Jameer Nelson are at the helm and appear to be building a team that will compete in the Eastern Conference. Moves to bring in Brown, Wade, Ariel Hukporti, Anfernee Simons and rookie Labaron Philon Jr., have started to add balance to the Sixers roster and are a good sign for the forthcoming Sixers season. And there’s still a chance one big name could be added to the bunch.
The Jaylen Brown trade was a shock to everyone … including Jaylen Brown.
The newest 76er finally spoke about the deal that sent him from the Boston Celtics to the Sixers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
Known for his social media presence in recent years, Brown took to his stream to read his statement, speak directly to fans, and explain a few behind-the-scenes details.
Here are a few things we learned from Brown’s first public appearance since the blockbuster deal:
VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey reached out
It’s customary for players who join a new team to receive phone calls from their future teammates. So it wasn’t a shock that a few members of the Sixers reached out to Brown in the aftermath of the deal. While he likely was contacted by more members of the organization, he returned calls on stream from star guards VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
Jaylen Brown calls VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey back on stream. Both sound excited to be working with JB.
Brown told VJ Edgecombe he's "a fan of his game" and told Maxey "we got work to do". pic.twitter.com/rUPaFc6nFV
“Guys hitting me so we ready to get to work,” Brown said after a brief call with Edgecombe.
Maxey spoke to Brown with his typical high energy and enthusiasm. He grew more excited when he learned that he was live on stream, greeting the chat and proclaiming that he would pull up for a later recording. They ended the call talking basketball.
“You know I’m locked in, man. Holla at me. I’m in the gym whenever,” Maxey said.
“Aight, bet, we gone get in the gym,” Brown said.
Brown’s key card no longer works in Boston
Brown has played for one franchise for the last 10 years, so this experience is all new to him. So new that he wanted to make sure the trade was real after reports surfaced that he was dealt to Philly.
Brown revealed that he drove to the Celtics’ facility and tried to use his key card. It did not work.
“I went up to the facility, and my key card got rejected,” Brown said. “Damn, I just wanted to see if it was real. They packed me up, bro.”
"I went up to the facility, and my key card got rejected. Damn, I just wanted to see if it was real, packed me up, bro.”
Brown’s experience has been compared to a viral video of former NFL safety Jamal Adams, whose key card didn’t work at the Jets facility after he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
Joining the Sixers will be an adjustment
The rivalry between Boston and Philly is real, and the hatred goes both ways.
Brown said it will be an adjustment joining a rival of his former team. He admitted that the Celtics programmed him to dislike Philly.
“For the last 10 years, I’ve been programmed to hate Philadelphia, from the history of the rivalry to the playoff battles, The Process,” Brown said, “like I’ve been programmed to be like [expletive] The Process. It’s funny now, I gotta reverse engineer.”
Jaylen Brown goes live on Twitch after being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers
“For the last 10 years, I’ve been programmed to hate Philadelphia, from the history of the rivalry to the playoff battles, the process, like I’ve been programmed to be like f—k… pic.twitter.com/pafQ1mRQbs
Brown is not a fan of the media’s portrayal of him
The Brown trade rumors unearthed the underbelly of narratives and projections about Brown’s play and revealed how harmful labels can be attached to a player.
Brown addressed a number of media members he believes have slighted him, calling out ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, Fox broadcaster Colin Cowherd, and ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks by name.
Marks shared on SiriusXM NBA Radio that an anonymous source told him they believed Brown was the “seventh-best player on a team,” which didn’t make the most sense after Brown willed Boston to the postseason last year and won an NBA title only two years ago.
“They use ‘anonymous sources’ to hide behind things they actually feel, or to hide behind things that are actually bigotry,” Brown said, referring to talk that he thinks he is the smartest person in the room. “‘It’s not me, it’s my anonymous source’ but they don’t see the amount of damage that can do. … It’s my character. Critique my performance all you want, but the line gets crossed.”
Jaylen Brown: "They use 'anonymous sources' to hide behind things THEY actually feel, or to hide behind things that are actually bigotry.
'It's not me, it's my anonymous source' but they don't see the amount of damage that can do … It's my character. Critique my performance… pic.twitter.com/PgADjUqhee
This summer has brought back the NBA’s offseason fireworks, with star players being traded all over the league in anticipation of free agency and a 2026-27 season that could be anybody’s for the taking.
The 76ers don’t look like a team that will participate in much of the action on the trade market or when free agency opens at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. They are pot committed to Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, who will all play on max contracts into the foreseeable future.
So what could this summer look like for the Sixers? How will they improve on the margins in a league where teams are constantly jockeying for position? Let’s take a look at the biggest storylines facing the Sixers entering NBA free agency …
How can the Sixers improve this summer?
