The 76ers have officially entered the summer of blockbuster trades.
They agreed to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday evening.
From the Sixers’ perspective, it is a stunning move for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey to pull off in his first offseason. George’s max contract — still with two years and more than $110 million remaining — was considered difficult to trade given his age and injury history.
But the Celtics clearly were motivated to move Brown, who finished sixth in last season’s voting for NBA Most Valuable Player and had spent his entire 10-year career with the franchise.
Boston reportedly offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, before the Bucks instead sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. On social media and his popular Twitch streams, Brown publicly expressed displeasure with his name being dangled in trade talks and defended his career accomplishments.
So the Sixers have swapped out one three-star roster construction for another, linking Brown with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and former MVP Joel Embiid. Brown has three years and approximately $183 million remaining on his supermax contract. But he is 29 years, played in 71 games in 2025-26, and is an elite attacker and shot-maker coming off his best individual season.
Brown, a five-time All-Star, created an excellent wing tandem with Jayson Tatum that propelled Boston to the 2024 championship and the Finals MVP award that year. Last season, he became the bona fide No. 1 offensive option while Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to spearhead the Celtics’ surprise 56-win season to finish in second place in the Eastern Conference. He called it his “favorite” season on Twitch, drawing criticism — or, at least, eyebrow raises — from some outsiders wondering if that was a swipe at his role (or partnership with Tatum) or why he valued a disappointing first-round exit more than a title run.
Jaylen Brown had a career-year for the Celtics last season and is a five-time All-Star.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Such every-night responsibility will not necessarily be the case with the Sixers, given Embiid and Maxey both have experience as the team’s offensive centerpiece. Yet it is a seismic win-now swing in an Eastern Conference race already boasting the defending-champion New York Knicks — and that has already been revamped with significant trades in recent days.
After Antetokounmpo was moved the night before the NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors agreed to re-acquire Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday. Elsewhere, LaMelo Ball was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ja Morant was dealt from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers.
But George was hampered by multiple injuries his first season as a Sixer, and then last season was suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. He finished 2025-26 strong on both ends of the floor — including in the Sixers’ rally to upset the Celtics in the playoffs’ first round — and said he was looking forward to focusing on basketball training this offseason.
Free agency began quietly for the Sixers, with forward Dean Wade agreeing to sign a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed. Things picked up Wednesday, when reserve center Ariel Hukporti agreed to a one-year deal, The Inquirer confirmed, and Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes reportedly agreed to leave the Sixers to sign with the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.
Then came the stunning blockbuster trade, making Brown a Sixer.
After a slow start, the 76ers‘ first move of free agency came late Thursday night as they signed Dean Wade, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, to a four-year, $39 million deal.
Last season, the 6-foot-9 forward played 59 games (38 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes. With Kelly Oubre Jr. on the move to the Indiana Pacers, Wade could shift into the starting lineup come October.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Sixers’ new signing:
Gansey’s guy
New Sixers president of basketball Mike Gansey has a long history with Wade, so it is quite fitting the former Cavalier is his first free agent acquisition.
As the Cavaliers assistant general manager, Gansey helped bring Wade in as an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal in 2019. After a year playing mostly for the Canton Charge, the team’s G League affiliate, Wade cracked the Cavs’ rotation in the 2020-21 season. Since then, the Kansas State product has been a key contributor for the Cavaliers, whose role players included Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Tyrese Proctor.
New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has a preexisting relationship with Dean Wade.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Though the Cavaliers boasted stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and, later, James Harden, they relied heavily on “glue guys” like Wade under Gansey’s watch. Cleveland won 64 games in 2024-25 and 52 games last season. Meanwhile, the Sixers have struggled to roster role players who fit around the team’s stars in recent years, something Gansey is hoping Wade can change.
“It’s not a championship-caliber team right now, but we’re going to work on that,” Gansey said at his introductory news conference. “Obviously get those four, get the big four [Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe] together on the floor, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring players in here that fit and that obviously can help.”
In Cleveland, Wade was best known for his defense.
With the Cavs, Wade was tasked with defending players at all positions. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, just five players gave up fewer points per drive than Wade last season, according to the ALL NBA Podcast.
Wade’s defensive prowess was noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, when he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors’ leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.
“As much as y’all talk about us three, me, [Harden], and Evan [Mobley], Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers’ 115-105 win over Toronto in Game 2. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (right) acknowledged Dean Wade’s contributions during their time as teammates.David Dermer / AP
Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket.”
“For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”
Rural roots
Wade’s hometown of St. John, Kan. is a bit different from his landing spot in Philadelphia. The rural town is home to roughly 1,200 residents. For reference, Xfinity Mobile Arena has a capacity of 21,000 for Sixers games.
“It’s a small little farming community, but it’s filled with great people who care,” Wade told Abilene-RC.com in 2018. “Everyone loves each other. If you go there, you really understand what it means to have a family environment. It’s a great little town.”
Added his father, Jay Wade: “It’s rural America. When we need something, we don’t just hop in the car and go down to the Home Depot. We’re 25 miles away from the nearest Walmart.”
Before carving out a role in the NBA, Dean Wade (left), here defending a pass from Kennesaw State guard Tyler Hooker, had a solid career at Kansas State.Charlie Riedel
Wade led St. John to three state titles. During his senior campaign in 2014-15, he was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and the Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year. That season, Wade averaged 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.4 assists as St. John went 26-0. Wade was a finalist for national Gatorade Player of the Year but lost out to Ben Simmons.
When Wade arrived at K-State, his hometown followed him.
“There are die-hard [Kansas] fans in this town that have bought season tickets to K-State just to keep watching Dean,” Jay Wade told Abilene-RC.com. “They drive to Manhattan for every game and wear purple.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a two-year contract worth “nearly” $17 million with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Oubre’s departure became more plausible when the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade, who now is projected to slide into a starting spot, to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed.
Oubre rebuilt his NBA career in three seasons with the Sixers, and now joins a Pacers team that made the 2025 NBA Finals and is expected to return to contention when All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.
The 30-year-old Oubre was a starter who impacted both ends of the floor for the Sixers, averaging 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games in 2025-26. The 6-foot-8 wing used his athleticism in a more controlled way on offense, shot a career-best 36% from three-point range last season, and was willing to take on challenging perimeter defensive assignments.
Oubre signing with Indiana occurred after he also reportedly planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Sixers had Oubre’s full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are over the salary cap. Oubre’s new contract with Indiana is only a slight raise on the $8.3 million he made last season, suggesting the Sixers could instead complete their offseason by signing a player to a veteran’s minimum deal to stay under the luxury tax ($201 million).
Though Oubre said “I love it here” in Philly during his end-of-season news conference last month, his length, athleticism, and positional archetype are typically valued leaguewide. Oubre also said he hopes he “did myself a good service” by putting a concerted effort into a more efficient playing style.
Former Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., is reportedly leaving Philly to join the Indiana Pacers. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
“I learned so much,” Oubre said of his time with the Sixers. “The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here, and I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for this city.
“Obviously I don’t like how [the season] ended. I always say I like to finish what I start, and this is a bit sour for me. But at the end of the day, it’s already written.”
Yet the veteran entering his 12th NBA season also has previous experience with the harsh realities of free agency. Oubre reminded during his end-of-season news conference that, after averaging 20.3 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, he “still found myself barely getting any contracts” until the Sixers signed him to a veteran’s minimum deal that September.
Oubre’s departure comes after the Sixers also lost sixth man Quentin Grimes, who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Lakers Wednesday afternoon. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents and remain uncommitted to returning to Philly or signing with a new team.
