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Tag: Nick Nurse

  • After adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, how will the Sixers’ roster fit? It’s going to be a process.

    After adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, how will the Sixers’ roster fit? It’s going to be a process.

    Thirty-six All-Star honors. Twenty-nine All-NBA teams. Five NBA Most Valuable Player awards. Five NBA championships. Five Finals MVP awards.

    Those are the combined accolades for four of the five members of the 76ers’ transformed starting lineup: the newly signed LeBron James, the recently acquired Jaylen Brown, and returnees Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. And the other starter is VJ Edgecombe, who last season finished third on an excellent Rookie of the Year ballot and is widely viewed as capable of morphing into an All-Star and perhaps more.

    It is an eye-popping look at the NBA’s newest on-paper super team, especially given the muted expectations entering the Sixers’ offseason.

    But how will those decorated players all fit on the court, and with personalities all used to being the bona fide No. 1 option?

    LeBron James believed he could win with Joel Embiid. The 2024 Olympics can show the Sixers how.

    For all of those stars, it will be a test in sacrifice and adaptability and chemistry-building. It also is a challenge for coach Nick Nurse to create schemes that accentuate strengths individually and collectively.

    This already was a complicated task last season. The Sixers leaned into the style of their electric young guards when Embiid was sidelined, but drifted back to playing through the big man when he was available, including in their rally from down 3-1 to beat the Boston Celtics in the playoffs’ first round. Yet high pace can still fuel these retooled Sixers, given the only player who scored more fast-break points per game than the certified speedster Maxey (5.7) was James, even in his age-41 season.

    James also chose the Sixers because of the star power already in place, suggesting he understands the more complementary role he will occupy after what he called his final playing-destination decision.

    He remains an elite offensive connector with off-the-charts basketball IQ. His championship habits — as evidenced by his 5 a.m. workout videos that have recently resurfaced, along with photos in the gym with Maxey that have circulated on social media in recent days — will be invaluable to a franchise that has not advanced past the playoffs’ second round since 2001.

    LebBon James and Tyrese Maxey maintained a brother-like relationship before becoming teammates.Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-I

    James already has experience creating a super team with the Miami Heat, starring alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and winning two titles. But perhaps the best preparation for James’ role in Philly was last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, when he was the third option behind in-their-prime stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

    The Sixers, meanwhile, have already known for almost a month that they were adding Brown — an All-NBA wing who finished sixth in MVP voting last season — to the Maxey-Embiid-Edgecombe core.

    Brown is coming off a season he defined as his “favorite,” because he was the top offensive weapon and helped written-off teammates overachieve expectations during a regular season mostly played without fellow star Jayson Tatum. Brown offers a blend of athleticism and strength — yes, including using that off arm — to separate from defenders and get his own shot.

    But how will Brown shift back into a costar role? Nurse reminded during Las Vegas Summer League that the Sixers were already attempting to leverage a “1-3-5” positional trio with Maxey at guard, Paul George on the wing, and Embiid at center. But it never consistently materialized because those three players logged only 36 regular-season games together in two seasons.

    “It’ll be a big part of our thought process on the offensive end right now,” Nurse said of the Brown fit. “And then it will take some polishing and massaging.”

    Jaylen Brown is now eligible to sign a one-year contract extension with the Sixers

    Though James and Embiid are expected to enter the upcoming season healthier than in recent years, it is reasonable to expect they will still miss games and limit minutes in order to gear up for the playoffs. That approach would make the younger and more durable Maxey and Brown the most consistent primary scoring options.

    Maxey elevated himself to All-NBA status for the first time last season, while further cementing himself as the Sixers’ unquestioned tone-setter and leader. The 25-year-old also led the league in minutes per game (38), and needed to carry an unfair offensive load while Embiid and/or George were sidelined.

    The Knicks’ trapping defense stifled Maxey during their second-round playoff sweep, when he averaged only 18.3 points and shot 3-of-19 from three-point range while still nursing an injured pinkie finger. He called those four games “definitely one of the hardest [playoff] series I’ve played in, just for myself” and vowed to learn and improve during the offseason.