The contracts of Embiid, Maxey, and George continue to hamper the franchise. VJ Edgecombe emerged sooner than expected and remains on his rookie deal. So the Sixers will enter Tuesday’s free agency with only so much they can accomplish. They have no choice but to run it back with their three stars and hope for better health and better support on the margins.
They’ll also need better performances from their stars, who were superb against the Boston Celtics as they manufactured a three-games-to-one comeback in the first round of the playoffs but struggled in the quick turnaround to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Embiid missed Game 2 because of right hip soreness and a sprained right ankle, Maxey missed every shot he took from three in Game 1 (15.8% on 4.8 attempts per game for the series), and George missed the second half of multiple games after he failed to sustain hot starts. Those things can be changed in the summer only by rest, recovery, and returning to the drawing board.
Sixers guards Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes are both set to hit free agency.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Will they be able to re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes?
This is the biggest question facing the Sixers this summer. They entered the summer $14.5 million below the tax and $22.5 million below the first apron. They’ve since declined the option of Trendon Watford. If they sign Oubre and Grimes, they’ll likely hit the first apron with the same team that finished seventh in the East last season.
Based on the Sixers’ history of avoiding the luxury tax — including last season when they traded Jared McCain despite Embiid’s public plea — that result is unlikely. For reference, Oubre signed a two-year, $16.3 million deal and Grimes signed the one-year, $8.7 qualifying offer after failing to come to a deal as a restricted free agent. Both players expect a raise.
Andre Drummond and Adem Bona juggled a tough situation last season. Neither player knew what to expect from night to night because of Embiid’s health issues and sudden shifts in their roles. When Embiid did not play, Bona started and Drummond served as the backup. But when he was available, Drummond stepped into the backup role and Bona often didn’t play at all.
That might not be the most tenable situation for Drummond, who will enter free agency this summer. It’s also not ideal for the Sixers, who are aware that the ideal backup will have the combined skills of Drummond and Bona.
The 76ers weren’t a lock to make a selection in the NBA draft, especially after former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey made it clear that he traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder with the intention of flipping the first-round selection they received in return.
But the hiring of Mike Gansey in that same role brought a different philosophy, as the Sixers opted to keep their ears open to potential trades while also eyeing the best player available at No. 22. That turned out to be Labaron Philon Jr., an all-American at multiple levels who slipped on Tuesday night after previously being viewed as a lottery pick.
Philon, a 6-foot-3, 176-pound guard, will join a promising backcourt led by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Both players FaceTimed Philon on draft night and welcomed him to the team before also posting him on their personal social media profiles.
His brand of basketball will be welcomed by a Sixers team that needed better ballhandling and outside shooting.
We have plenty of time to get to know Philon on the court. Let’s take a beat to learn what he’s like away from it.
After winning Alabama Mr. Basketball, Labaron Philon Jr. found his way to the Crimson Tide.Vasha Hunt
He’s an Alabama legend.
Philon was a three-year starter at Baker High School in Mobile, Ala., where he picked up every accolade possible. Philon averaged 35 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists as a junior, won Class 7A Player of the Year twice and was named Alabama Mr. Basketball.
He added a little spice to the Alabama-Auburn rivalry.
Philon’s recruitment was a big deal in the state of Alabama as he became the first Mr. Basketball to commit to Auburn. That changed shortly after, however, after changes to the staff led Philon to withdraw his commitment. He then signed with Kansas before reopening his recruitment one final time and joined the Crimson Tide. That, of course, added a little bit more juice to the legendary rivalry between Alabama and Auburn.
The Crimson Tide came out on top this time, though, as Philon played a large part in their Elite Eight appearance in 2025 and shifted to a starring role as they reached the Sweet 16 in 2026. Philon also had a 3-1 record against the Tigers in his two college seasons.
He made a big jump as a sophomore.
Philon has described himself as a “ball hawk” on defense, and that is the role he played as a freshman with Alabama. While star Mark Sears led the Crimson Tide during their Elite Eight run, Philon averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals.
That flipped in his sophomore season as Philon became the focal point of the offense. He made a big jump to 22 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.2 steals. A major part of Philon’s rise was his decision to endure the draft process, take feedback, and apply it in his sophomore season, during which he made a concerted effort to improve his three-point shooting and playmaking.
Sixers first-round draft pick Labaron Philon Jr. poses with his family after he was introduced at the team practice facility on Thursday in Camden.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
He slipped on draft night.
Philon was considered a potential lottery pick and he appeared on mock drafts as early as No. 16. Yet he sat in the green room watching his peers get selected before him. When the Sixers’ pick came up at No. 22, they considered Philon the best player on the board, and his wait came to an end. The reaction from Philon made it clear that he either expected to be selected or was simply overcome with emotion as tears formed while he hugged family members.
He’s close to rapper NoCap, another Mobile native.