During free agency’s first 24 hours, the Sixers also agreed to add reserve center Ariel Hukporti on a one year, $3.4 million deal. They also picked up the team options for Dominick Barlow ($3.4 million) and Dalen Terry ($2.6 million, nonguaranteed until Jan. 10).
Hukporti’s and Wade’s salaries came out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, leaving the Sixers with $2.6 million remaining from that to sign an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception.
Dean Wade (right) is expected to slide in the starting role vacated by Kelly Oubre Jr.’s departure. YONG KIM / Staff Photographer
The Sixers entered free agency with limited financial flexibility, with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey ($40.8 million), former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all on max contracts that account for the bulk of the salary cap of nearly $165 million. Using the nontaxpayer midlevel exception on Wade hard-capped the Sixers at the first apron ($209 million).
The Sixers finished last season seventh in the Eastern Conference standings (45-37) and, after their stunning rally from down three games to one to upset the Boston Celtics in the playoffs’ first round, were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.
NBA free agency opened at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and, within hours, the 76ers had made their first move, agreeing with Dean Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal.
This was the first free agency move for new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who previously was the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Wade spent the first seven seasons of his career.
Outside of his familiarity with Gansey, Wade’s 6-foot-9 frame and versatility on the court have led many to think he could be a good fit in Philly, but his age (29) and contract terms garnered some criticism.
Here’s how experts are grading the move:
ESPN: B+
Wade’s ability to guard perimeter players and his 36.7% career three-point accuracy make him the type of player the Sixers have been seeking for years, ESPN said.
“The 76ers have plenty of guards and centers but a dearth of wing connectors between them” Zach Kram wrote. “Other than Paul George — a big swing on a maximum contract at forward — they’ve cycled through various options who haven’t quite panned out.”
“Philadelphia doesn’t get a full ‘A’ grade here because a four-year contract is a bit rich for a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in November and already has an extensive injury history. Wade has played between 44 and 59 games in each of the past five seasons — which is a concern, given Philadelphia’s rough injury track record.”
The Athletic was a little more critical of the signing, with the same concerns about the four-year commitment and a lot more pause on Wade’s assets.
“I’ve never fully understood the Wade obsession within the Cavaliers,” Zach Harper wrote. “He’s about a league-average 3-point shooter (36.7 percent). I’m not convinced he’s some great defensive option. He competes on that end but doesn’t have definite matchups you feel great about. He’s never played more than 63 games in a season. He’s never made more than 80 3-pointers in a season. He’s a solid role player, and he could land nicely with Philadelphia. Committing four years is a lot, though.”
New Sixer Dean Wade will turn 30 early next season.Julio Cortez
Bleacher Report: C
Wade’s age and consistency again posed a concern, this time for the Bleacher Report NBA staff, which gave the signing one of the lowest grades among all free agency signings so far.
“Dean Wade has started a lot of games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the years, but he turns 30 in November, has a career average of 5.3 points and has a barely-above-average three-point percentage,” the Bleacher Report NBA staff wrote. “In theory, a good floor spacer with size can open up a lot of possibilities for a rotation, but Wade’s not consistent enough to really bend defenses. And while he’s generally been a pretty good positional defender, it’s going to be tougher for him to keep up with NBA scorers as he ages into his 30s.”
The only signing graded lower by Bleacher Report was Zach Collins’ two-year $17 million extension with the Chicago Bulls which received a C-.
Quentin Grimes will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Grimes’ departure is not a surprise after the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that the Lakers were targeting signing Grimes, who will reunite with former Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic. It is also a significant raise for Grimes, who played last season on his $8.7 million qualifying offer after a messy restricted free agency.
Grimes was primarily the Sixers’ sixth man during a 2025-26 season he described multiple times as “solid.” The 26-year-old was part of a terrific three-guard lineup, and reignited his aggressive scoring ability when All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey missed three weeks in March with a finger injury.
But Grimes shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range, while also averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 29.4 minutes in 75 games. And other than an excellent Game 5 performance on both ends of the Sixers’ first-round upset of the Boston Celtics, he was not good enough during the playoffs for a Sixers second unit that desperately needed scoring production.
When asked shortly after last month’s season-ending Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks about how he viewed his free agency and ideal basketball setup, Grimes was not exactly forthcoming.
“I haven’t even really thought about that, honestly,” Grimes said. “… talking to my agents and everything, we’ll kind of figure out what’s the best situation moving forward.”
Quentin Grimes played a large role for the Sixers in the disastrous 2024-25 season but struggled at times last year, especially in the playoffs. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
After joining the Sixers at the 2025 trade deadline, Grimes became a go-to scorer for an injured team that had shifted to “tank” mode to increase odds of landing a high draft pick. He averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 28 games with the Sixers that season, including a 46-point outburst at his hometown Houston Rockets.
Grimes then entered restricted free agency, which turned into a months-long saga. He skipped the Sixers’ training camp and preseason games in Abu Dhabi and eventually signed his one-year qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grimes then parted ways with agent David Bauman and is now represented by Creative Arts Agency.
Grimes’ departure suggests that the Sixers will immediately lean on rookie-to-be Labaron Philon Jr., the Alabama guard they selected 22nd overall in last week’s draft to link with the dynamic Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. The Sixers also lost sharpshooting guard Jared McCain in a controversial trade at the February deadline.
Fellow Sixers free agent Kelly Oubre Jr., a starting forward for three seasons in Philly, remains uncommitted to return or sign with a new team. He will reportedly meet with at least the Sixers, Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents.
The Sixers on Wednesday morning also agreed to sign reserve center Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million contract, The Inquirer confirmed. That means the Sixers have about $2.6 million remaining of that midlevel exception, which can be used to sign an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception. They entered free agency with limited financial flexibility, with Maxey ($40.8 million), former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all on max contracts that account for the vast majority of the salary cap of nearly $165 million.
The Sixers finished last season seventh in the Eastern Conference standings (45-37) and, after a stunning rally from down three games to one to beat Boston, were swept by the eventual NBA champion Knicks.
Ariel Hukporti has agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million contract with the 76ers, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday morning.
The move gives the Sixers a new option at backup center behind Joel Embiid, the former NBA MVP who has struggled with numerous health issues in recent seasons.
Veteran Andre Drummond, now an unrestricted free agent, and Adem Bona, whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes fully guaranteed July 7, saw their roles fluctuate last season.
Hukporti, an athletic 7-footer, played his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks. He averaged 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes across 54 regular-season games in 2025-26, primarily as the third-team center. The 24-year-old only logged spot minutes during the Knicks’ championship run, primarily when big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson got in foul trouble.
Hukporti joins forward Dean Wade as free agents who are set to join the Sixers for the 2026-27 season. Drummond, starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr., sixth man Quentin Grimes, and reserve guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) remain unsigned by the Sixers or another team with the first full day of free-agency negotiation underway.
Hukporti’s salary comes out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, giving the Sixers $2.6 remaining from that to use on an outside player. They also have the $5.5 biannual exception.
The Sixers have traded Paul George (and four draft picks) to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown, The Inquirer has confirmed.
Trading for Jaylen Brown and moving off of Paul George’s contract transforms the Sixers in both the short and long term, writes columnist David Murphy.
The Wade deal made it less likely the team would re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr. or Quentin Grimes, and both signed elsewhere Tuesday. Oubre is headed to Indiana and Grimes to the Lakers.
While most people will focus on Wade’s personal connection to Mike Gansey, he’s also a great fit for the Sixers, writes columnist David Murphy.