    Now defenses won’t be able to put the bulk of their attention on Maxey. James’ playmaking — plus Edgecombe’s progress as a lead ballhandler — also should allow Maxey to regularly slide off the ball. Nurse said earlier this month that he wants Maxey to continue developing his midrange scoring to complement his explosive drives to the rim and deep three-pointers.

    For Embiid, the arrival of James and Brown should ease the pressure of the Sixers’ entire universe — on and off the court — revolving around the 2023 MVP.

    Though the mid-post still is an area of the court where Embiid can operate in the offensive flow, he may need to fight the muscle memory to create with the ball in his hands at all times. Perhaps he can lean into his 2024 Olympics experience, where he deferred and still found his moment to dominate in a comeback win against Serbia on a superstar-filled roster that also included James. Embiid regaining his three-point shooting prowess — he made 32.2% in 57 games the past two seasons, after connecting on 38.8% in 2023-24 — would be a big boost.

    A cynic could say this roster revamp could stunt the development of Edgecombe. Though the second-year guard might not have as many plays run for him, Edgecombe’s athleticism can still be fully unleashed in the open court, including coast-to-coast opportunities.

    “Instead of two of those a game,” Nurse said of Edgecombe in Las Vegas, “I’d like to see 10. Or at least try. I just think there’s a little bit more pace he can add to his game offensively.”

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey served as a mentor for VJ Edgecombe in his rookie season. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    And if anyone is worried Edgecombe might be perturbed about James’ signing, consider this: Edgecombe grew up watching James’ Heat teams as a kid in the Bahamas. He did a jersey swap with James the first time they matched up against each other in December. And he posted a photo of himself mimicking James’ “Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life” meme upon learning they would be teammates.

    It is reasonable to have concerns about the Sixers’ defense, given James and Embiid have taken clear steps back on that end of the floor. The Knicks deliberately put Embiid in pick-and-rolls during the playoffs, and he is not the rim protector he once was because he limits jumping in an effort to protect his surgically repaired left knee.

    Further down the depth chart, newcomer Dean Wade will now shift from projected starting forward to a key bench contributor. There are situations when his perimeter defense will be enticing in closing lineups, and could create fascinating decisions for Nurse when the roster is fully healthy. It also will be interesting to monitor how the coach staggers his stars with those reserves, which also include Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards, and Adem Bona (or Ariel Hukporti).

    How long will this all take to figure out? Remember this: James did not win a title until his second season with Miami, in his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and with the Lakers.

    So expect transferring the NBA’s newest on-paper super team to an actual basketball fit to be … wait for it … a process.

  • What the Sixers are saying about the Jaylen Brown trade, from ‘Oh, snap!’ to ‘It’s going to be special’

    What the Sixers are saying about the Jaylen Brown trade, from ‘Oh, snap!’ to ‘It’s going to be special’

    LAS VEGAS — Jaylen Brown has made one brief Sixers appearance, sitting courtside for Saturday’s Summer League game.

    Still, the acquisition of the All-NBA wing was one of the more prominent topics throughout his new team’s stay in Las Vegas. There were entertaining stories about how various Sixers found out about the blockbuster trade, illustrating how stunning the move was even to those close to it. And there was excitement for how Brown is expected to enhance a talented roster now with realistic aspirations to contend.

    Here is what the Sixers are saying about Brown:

    Inside Sixers: The LeBron James waiting game, Labaron Philon Jr.’s creativity, and more from Las Vegas Summer League

    VJ Edgecombe

    Edgecombe was in his native Bahamas — and at a spa — when he accidentally missed multiple calls from Sixers executive vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson.

    Then, when he saw a text from Nelson asking to call him as soon as possible, Edgecombe got nervous.

    “I was like, ‘Man, it’s free agency, why you calling me so much?’” Edgecombe recalled. “I thought I was gone.”

    VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown will be the defensive pillars of the Sixers. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The actual news Nelson wanted to share — that the trade for Brown was about to happen — still “shocked” Edgecombe, calling it “the last thing I expected.” Edgecombe also described it as “bittersweet” because of the quick rapport he developed with the outgoing Paul George, but said he is eager to play with Brown while at the “peak of his career.”

    Justin Edwards

    This trade was kept so under wraps that even Edwards did not catch wind of it while at the Sixers’ facility on the day it popped.

    Edwards had just finished a pool conditioning workout and glanced at the television on a sports program dissecting all the league-wide offseason moves. And did a double-take.