Philon opted for a classic look on draft night, sporting a black and white suit and black-rimmed glasses. One accessory stood out, however, as he sported a large “16″ chain over his chest. Rapper NoCap, a fellow Mobile native, lent him the piece a couple of weeks ago for his big night. So it was fitting that he played music from NoCap and rap artist Lucki to start his day as he prepared for the draft.
NEW YORK — The 76ers entered the NBA draft fresh off a playoff series that exposed their roster shortcomings.
That decisive second-round sweep by the New York Knicks showed that the franchise needed to double down on what it received from cornerstones Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. They needed more speed, more scoring, more shooting, more rebounding, more everything.
The Sixers’ first attempt at improving came with the selection of Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 overall on Tuesday, christening the Mike Gansey era as president of basketball operations.
Let’s take a closer look at Philon’s career at Alabama, how he fits with the Sixers, and other areas of the Sixers’ roster that can still be addressed.
What Philon brings to Philly
Philon arrived at Alabama as a homegrown talent who proved to be a big-time scorer, earning Alabama’s Mr. Basketball high school honors.
Before leaving town for Link Academy in Missouri for his senior season, Philon played three seasons at Baker High School in Mobile, Ala., and averaged 35 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists as a junior. That scoring ability didn’t immediately translate to college in his freshman season at Alabama, when he averaged 10.6 points, 3.3. rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 37 games.
Alabama’s Labaron Philon (right) averaged 10.6 points, 3.3. rebounds and 3.8 assists in 37 games as a freshman.Vasha Hunt
Philon realized that he didn’t put together a strong enough campaign to enter the NBA. He went through the process and returned to school for another year, where his tape was more undeniable. As a sophomore, Philon averaged 22 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5 assists. That was good enough to get buzz as a lottery pick before dropping to the Sixers at No. 22.
Philon’s skill set features a crafty handle, ability to finish at the rim, and shooting range from deep. He can function in the screen-and-roll and is creative in open space. He made 57.4% of his two-pointers and 39.9% of his three-pointers last season, and those numbers are made more impressive by the fact that Philon was often the center of attention for Alabama and created a large share of his own shots.
Most important, Philon’s numbers weren’t empty calories. His production contributed to winning in both seasons for the Crimson Tide, as he helped direct a team that made the Elite Eight as a freshman and the Sweet 16 this past season. Each time his team met a No. 1 seed, losing to Cooper Flagg’s Duke team in 2024-25 and eventual champion Michigan in 2025-26.
How Philon fits in Philly
The Sixers have too many holes to fill in one draft. They entered Tuesday with voids in the backcourt and frontcourt. The franchise hit on Maxey and Edgecombe in recent drafts, but those stellar guards were near the top of the league in minutes played. Paul George and Embiid played inspired basketball at times when available, but they were not healthy nearly enough. George played only 37 games because of injury and suspension and Embiid called his 38 games played a “successful season” after he managed 19 games the season before.
There were several players on the board who could have helped the Sixers when the 22nd pick rolled arrived. And several of them were names that slipped down the board as Arizona’s Koa Peat, Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr., and Philon were available. The Sixers appeared to take the best player available, as president of basketball operations Mike Gansey intimated that they would.
During the draft process, Iowa sharpshooter Bennet Stirtz, who was picked 16th and joined former Sixer Jared McCain with the Oklahoma City Thunder, made a poignant statement. He said every team can use more shooters and ballhandlers. That’s what Philon will bring to Philly, another player who can create and score when Maxey goes to the bench.
He’s adept at getting downhill and making buckets in the midrange and over bigger bodies, which will be needed on a Sixers team that received most of its scoring from four players. That he is a strong three-point shooter will be a bigger boon for the Sixers after trading McCain at the deadline in February and struggling to make shots from deep in the postseason.
Alabama guard Labaron Philon (right) shot 39.9% from three as a sophomore.Vasha Hunt
The Sixers also trotted Edgecombe out as a secondary ballhandler often in his rookie season. But that typically amounted to him creating offense for himself or initiating and getting out of the way. There wasn’t much in between as he continues to improve his ballhandling. Philon can take some of that pressure off Edgecombe and do more to find Embiid and George, who have grown more dependent on their teammates to get them the ball at this time of their careers.
What the Sixers still need to address
Rebounding was a major issue for the Sixers last season. As was on-ball defense and communication. As were turnovers. Those things won’t all be addressed in the draft or free agency. The Sixers can add reinforcements at forward to lower the usage of a smaller lineup around Embiid. They can also retain Kelly Oubre Jr. or Quentin Grimes to keep depth and talent on the wings.
But because of their contract obligations, there are some things that can only be fixed from within. Maxey, George, and Embiid are all on max contracts, limiting who the Sixers can add to the roster. That means those players will have to do more. It’s hard to ask Maxey to be better than he was during the regular season, when he carried the franchise to the playoffs and earned All-Star and third-team All-NBA honors. That leaves George and Embiid, whose availability will remain the biggest factor in this team’s success.