// Timestamp 07/01/26 8:37pm
The Sixers transformed themselves with Jaylen Brown trade
Paul George and Jaylen Brown faced off in the first round of the NBA playoffs.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 $120 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.
Jaylen Brown (left) and Tyrese Maxey are new teammates.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The 76ers coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs after being down three games to one seemed like the most exciting thing that would happen between the teams this year.
Sixers make blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown; Paul George to Celtics
Sixers fans are familiar with Jaylen Brown as a foe. Now he’s headed to Philly.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The 76ers have officially entered the summer of blockbuster trades.
They agreed to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday evening.
From the Sixers’ perspective, it is a stunning move for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey to pull off in his first offseason. George’s max contract — still with two years and more than $110 million remaining — was considered difficult to trade given his age and injury history.
But the Celtics clearly were motivated to move Brown, who finished sixth in last season’s voting for NBA Most Valuable Player and had spent his entire 10-year career with the franchise. Boston reportedly offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, before the Bucks instead sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.
So the Sixers have swapped out one three-star roster construction for another, linking Brown with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and former MVP Joel Embiid. Brown has three years and approximately $183 million remaining on his supermax contract.
Brown is a five-time All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP, creating an excellent wing tandem with Jayson Tatum that propelled Boston to the 2024 championship. This past season, he became the bona fide No. 1 offensive option while Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to spearhead the Celtics’ surprise 56-win season to finish in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Andre Drummond opens up about free agency and his worth
Center Andre Drummond spent the past two seasons with the Sixers.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Andre Drummond has a “weird pit in [his] stomach.”
The veteran center also is “not willing to play for less than [his] worth.”
Drummond, who spent the past two seasons with the Sixers, turned to YouTube to express his thoughts about his unrestricted free agency in a video posted Wednesday afternoon. The video appears to have been deleted in the hours after it was posted to the site.
“I’m playing for my worth,” said Drummond, a former All-Star who is about to enter his 15th NBA season, “and my worth compared to what the NBA thinks, is always different. It gets a little nerve-wracking at times. … I love playing in the Association. It’s a dream come true for me. But I’m also not willing to play for less than my worth.
“I did that once, and then I got labeled as one of those guys. And I think it really killed my value in the NBA. Because I’m still moving like I’m in my mid-20s. I still have a lot left in the tank, and I’m adding new parts of my game, too.
“And I think by taking that pay cut and accepting what was given to me at the time, I feel like I’ve been climbing out of a hole for the past like four or five years. It’s been hard, bro.”
Drummond is likely referencing when he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers off the buyout market in 2021, then inked a veteran minimum contract with the Sixers for the following season. After that, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Ben Simmons-James Harden blockbuster, played two seasons with the Chicago Bulls (average salary: $3.4 million), and returned to the Sixers as a free agent on a two-year, $10 million deal during the 2024 offseason.
Those moves came after Drummond played parts of his first eight seasons with the Detroit Pistons, where he became arguably the game’s most dominant rebounder, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the 2019-20 season.
After the Sixers agreed on Wednesday morning to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one year, $3.4 million contract, a source confirmed to The Inquirer, it appears unlikely that Drummond returns to Philly. Drummond averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games in 2025-26, while navigating a fluctuating role depending on Joel Embiid’s health and Adem Bona’s reliability.
In Wednesday’s video, Drummond referenced showcasing “a new part of my game” — aka becoming a legitimate corner three-point threat — as a reason “why I should stay around.”
“Every trade deadline and every free agency since the day I got traded from Detroit [in 2020],” Drummond said, “I always get, like, worried around this time. Because, in this job, you never know when it’s just the end.”
Hence, the pit in Drummond’s stomach. In the past, he has been publicly open about mental health struggles, including tattooing “DON’T QUIT” in block letters on his wrist before the start of last season. In Wednesday’s video he took accountability for career missteps, but added that, after his stint with the Bulls, “I was like, ‘Damn, I think I might just have to shut this [expletive] down, bro.”
“I don’t know if I can keep playing like this,” he thought to himself at the time. “It’s not fun, I’m not enjoying basketball right now, because I feel like I’m playing in vain. … This is my livelihood. This is what represents my worth in this league.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a two-year contract worth “nearly” $17 million with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Free agent forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has agreed to a two-year, nearly $17 million deal to sign with the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/qzUyLGX7DP
Oubre’s departure became more plausible when the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade, who now is projected to slide into a starting spot, to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed.
Oubre rebuilt his NBA career in three seasons with the Sixers. He was a starter who impacted both ends of the floor, while averaging 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games in 2025-26. The 6-foot-8 wing used his athleticism in a more controlled way on offense, shot a career-best 36% from three-point range last season, and had the willingness to take on challenging perimeter defensive assignments.
Oubre’s choice occurred after he also reportedly planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Lakers, Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Sixers had Oubre’s full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are over the salary cap.
Though Oubre said “I love it here” in Philly during his end-of-season news conference last month, his length and positional archetype are typically valued league-wide. Oubre also said he hopes he “did myself a good service” by putting a concerted effort into a more efficient playing style.
“I learned so much,” Oubre said of his time with the Sixers. “The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here, and I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for this city.
“Obviously I don’t like how [the season] ended. I always say I like to finish what I start, and this is a bit sour for me. But at the end of the day, it’s already written.”
Yet the 30-year-old also has previous experience with the harsh realities of free agency. He reminded during his end-of-season news conference that, after averaging 20.3 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, he “still found myself barely getting any contracts” until the Sixers signed him to a veteran’s minimum deal that September.
Oubre’s departure comes after the Sixers also lost sixth man Quentin Grimes, who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Lakers Wednesday afternoon. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents and remain uncommitted to returning to Philly or signing with a new team.
New Sixers forward Dean Wade guards Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes during Game 5 of their first-round series.David Dermer
In Cleveland, Dean Wade was best known for his defense.
A versatile forward, Wade was tasked with defending the one through the five with the Cavaliers. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, against driving ball-handlers, it is hard to find better defenders in the association. Just four players gave up less points per drive than Wade last season.
Wade’s defensive prowess was most noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, where he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.
“As much as y’all talk about us three — me, [Harden] and Evan [Mobley] — Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Donovan Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers 115-105 Game 2 victory versus Toronto. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”
Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket” as he could cover anyone.
“For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “ I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”
Sixers to sign former Knicks center Ariel Hukporti
The Sixers are signing former New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (right).Yuki Iwamura
The Sixers have agreed to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million contract, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday morning.
The move gives the Sixers a new option at backup center behind Joel Embiid, the former NBA Most Valuable Player who has struggled with numerous health issues in recent seasons. Veteran Andre Drummond, now an unrestricted free agent, and Adem Bona, whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes fully guaranteed July 7, saw their roles fluctuate last season.
Hukporti, an athletic 7-footer, played his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks, averaging 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes across 54 regular-season games in 2025-26. He only logged spot minutes during the Knicks’ playoff run to the championship, primarily when big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson got in foul trouble.
Quentin Grimes will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Free agent guard Quentin Grimes has agreed to a four-year, $60 million to join the Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/5mcp4pULuD
Grimes’ departure is not a surprise after the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade to a four year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that the Lakers were targeting Grimes, who will reunite with former Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic. It is also a significant raise for Grimes, who played last season on his $8.7 million qualifying offer after a messy restricted free agency.
Grimes was primarily the Sixers’ sixth man during a 2025-26 season he described multiple times as “solid.”