    “They were talking about Jaylen Brown and PG, but I didn’t pay attention to it,” Edwards said. “I [saw] it, but I looked away. Then I looked again. I’m like, ‘Oh, snap!’ So I called ’Rese [Tyrese Maxey] and he was like, ‘Yeah, man, I knew since this morning.’ I’m like, ‘That’s crazy.’”

    Dean Wade

    Wade had already agreed to sign with the Sixers as a free agent the night before the Brown trade. Wade said he was intrigued by a brief “rumor” he heard about the possibility of such a move, but believed it had died out. Then, “all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it just kind of popped back up and it was a done deal.”

    As a versatile wing defender who has played his entire career in the Eastern Conference, Wade has plenty of first-hand experience with trying to counter Brown’s offensive prowess and “edge.” He called Brown “definitely one of the toughest people I’ve had to guard. Especially last year, he was just a monster.”

    “He gets to his spots [on the court],” Wade said. “It doesn’t really matter if you’re there or not. If you don’t block it, it’s going in, probably. … His size and his athleticism and his skill, they all go hand-in-hand.

    “He’s hard to stay in front of. And then he’s also a lot stronger than people think. So he gives you a little bump in the paint [and] it’s kind of hard to recover from that.”

    Labaron Philon Jr.

    The rookie guard said he was not overly shocked when he heard about the trade because he prides himself on keeping his emotions in check. But he knows Brown is going to be a valuable resource during his first NBA season.

    Before Mike Gansey became a Sixers executive, he was a hard-nosed high school player that earned LeBron James’ respect

    “He has that championship DNA,” Philon said. “I feel like, as a young guy, that’s somebody you want to look up to [and] somebody you want to learn from. Somebody that’s already been in that moment, he can help all the other guys too that haven’t reached that level yet [and] help us get over that hump.

    “With him coming in, I feel like it’s going to be special. We’re going to go at it at practice. He’s going to push me. I’m going to try to push him to the next level.”

    Anfernee Simons

    Simons is joining a new team in the Sixers, but reuniting with a former teammate in Brown. They played together with the Celtics for part of last season, before Simons was traded to the Chicago Bulls at the February deadline.

    Simons called Brown “kind of the epitome” of a two-way player.

    “He’s going to guard the best [opposing] player and go out there and give you 30 [points],” Simons said during his first media availability as a Sixer. “That’s what makes him special, what makes him different.

    “So he’s going to come in and bring that championship mentality from Day 1 and try to instill that in the team.”

    Mike Gansey

    The Sixers’ new president of basketball operations landed Brown by following advice he learned while working his way up the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office: Make the call. Gansey then aimed to assuage Brown’s initial shock about being traded to the rival Sixers with this simple message: “I want you on my team.”

    “I’ve watched him against Cleveland, and he’s always killed us,” Gansey said. “ … We’re just super lucky to get him, and I know he’s motivated. He’s going to be great for everyone because the young guys want that. He’s been a champion and Finals MVP. I think Joel [Embiid is] in a great space and he’s excited, as well.

    Mike Gansey shared a simple message with Jaylen Brown after the blockbuster trade: “I want you on my team.”Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    “Obviously, we’ve got to see what it looks like. You can’t win a trade in July. … Until we actually have a practice or a game, you just don’t know. You hope it’s going to work out, but it’ll take some time, I’m sure.

    “I would have never envisioned this, when I’m sitting there [for my introductory news conference in early June]. … Just opportunities arise. And that’s why, this business, you can plan all you want and prepare, but you just don’t know. Things happen.”

    Dalen Terry

    Terry was taking a nap — with his cell phone and his baby daughter resting on his chest — when the calls and messages about the trade started pouring in.

    “I’m like, ‘Am I still on the team?!’” Terry said once he checked his phone. “ … I’m like, ‘OK, who was it for?’ They said PG [and] I’m like, ‘Dang …’

    “I was just thinking about PG the whole time. Then I was like, ‘Wait, we got Jaylen Brown.’”

    Nick Nurse discusses Sixers’ ‘really good’ offseason, next steps for Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and more

    Nick Nurse

    The Sixers’ coach praised Brown’s versatility on both ends of the floor, along with his competitiveness and winning pedigree.