The 26-year-old was part of a terrific three-guard lineup, and reignited his aggressive scoring ability when All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey missed three weeks in March with a finger injury. But Grimes shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range, while also averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 29.4 minutes in 75 games. And other than an excellent Game 5 performance on both ends of the Sixers’ first-round upset of the Boston Celtics, he was not good enough during the playoffs for a Sixers second unit that desperately needed scoring production.
When asked shortly after last month’s season-ending Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks about how he viewed his free agency and ideal basketball setup, Grimes was not exactly forthcoming.
“I haven’t even really thought about that, honestly,” Grimes said. “… [I’m] talking to my agents and everything, we’ll kind of figure out what’s the best situation moving forward.”
After joining the Sixers at the 2025 trade deadline, Grimes became a go-to scorer for an injured team that had shifted to “tank” mode to increase odds of landing a high draft pick. He averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 28 games with the Sixers that season, including a 46-point outburst at his hometown Houston Rockets.
Grimes then entered restricted free agency, which turned into a months-long saga. He skipped the Sixers’ training camp and preseason games in Abu Dhabi and eventually signed his one-year qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grimes then parted ways with agent David Bauman and is now represented by Creative Arts Agency.
Grimes’ departure suggests that the Sixers will immediately lean on rookie-to-be Labaron Philon Jr., the Alabama guard they selected 22nd overall in last week’s draft to link with the dynamic Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third on an excellent NBA Rookie of the Year ballot last season. The Sixers also lost sharpshooting guard Jared McCain in a controversial trade at the February deadline.
So where does that leave the Sixers financially, after entering free agency with three max contracts on their books and 13 roster spots now accounted for?
Using a portion of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception on Wade hard-capped the Sixers at the first apron ($209 million). Hukporti’s deal also came out of the midlevel exception, leaving the Sixers with $2.6 million to spend on an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception.
What does that all mean for Kelly Oubre Jr.’s chances to return to Philly? Because the Sixers have his full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are already over the salary cap, Oubre’s hypothetical contract would be separate from either of those exceptions.
If Oubre opts to sign elsewhere – or the Sixers choose not to bring him back – they could instead sign a player to a minimum contract and likely stay under (or close to) the luxury tax line ($201 million). That has proven important to owner Josh Harris, prompting trades to “duck” the tax at the deadline in recent years (see: McCain, Jared).
Free agent center Mitchell Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal to sign with the Boston Celtics, with a player option in third season, sources tell ESPN. Robinson departs the Knicks after serving a key role on the historic championship team. pic.twitter.com/tl3R6nlU1m
Kessler's $130M deal includes a player option in the fourth season, plus a full trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. The Lakers land their signature center for star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves by moving two firsts and two swaps to the Jazz. https://t.co/7kd6UhvHK9
Free agency grades: Mixed marks for Dean Wade signing
The Sixers are signing Dean Wade (center) to a four-year deal.David Dermer
NBA free agency opened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and within hours, the 76ers had made their first move, signing Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million deal.
This was the first free agency move under the Sixers new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey, who was previously the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Wade spent the first seven years of his career.
Outside of his familiarity with Gansey, Wade’s 6-foot-9 frame and his versatility on the court have led many to predict he could be a good fit in Philly, but his age along with the four-year deal has garnered some criticism.
Here’s how experts are grading the move …
ESPN: B+
Wade’s ability to guard perimeter players and his 37% three-point accuracy make him the exact type of player the Sixers have been searching for for years, ESPN said.
“The 76ers have plenty of guards and centers but a dearth of wing connectors between them” Zach Kram wrote. “Other than Paul George — a big swing on a maximum contract at forward — they’ve cycled through various options who haven’t quite panned out.”
“Philadelphia doesn’t get a full ‘A’ grade here because a four-year contract is a bit rich for a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in November and already has an extensive injury history. Wade has played between 44 and 59 games in each of the past five seasons — which is a concern, given Philadelphia’s rough injury track record.”
The Athletic: C+
The Athletic was a little more critical of the signing, with the same concerns over the four-year commitment, but a lot more pause on Wade’s assets.
“I’ve never fully understood the Wade obsession within the Cavaliers,” Zach Harper wrote. “He’s about a league-average 3-point shooter (36.7 percent). I’m not convinced he’s some great defensive option. He competes on that end but doesn’t have definite matchups you feel great about. He’s never played more than 63 games in a season. He’s never made more than 80 3-pointers in a season. He’s a solid role player, and he could land nicely with Philadelphia. Committing four years is a lot, though.”
Bleacher Report: C
Wade’s age and consistency again posed a concern, this time for the Bleacher Report NBA staff, who gave the signing one of the lowest grades among all free-agency signings so far.
“Dean Wade has started a lot of games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the years, but he turns 30 in November, has a career average of 5.3 points and has a barely-above-average three-point percentage,” the Bleacher Report NBA Staff wrote. “In theory, a good floor spacer with size can open up a lot of possibilities for a rotation, but Wade’s not consistent enough to really bend defenses. And while he’s generally been a pretty good positional defender, it’s going to be tougher for him to keep up with NBA scorers as he ages into his 30s.”
The only signing graded lower by Bleacher Report was Zach Collins’ two-year $17 million extension with the Chicago Bulls which received a C-.
— Mia Messina
// Timestamp 07/01/26 10:10am
John Collins to sign with Pistons
John Collins, who was previously linked to the 76ers, has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, a rising power in the Eastern Conference that also plans to retain Roman Catholic alum Jalen Duren.
The Sixers nabbed Dean Wade, who will play on a four-year, $39 million deal, for a role similar to what Collins will play for the Pistons as a guy expected to slot in at power forward and providing defense and spacing.
Collins has been a more productive offensive player, however, hence the $17 million salary. He previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks and has career averages of 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds.
While many will focus on Sixers president Mike Gansey’s personal connection to new forward Dean Wade, the 29-year-old is a player who would have made a lot of sense on virtually any incarnation of the Sixers in the post-Ben-Simmons era. The rare stretch four who adds big value on defense, Wade developed from an undrafted free agent to a critical playoff rotation piece in Cleveland by excelling at a lot of the dirty work that exceeds the capabilities and/or willingness of many 6-foot-9 shooters. This postseason, the Cavaliers outscored opponents by a net of 16.2 points per 100 possessions when Wade was on the court versus off it. That’s impressive stuff.
The benefit to the Sixers will be similar to what it was throughout his seven years in Cleveland. Wade can play small alongside a couple of bigs the way he did with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He can play a power four alongside a trio of guards, as he sometimes did with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Sam Merrill. He could even give Nick Nurse an option as a small-ball five, though a lot depends on the other pieces the Sixers will presumably add this offseason.
Wade is hardly a prolific scorer. Among players who have averaged 20 minutes per game in 200+ games over the last four seasons, only Nicolas Batum has scored fewer than Wade’s 5.4 points per game. But he is an effective enough shooter — .375 on about six three-point attempts over 100 possessions this postseason — to create space for others on the offensive end.
That’s all that’s needed for a team with a couple of ball-dominant scorers in the backcourt. That’s who the Cavs have been in the Donovan Mitchell era, whether paired with Darius Garland or James Harden. It’s who the Sixers figure to be with VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
Backup center options for the Sixers include some familiar faces
Guerschon Yabusele (left) spent the 2024-25 season with the Sixers. Could he return?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
A quiet start to the Sixers’ free agency finally turned newsworthy after 10 p.m., when The Inquirer confirmed that forward Dean Wade had agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract.
Other than looming decisions on starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and sixth man Quentin Grimes, backup center is now the Sixers’ biggest positional priority. Who could be gettable with the Sixers’ remaining salary? Here’s a rundown:
Guerschon Yabusele
A rare feel-good story during the Sixers’ disastrous 2024-25 season, Yabusele parlayed his NBA comeback into a pay raise with the Knicks. To say things did not work out in New York is an understatement, and he was traded at the deadline to the Chicago Bulls. Could he successfully slide back into a complementary role with the Sixers? Or will his performance two seasons ago go down as a career anomaly on a bad team?
Marvin Bagley III
Bagley’s career has fallen far below original expectations as a former No. 2 overall draft pick. But he is coming off a productive season for the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points per game. His career average of 6.5 rebounds — including 2.3 on the offensive end — in 22 minutes is also a sound number. His brother, Marcus, played 10 games for the Sixers and for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats during the 2024-25 season.
Nikola Vucevic
The veteran was once a two-time All-Star, but his decline was glaring during the Sixers’ upset of the Boston Celtics including getting benched in Game 7. He is floor-spacer with skill, but is a liability on the defensive end. He averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in a 2025-26 season split between the Bulls and Celtics.
Andre Drummond
Could the Sixers run it back with Drummond — again? The veteran professionally handled a fluctuating role in 2025-26, averaging 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games. He is still a stout rebounder and big-bodied presence, though not the most mobile on defense. His corner three-point shooting has elevated from fun novelty to legitimate offensive weapon. It is possible, though, that Drummond desires a playing destination where his role is more defined and consistent.
Other options: Nick Richards, Kelly Olynyk, Mo Wagner, Bismack Biyombo, Moussa Cisse, Drew Eubanks, Jaxson Hayes, Ariel Hukporti, Maxi Kleber, Kevon Looney, Xavier Tillman
How Wade signing impacts Oubre, Grimes, and the Sixers cap space
Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., with teammate guard Quentin Grimes against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, February 22, 2025 in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Dean Wade’s addition makes it less likely that the Sixers will be able to bring back starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr., and sixth man Quentin Grimes, who also entered unrestricted free agency. Yahoo! reported Tuesday night that Oubre planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers.
The Sixers have between $5 and $6 million remaining of the mid-level exception to use on an outside free agent. They are $16.6 million total under the first apron.
Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the other free agents for a Sixers team with limited financial flexibility. All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey ($40.8 million), former MVP Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all remain on max contracts, accounting for the vast majority of the nearly $165 million salary cap.
That top-heavy roster requires shrewd complementary moves, in addition to hoping Embiid and George can be healthier in 2026-27. Backup center becomes the positional priority as free agency continues. Rebounding and shooting will always be welcomed skills for a team that has struggled in both areas.
Day 1 recap: Stars move early, but Sixers strike late
Kawhi Leonard, left, was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors.Mark J. Terrill
Stars have been on the move this summer and that theme continued on the first day of NBA free agency.
After Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant were all traded to new teams, the early free-agency fireworks on Tuesday centered on Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors via trade and LeBron James’ decision to part ways with the Los Angeles Lakers, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
For a moment, that appeared to include the Sixers, who were linked to Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade and still need to make decisions on Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. It looked like both of those moves could be on hold as the Cavs are reportedly one of the teams on James’ list.
But around 10:30 p.m., Mike Gansey struck his first deal and landed Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal, reuniting him with one of his success stories from Cleveland.
Elsewhere, former Roman Catholic star Jalen Duren appears set to return to the Detroit Pistons on a lucrative deal, ESPN’s Marc Spears reported. And Delaware native Bones Hyland stayed in Minnesota on a one-year, minimum deal, according to The Athletic.
A few potential Sixers targets also came off the board, according to ESPN. Robert Williams III agreed to a three-year, $44 million deal with Portland Trail Blazers. Sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. also joined Antetokounmpo in Miami on a one-year, $6.5 million deal.
Forward Dean Wade (left) agreed to a four-year deal with the Sixers.Sue Ogrocki
Mike Gansey’s first free-agency move as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations was adding a player with whom he is quite familiar.
Late Tuesday night, Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. The deal comes out of the nontaxpayer mid-level exception, and will hard cap the Sixers at the first apron.
Wade was one of Gansey’s success stories in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. The 29-year-old Wade evolved from undrafted player to rotation forward, and last season averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes across 59 games. His 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame allows for defensive versatility, and he is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.
There is more than a little symbolism in Mike Gansey’s first free agent signing as 76ers president.
In handing a four-year, $39 million contract to veteran forward Dean Wade, the Sixers didn’t just add a veteran glue guy whom Gansey helped to discover during the latter’s tenure as an assistant general manager in Cleveland. They also effectively closed the door on at least one and potentially both of Daryl Morey’s shrewdest wins as a roster-builder.
Goodbye, Quentin Grimes.
Good day, Kelly Oubre Jr?
Time will tell whether Day 1 of NBA free agency was a meaningful step in an intentional direction or just a modest change that will make the Sixers’ roster a little more sensible next season. Either way is fine.
While many will focus on Gansey’s personal connection to Wade, the 29-year-old iwould have made a lot of sense on virtually any incarnation of the Sixers in the post-Ben-Simmons era. The rare stretch four who adds big value on defense, Wade developed from an undrafted free agent to a critical playoff rotation piece in Cleveland by excelling at a lot of the dirty work that exceeds the capabilities or willingness of many 6-foot-9 shooters. This postseason, the Cavaliers outscored opponents by a net of 16.2 points per 100 possessions when Wade was on the court versus off it. That’s impressive stuff.
Wade can play small alongside a couple of bigs the way he did with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He can play a power four alongside a trio of guards, as he sometimes did with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Sam Merrill. He could even give Nick Nurse an option as a small-ball five, though a lot depends on the other pieces the Sixers will presumably add this offseason.
Wade is hardly a prolific scorer. Among players who have averaged 20 minutes per game in 200+ games over the last four seasons, only Nicolas Batum has scored fewer than Wade’s 5.4 points per game. But he is an effective enough shooter — .375 on about six three-point attempts over 100 possessions this postseason — to create space for others on the offensive end.
That’s all that’s needed for a team with a couple of ball-dominant scorers in the backcourt. That’s who the Cavs have been in the Donovan Mitchell era, whether paired with Darius Garland or James Harden. It’s who the Sixers figure to be with VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
There aren’t many value plays on the free agent market. Wade sure doesn’t count as one even at a modest $10ish million per season. But if the Sixers were going to overpay by a couple of million bucks, it made sense to do it for a player with the size and versatility that will be an absolute necessity on the wing with Maxey, Edgecombe, and this year’s first-round draft pick, Labaron Philon Jr.
Sixers guards Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes are free agents this summer.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
When the Sixers drafted Philon, Gansey said the move was not an indication that the team would move on from Grimes, whom Morey acquired from the Mavericks in a low-cost trade in 2025, and who played well enough that year to enter free agency looking for a serious contract. Grimes was less impressive while playing out 2026 on a qualifying offer, but still agreed to a $60 million deal with the Lakers.
Oubre could still end up back in Philly, at least according to the math. The Sixers would maximize their available payroll by re-signing Oubre and then using part of the remaining MLE to add another player. Doing so could create some logistical difficulties during the season, and perhaps limit their trade possibilities, given that they’d be hard-capped at the luxury tax line.
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey is leading his first free agency in Philly. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
With Oubre reportedly meeting with five teams on Tuesday, the Sixers could be better off focusing on using the rest of their MLE on a player who offers them a better mix of size, shooting, and affordability, not to mention consistency. That’s a difficult combination to find, of course. Retaining Oubre would leave the Sixers with a competitive starting five when Joel Embiid and Paul George are healthy and a potentially competent one even when one of the two veterans is out.