    “You watch him get a lot better from year to year to year,” Nurse said, “and how much harder that became to game plan for him. … He’s sitting in his prime. It’s amazing that he’s going to be a Sixer.”

    T.J. DiLeo

    When asked about Brown sitting courtside for Saturday’s Summer League game, DiLeo had a confession.

    “Can I tell you the truth?” the summer Sixers’ coach said. “I didn’t even see him. I try not to look over there that much, but that is amazing to have him here. … The guys seeing him, obviously, that’s great. That’s what we’re looking for with our team, just the support of one another, the support of the organization. So that’s really cool that he [was] here, man.

    “I wish [I’d seen] him now. I probably [would have] looked over and would have shook his hand afterward, or something.”

  • Nick Nurse discusses Sixers’ ‘really good’ offseason, next steps for Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and more

    Nick Nurse discusses Sixers’ ‘really good’ offseason, next steps for Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and more

    LAS VEGAS — Nick Nurse’s view entering the 76ers’ offseason was similar to the outside consensus — that his team did not have much financial “wiggle room” with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George all on max contracts.

    Then the Sixers pulled off the stunning blockbuster trade for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown. They surrounded that big swing with complementary moves, adding Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Ariel Hukporti in free agency and drafting Labaron Philon Jr. The Sixers are now among the threats in a deep Eastern Conference.

    “Sitting here right now,” Nurse told a small group of reporters from a Las Vegas hotel Saturday, “I think, obviously, we’ve had a really good summer so far. … It was some good teamwork, some good maneuvers.

    Dominick Barlow is back in Las Vegas, as a success story for the summer Sixers

    “I’d like to think we got better at several positions: younger, faster, depth, shooting, rebounding. There [were] a lot of areas to address, and I think we addressed some of them.”

    One giant potential free-agency domino could still fall, of course, if all-timer LeBron James chooses to sign with the Sixers. Nurse did not comment on that possibility, since he does not hold the front office’s role in recruitment and negotiation. Bob Myers, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment’s president, already made his pitch as a guest on Game Over podcast hosted by James’ agent, Rich Paul.

    Nurse, though, lauded the early collaboration with new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, saying he could “feel a good organizational blueprint” entering the offseason. The coach has long been impressed by Brown’s versatility on both ends of the floor, his year-by-year improvement, and his winning resume as an NBA champion and Finals MVP.

    “He’s sitting in his prime,” Nurse said of Brown. “It’s amazing that he’s going to be a Sixer.”

    Now Brown joins the dynamic backcourt of Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, along with the 2023 MVP (though oft-injured) Embiid. The goal is for this configuration of top-end talent to be healthy enough to gain consistency — Embiid, Maxey, and George played only 36 games together in two seasons — while building enough depth “to have some more gas in the tank to make a longer [postseason] run.”

    Jaylen Brown (right) will join the Sixers’ dynamic backcourt, including leading scorer Tyrese Maxey.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    After a thrilling comeback to upset the Boston Celtics in the first round, the Sixers were swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks. Nurse acknowledged he “pushed all the chips in [for] Game 2 in New York,” and that it was difficult to rebound after they lost that down-to-the-wire matchup.

    “It’s a hell of a lot longer tournament than one round,” said Nurse, who won the 2019 NBA title with the Toronto Raptors. “ … We were tired as hell Game 1 [in New York]. We were spinning from that. They were on a heater of beyond proportions, and it was like, ‘We’ve got to knock them off this heater,’ and Game 2 was our chance to do it.

    “Unfortunately, we didn’t make enough shots in the fourth quarter, because they were wide open. … The gas tank was pretty low. We just need some more depth. We need a little bit more experience. We need to not be totally drained out of that after one round.”

    Labaron Philon Jr. shines in Sixers’ first summer league game: ‘He’s a gamer’

    Here are three more takeaways from the wide-ranging offseason conversation with Nurse.

    Other newcomers

    Nurse reiterated that he would not hesitate to immediately insert Philon into the rotation, a belief rewarded by the crafty guard’s terrific start to Summer League play. He totaled 24 points and six assists in the Sixers’ overtime win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday afternoon at Cox Pavilion, after compiling 18 points and seven assists in Thursday’s opening win over the Detroit Pistons.