The important thing is that Gansey’s focus remain as much on the world beyond 2026-27. Wade fits that bill. He will be 33 years old at the end of this contract, when he will hopefully be a solid role player on a championship team. The goal now should be to find the younger versions of Wade: guys you might one day re-sign for a lot more money than you initially needed to give them. It is a difficult thing to develop, grow, and compete all at the same time. But that needs to be the goal.
Mike Gansey’s first free-agency move as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations is adding a player with whom he is quite familiar.
Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer late Tuesday. The deal comes out of the nontaxpayer mid-level exception, and will hard cap the Sixers at the first apron.
Wade was one of Gansey’s success stories in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. The 29-year-old Wade evolved from undrafted player to rotation forward, and last season averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes across 59 games. His 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame allows for defensive versatility, and he is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.
Wade’s addition makes it less likely that the Sixers will be able to bring back starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr., and sixth man Quentin Grimes, who also entered unrestricted free agency. Yahoo! reported Tuesday night that Oubre planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers.
The Sixers have between $5 and $6 million remaining of the mid-level exception to use on an outside free agent. They are $16.6 million total under the first apron.
Unsurprisingly, multiple reports surfaced over the weekend that the Sixers were among the teams interested in signing Wade. Yet the offseason transaction cycle began quietly for the Sixers — even as significant NBA moves swirled around them.
In the past nine days, stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, and Ja Morant have been traded. Earlier Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors agreed on a deal sending Kawhi Leonard back to the team he led to the 2019 NBA championship.
Dean Wade helps fill a void in the frontcourt for the Sixers. David Dermer
Also on Tuesday, LeBron James, an all-time great who is still an All-Star at age 41, informed the Lakers that he would join another team as a free agent. That potentially held up other business across the league — and indirectly affected the Sixers.
Outsiders naturally linked James to another reunion with his hometown Cavaliers, who are coming off an Eastern Conference finals appearance and also are reportedly working on re-signing former Sixer James Harden to a multiyear deal.
To accomplish all of that, the Cavaliers need to clear cap space. The Stein Line reported that the Cavaliers were exploring options to trade Max Strus and Dennis Schroeder. Yet if a Cleveland pursuit of James does not pan out — or even if it does — one could have viewed using that cap space to re-sign Wade as a potential Plan B before he instead opted to join the Sixers.
Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the other free agents for a Sixers team with limited financial flexibility. All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey ($40.8 million), former MVP Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all remain on max contracts, accounting for the vast majority of the nearly $165 million salary cap.
That top-heavy roster requires shrewd complementary moves, in addition to hoping Embiid and George can be healthier in 2026-27. Backup center becomes the positional priority as free agency continues. Rebounding and shooting will always be welcomed skills for a team that has struggled in both areas.
Gansey began his first Sixers offseason by drafting Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., in the first round. Monday, he picked up the team options in Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry’s contracts for the 2026-27 season.
And now, Gansey has begun his first Sixers free agency by adding a player with whom he is quite familiar.
The Sixers didn’t have much money to spend entering the day, as Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George account for nearly $155 million of the projected $165 million salary cap. Here’s a breakdown of some options.
The Sixers picked up the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry on Monday, but not Trendon Watford.
Elsewhere in the NBA, LeBron James informed the Lakers he will play for a different team next season. And Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Raptors.
// Timestamp 06/30/26 11:11pm
Source: Sixers, Dean Wade agree to four-year deal
The Sixers are signing Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade.Sue Ogrocki
Mike Gansey’s first free-agency move as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations is adding a player with whom he is quite familiar.
Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract with the Sixers, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer late Tuesday. The deal comes out of the nontaxpayer mid-level exception.
Wade was one of Gansey’s success stories in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. Wade evolved from undrafted player to rotation forward, and last season averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes across 59 games. His 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame allows for defensive versatility, and he is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.
Unsurprisingly, multiple reports surfaced over the weekend that the Sixers were among the teams interested in Wade.
Wade’s addition makes it less likely that the Sixers will be able to bring back starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and sixth man Quentin Grimes, who also have entered unrestricted free agency. Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry are the other free agents for a Sixers team with limited financial resournces because Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George all remain on max contracts.
Wade joins first-round draft pick Labaron Philon Jr., as the Sixers’ additions so far this offseason. They also picked up the team options in Dominck Barlow and Dalen Terry’s contracts for the 2026-27 season.
Starting October 30, all 30 teams will compete for the Emirates NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing out of groups into the knockout rounds, with the Championship held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, December 11! pic.twitter.com/OiBSSVkxpm
Jalen Duren is from Delaware County and went to Roman Catholic.Duane Burleson
After a few days of reports pointing otherwise, it seems Pistons center and former Roman Catholic star Jalen Duren could be staying put in Detroit.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that the Pistons have offered the most “lucrative contract possible for their All-Star restricted free agent,” adding that the team will match any other team’s offer.
The Detroit Pistons have offered what the franchise believes is the most lucrative contract possible for their All-Star restricted free agent Jalen Duren, are not interested in any sign and trade deals and will match any potential offer sheet he signs, sources @espn@andscape.
The news comes a day after NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Duren was set to meet with the Sacramento Kings at the start of free agency. Haynes added that Duren’s camp and the Pistons were a “sizable distance apart” in contract negotiations, and Duren was hoping to depart Detroit in a sign and trade.
This past season, the Delco native was an All-NBA Third Team selection, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. Duren, 24, helped spearhead the Pistons’ defensive effort, which catapulted the team to the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed. However, Duren struggled to produce in the playoffs as the Pistons fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.
Because of Duren’s All-NBA selection, he is eligible for a five-year supermax contract worth up to $287 million.
A potential LeBron James return to Cleveland could have a ripple effect on the Sixers.Mark J. Terrill
Could LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers be indirectly holding up the Sixers’ potential free agency moves?
After James told the Los Angeles Lakers earlier Tuesday that he intended to sign with a new team, he naturally became attached to another reunion with his hometown Cavaliers. Cleveland also is reportedly aiming to work on a new multi-year deal with James Harden, whom they traded for at the February deadline.
All of that would require clearing cap space to add James. To do this, The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reported earlier Tuesday that the Cavaliers were exploring options to trade Max Strus and Dennis Schroder.
How does this potentially connect to the Sixers? One of Philly’s reported free-agency targets is Dean Wade, whom new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey helped uncover as an undrafted player who became a key rotation piece for the Cavaliers. If a James deal with Cleveland does not pan out — or even if it did — re-signing Wade could be part of Cleveland’s Plan B with that cleared-out space.
Where Wade lands, in turn, could impact the likelihood that the Sixers pursue bringing back Kelly Oubre Jr. and/or Quentin Grimes.
The slow start to free agency — other than the massive Kawhi Leonard trade, of course — is an indication that James’ decision could be putting multiple teams’ plans in a holding pattern, which then halts the domino effect across the league.
Previously held in Las Vegas, it will be held in Hinkle Fieldhouse on Butler’s campus in Indianapolis, which holds only 9,100 spectators.
Called Indiana’s Basketball Cathedral, the arena was constructed in 1928 and has hosted the Butler basketball and volleyball programs for nine decades.
The New York Knicks are the reigning champions of the NBA Cup, where they defeated the San Antonio Spurs. That matchup was recreated in the NBA Finals — with the same result.
Sharpshooter Tim Hardaway, who Gina Mizel identified as a possible target for the Sixers, is taking his talents to South Beach, according to multiple reports.
Free agent sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. will be signing with the Miami Heat to provide the organization with the spacing needed for Giannis Antetokounmpo, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/ZS5wLdcCeG
Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland is staying in Minnesota.Doug McSchooler
Delaware native Bones Hyland, a potential option for the Sixers, was one of the first signees of free agency, inking a one-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bones Hyland has agreed to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves next season, sources told @TheAthletic. Hyland established himself as a rotation player, teaming with Ayo Dosunmu in the "Twin Turbos" backcourt.
Hyland agreed to return next season after reinventing himself as part of a stacked backcourt with Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu. LaMelo Ball was also added to that group in a trade that sent Naz Reid and picks to the Charlotte Hornets.
After a few tough seasons with the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 8.5 points and 2.6 assists in Minnesota. He also shot 38.8% from three.
Free agent DeAndre Jordan has agreed to a deal to return to the New Orleans Pelicans for his 19th NBA season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/gmAULFUi2r
The National Basketball Association announced today that the Salary Cap for the 2026-27 season has been set at $164.961 million. The Tax Level for the 2026-27 season is $200.428 million. pic.twitter.com/1bp31NCH8c
Get ready for the 6 p.m. frenzy. Will the Sixers be involved?
Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey greets reporters as he sits down to speak about the Sixers first round draft pick, Labaron Philon Jr., from the teams practice facility in Camden, N.J. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Though we are about 30 minutes from the official opening of free agency, agreed-upon deals between players and their current teams have been trickling in for the past few days. Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents when the season ends, aka once the New York Knicks won Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the title.
None of that news has involved the Sixers, who have five free agents in Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry.
That is not entirely surprising, given the Sixers have limited financial flexibility. The front office must weigh how much it would cost to bring Oubre and/or Grimes back vs. outside players it could get on a midlevel exception. And depending on how all the dominoes fall, the Sixers could have the non-taxpayer midlevel exemption of about $15 million (plus the $5.5 biannual exception), or the taxpayer midlevel of about $6.1 million.
The Sixers did pick up the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry, and declined Watford’s team option, by Monday’s deadline.
Will the typical flurry of reported moves right at 6 p.m. include the Sixers? Stay tuned.
But after news broke of the Sixers’ decision, Watford posted to his Instagram story. The photo inside a UCLA gym — where several NBA players train and play pickup games during the offseason — was nothing out of the ordinary. But his song choice was Future’s “Ain’t Coming Back.”
A screenshot of Trendon Watford’s Instagram story suggesting he’s moving on from the Sixers after they declined his team option.@trendonw / Instagram
It all could be a massive coincidence. But now, Watford is set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent Tuesday evening, after averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 53 games last season.
It is well known that Watford has been one of All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey’s close friends since they were teenagers. But he also became a lively presence throughout the Sixers’ locker room. During the playoffs, he was the unofficial DJ who set the mood with his playlist before games.
That was most apparent before the Sixers’ Game 7 upset at the Boston Celtics. Before shootaround, he coaxed strength and conditioning coach Emily Zaler (who typically sets the tunes for that morning session) to put on Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” And as the pregame locker-room period open to the media wound down that evening, teammate Justin Edwards eagerly asked Watford, “Where’s the music?!”
“Not the time,” Watford said, waiting for reporters to leave. “Gotta keep the routine.”
What Kawhi Leonard’s reported return to Toronto means for the Sixers
Most Sixers fans would rather forget Kawhi Leonard’s time with the Toronto Raptors, especially the 2019 playoffs. YONG KIM / Staff Photographer
If the Kawhi Leonard trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to Toronto Raptors crosses the finish line — and it reportedly has — that is good news for the Sixers. Not necessarily in the short term, given that could catapult the Raptors into the upper tier of the Eastern Conference.
But if the Clippers go into a full rebuild, the 2028 unprotected first-round pick and 2029 pick swap that the Sixers acquired in the 2023 James Harden blockbuster will become much more valuable.
Even before this potential Leonard deal, the Clippers were trending in this direction. They traded Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and standout center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers at the deadline. They also have lost Norman Powell and, of course, Paul George in recent years.
Consider that consolation for Sixers fans who may already be having four-bounce flashbacks to the last time Leonard was a Raptor.
LeBron James’ decision to leave the Lakers will have ripple effects that shudder throughout the league for years to come.
One immediate impact in Los Angeles will be the loss off LeBron fans who have already started to share their disenchantment with the franchise.
One fan called Luka Doncic a “fraud” for deciding to sit out of the Lakers’ postseason series with a hamstring injury. Another shared social media posts of LeBron taking off a Lakers jersey with the caption, “Ight, Lakers fans. It’s been real. WE OUT.”
The latter chorus was a common refrain as many fans followed James as he played for the Cavaliers and Heat and intend to do the same when he leaves the Lakers.
Ironically, the late Kobe Bryant was the only other player to earn that status, bringing fans from all over the country to the Lakers’ fan base.
Remembering the time the Sixers had a chance to land LeBron
LeBron James embraces Ben Simmons before the start of a 2019 game between the Sixers and Lakers.HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
For the first time since the 2018 offseason, LeBron James is on the move, after informing the Lakers he won’t return and will look to play his 24th NBA season elsewhere.
The last time James was seeking a new team, the four-time MVP gave Philadelphia a look.
Although many considered James to Los Angeles to be a done deal at the time, he did consider joining the 76ers in 2018. In an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols after signing with the Lakers, James mentioned that he chose the Lakers over the likes of the Sixers and the Houston Rockets — two teams that boasted more talent than LA at the time — to help cement his legacy as a great.
“I definitely thought long and hard about the possibilities of lining up alongside Ben [Simmons] and [Joel] Embiid, or lining up alongside [James] Harden and Chris [Paul],” James told ESPN in 2018. “I felt like at this point in my career, the ultimate for me — just like when I went to Miami, everyone kind of looks at me joining a super team.
“I like the challenge of being able to help a team get to some places they haven’t been in a while, and obviously the Lakers haven’t made the playoffs in a few years,” he added.
Representatives from the 76ers did meet with James’ camp but James did not attend the meeting. The meeting was led by then-Sixers head coach Brett Brown, who was also serving as the team’s interim president following the resignation of Bryan Colangelo.
Leading up to free agency, Philadelphia made an all-out push for James with Embiid taking to social media to pitch his team to James. The then-24-year-old center wrote on Twitter (now X), “Trust The Process!!!! Find a new slant @KingJames.”
Meanwhile, Philadelphia-based company Power Home Remodeling purchased three billboards outside of Cleveland to court James, who played for the Cavaliers at the time. Two of the billboards read “Philly Wants Lebron” and “Complete The Process” — referring to the Sixers’ motto spearheaded by former president Sam Hinkie. The third billboard featured LeBron’s number 23 on the court alongside the numbers of the Sixers’ starting lineup.
The rumor mill around James joining the Sixers mainly revolved around his well-known relationship with Simmons, who was known to workout with James on occasion. Both former first overall picks, the two shared an agency in Klutch Sports — founded by James’ longtime friend and agent Rich Paul. Coming out of the draft and early in his career, Simmons, a 6-foot-10 point guard, also received a hefty comparison to James because of his playmaking ability and size.
While James landing with the 76ers this time around is almost certainly not happening, Simmons recently displayed interest in returning to Philadelphia in an interview with Men’s Health.
LeBron James is leaving the Lakers.Mark J. Terrill
LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not re-sign with the team after 8 seasons and one title in Tinseltown.
So where could he land? A number of suitors have emerged through various reports, including the two franchises with which he spent the first 15 seasons of his career.
According to NBA Insiders Chris Haynes (NBA on Prime), Jake Fischer (SteinLine), and Brian Windhorst (ESPN), the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors could all be in play.
Windhorst previously discussed rumors of the move for a Big 4 in Golden State — a pairing of James, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis — as a “leverage play” for James and Davis to gain better standing with their current teams, but has since reversed course.
“I think the focus right now is can they get LeBron James away from the Los Angeles Lakers? That’s something they’re going to try to get done, today,” he said on ESPN’s Get Up.
James’ son, Bronny, appears set to stay with the Lakers. His contract with the team became fully guaranteed on Monday. He will play out the remaining year of his deal at $2.3 million.
Sixers center Joel Embiid (right) drives to the basket against New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
We are still hours away from free agency officially opening, and the backup center market is already shrinking.
Robert Williams and Jock Landale earlier Tuesday reportedly agreed to terms to return to their respective teams, the Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks. Landale’s deal is for one year and $14 million and Williams’ is for three years and $44 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
So who else could still be in play for the Sixers?
Mitchell Robinson, an elite rebounder and rim protector, is perhaps the sexiest name, given his role on the NBA champion New York Knicks.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, coming off a strong season for the upstart Toronto Raptors, is a sneaky option.
Veteran Nikola Vucevic was once an All-Star, but his decline was glaring during the Sixers’ upset of the Boston Celtics.
Marvin Bagley, the former second overall draft pick who was productive for the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, is a solid rebounder (and his brother, Marcus, was a Delaware Blue Coat and on two 10-day contracts with the Sixers).
And, of course, there is Andre Drummond, whose role fluctuated last season with the Sixers.
John Collins and more frontcourt options for the Sixers
Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins is an option for the Sixers.Bailey Hillesheim
As the Sixers search for ways to bolster their roster, keep an eye on these six players as options at forward and center …
John Collins
Collins could slide into a starting forward spot if Oubre leaves. The sensational athlete has become an improved shooter since getting off the perpetual trade block with the Atlanta Hawks, connecting on 40.6% of his three-point attempts last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rui Hachimura
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Hachimura boasts a more traditional power forward frame and versatile skill on both ends of the floor. He shot 44.3% on 3.9 long-range attempts per game last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, while averaging 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. The Lakers reportedly committed to signing Austin Reaves to a max contract, and must make a free-agency decision on all-time great LeBron James.
Robert Williams III
Another supreme athlete who can rebound (7 per game last season) and finish lobs. But the 28-year-old now has a lengthy injury history with the Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers, which might be a risky investment for a center to play behind Embiid.
[Update: Williams is returning to the Blazers on a three-year deal worth $44 million.]
Marvin Bagley III
Bagley’s career has fallen far below original expectations as a former No. 2 overall draft pick. Yet he is coming off a productive season for the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points per game. His career average of 6.5 rebounds — including 2.3 on the offensive end — in 22 minutes is also a sound number.
His brother, Marcus, played 10 games for the Sixers and also played for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats during the 2024-25 season.
Jock Landale
A floor-spacing big man with defensive versatility, Landale was an impactful trade-deadline pickup for the streaking Hawks until an ankle sprain prematurely ended his season. He averaged 5.7 rebounds in 22.1 minutes with the Memphis Grizzlies and Hawks last season.
[Update: Landale is returning to the Hawks on a one-year, $14 million deal.]
Mitchell Robinson
The competition could be steep for the newly crowned NBA champion — including from the Knicks. Robinson is a fantastic rim protector and rebounder, especially on the offensive end (4.2 per game last season). The knocks on him are his injury history and poor shooting, prompting the Hack-A-Mitch strategy for opposing teams.
Other options: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Nikola Vučević, Mo Wagner, Jaxson Hayes, Kelly Olynyk, Nick Richards
BREAKING: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/zzVk6xUVF1
What kind of contracts can the Sixers actually sign?
Sixers managing partner Josh Harris and HBSE president of sports Bob Myers meet with the media.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
This is tricky to determine right now, because it could be dependent on if Kelly Oubre Jr., and/or Quentin Grimes returns.
If both players depart, the Sixers are likely to have the non-taxpayer midlevel exception (approximately $15 million) and the biannual exception ($5.5 million). If they re-sign one or both players, they likely will only have the $6.1 taxpayer midlevel exception.
For what it’s worth, earlier this month Bob Myers specifically referenced the non-taxpayer midlevel exception as a free-agency tool, suggesting the Sixers are using that as a starting point and will weigh the players they could sign on that deal vs. the return of Oubre or Grimes. And if the Sixers cross into the “apron” penalties, it will limit their ability to make in-season trades because of new collective bargaining agreement rules.
The Sixers will also have veteran minimum contracts to fill out their 15-man roster.
New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey is looking to improve his roster with little money to spend.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
If the Sixers are going to improve, it’s going to need to be on the margins.
That is the reality facing new 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, whom Myers led the search to hire, and the remaining front office as NBA free agency begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday. All-NBA third-team guard Tyrese Maxey ($41 million), along with former perennial All-Stars Joel Embiid ($59.5 million) and Paul George ($54.1 million), remain on max contracts accounting for nearly $155 million of the projected $165 million salary cap. And the latter two players are considered difficult to trade because of their age and recent injury history.
So the Sixers must again hope for better health with that top-heavy roster during the 2026-27 season, which could turn that flash from the playoff upset of the Boston Celtics into more consistency. Yet that postseason run, which ended in being swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks, also exposed that the Sixers must bolster their depth, requiring shrewd around-the-edges moves with limited financial flexibility.
The Sixers already have begun to build their roster by drafting Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., in a potential first-round steal, and picked up the team options for Dominick Barlow ($3.4 million) and Dalen Terry ($2.6 million, nonguaranteed until Jan. 10) on Monday. They will aim to address positional needs at wing and in the frontcourt, as well as with shooting and rebounding.
“You can make a great [draft] pick, [or] you can sign a minimum player that really moves things further,” Myers said. “ … You can have minimum players that really do a great job for your team. You can have a $4 million [player]. It doesn’t have to be the big-spending guys. You get 5%, 10% 15% better, it makes a big difference.”
These five Sixers are headed for free agency (or retirement)
Sixers wing Kelly Oubre Jr. is one of the team’s five unrestricted free agents.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Sixers don’t have much money to spend in free agency this offseason, and what little they do have could be used to re-sign some of their own players who are about to hit the open market when the negotiating period begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s a look at the members of last year’s Sixers squad who will be unrestricted free agents …
Kelly Oubre Jr. — Oubre, 30, averaged 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games last season and shot a career-best 36% from three-point range. The 6-foot-8 starting forward spent the last three seasons with the Sixers, and made $8.3 million in 2025-26.
Quentin Grimes — Grimes, the Sixers’ sixth man for most of last season, averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, all down from his breakout season in 2024-25 after the Sixers shifted into tank mode. The 26-year-old, who struggled to find a match last free agency period before returning to the Sixers, shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range.
Andre Drummond — The 32-year-old center made $5 million while taking on an odd role most of last season: starting in place of Joel Embiid when the former MVP was injured, but falling out of the rotation entirely when Embiid was healthy. Drummond, one of the games best rebounders, averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games.
Trendon Watford — Watford, who has been a close friend of Tyrese Maxey’s since they were teenagers, averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 53 games last season, but injuries played a role. The Sixers declined Watford’s $2.8 million team option for next season on Monday.
Kyle Lowry — The former Cardinal Dougherty and Villanova star is expected to retire after 20 NBA seasons. Following the 2024-25 season, Lowry, a North Philly native, said he wanted to play one more year.