    “I just feel like he’s talented enough,” Nurse said. “I think we liked him enough as a staff. … I think he’s going this direction [up] quickly. I think he’s got some confidence to him that I don’t think he’ll be afraid. I think he’ll make the most of the opportunity.”

    Nick Nurse said that he believes first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. will “make the most of the opportunity.” Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Nurse offered similar (and warranted) trust in Edgecombe to become a Day 1 starter last season, and in then-rookie Jared McCain to instantly contribute before his 2024 knee surgery.

    Wade, meanwhile, is what Nurse called an “opportunity scorer” and, more importantly, a rebounder and versatile defender at 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds. Hukporti’s addition means a competition with Adem Bona for the backup center job — which becomes a starting role when Embiid is sidelined — is “all in play, as of now,” Nurse said. The coach also believes Simons, in addition to his high-volume shooting, can handle the ball and play in the pick and roll.

    “We may be a touch small at times [or] whatever,” Nurse said of the guard group. “But I’ll certainly take the speed and athleticism. Then it’s just up to our staff to put them in the right spot.”

    New Sixer Jaylen Brown is ‘going to push’ Joel Embiid, Mike Gansey says in local radio hit

    Next steps for Maxey and Edgecombe

    Though Brown has become the Sixers’ flashy offseason addition, much of their present and future will be fueled by Maxey, an All-NBA third-team selection last season, and Edgecombe, who finished third on a terrific NBA Rookie of the Year ballot.

    When asked where Edgecombe can most develop in his second NBA season, Nurse highlighted extending his three-point range — he connected on 35.4% of his 5.6 attempts, but had a knack for crunch-time makes — to provide more spacing for teammates. Nurse also wants to see Edgecombe progress toward becoming a lockdown perimeter defender, and to go coast-to-coast more frequently when he gets the ball in transition.

    “Instead of two of those a game,” Nurse said, “I’d like to see 10. Or at least try. I just think there’s a little bit more pace he can add to his game offensively.”

    Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe grew into a dynamic backcourt for the Sixers last season.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    For Maxey, Nurse again emphasized the midrange game between his explosive drives to the basket and deep three-pointers.

    “He’s got that in his game,” Nurse said of Maxey, who ranked fifth in the league in scoring last season (28.3 points per game). “He’s just so good at the other stuff [that] he doesn’t hardly ever get put in those positions. But I think it’s an area of growth for him.”

    Optimism for Embiid?

    At Embiid’s end-of-season news conference, he expressed optimism that the Sixers’ medical and training staff had “figured out” how to manage his knee following multiple surgeries. He expects that will make him more available after logging 96 total games the past three seasons. Last month, Myers reiterated that Embiid had no procedures scheduled, allowing him to spend more time on basketball work.

    Hayes: LeBron James signing with the Sixers could save Joel Embiid’s career

    When Nurse was asked Saturday if he shared Embiid’s optimism that the big man will be able to play more in 2026-27, Nurse said, “I do” but did not elaborate much further.

    “I think that he’s feeling pretty good,” Nurse said. “I think he’s working pretty hard right now. So I do think I share his optimism.”

  • Sixers free-agency primer: Players who could depart, possible outside targets, and more

    Sixers free-agency primer: Players who could depart, possible outside targets, and more

    Weeks before Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, and Ja Morant were traded, Bob Myers understood the allure of a blockbuster move.

    “Those are obviously things that look to appear to be the most meaningful,” said Myers, the president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and former lead executive during the Golden State Warriors dynasty. “But it’s just one good decision at a time as far as change.”

    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.

    Sixers pick up team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry; Trendon Watford’s option declined

    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.”

    How could the Sixers attack the coming days? Here is a primer on where they sit entering free agency.

    Sixers free agents

    Kelly Oubre Jr.

    Oubre rebuilt his NBA career in three seasons with the Sixers. He was a starting forward 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 salary was $8.3 million in 2025-26, the player option on a two-year deal signed in 2024. 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 leaguewide. Oubre also said he hopes he “did myself a good service” by putting a concerted effort into a more efficient playing style.

    Ben Simmons eyes NBA comeback and contemplates a return to the Sixers: ‘Maybe I’ll go back to Philly’

    “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 in September.

    It will be interesting to see what this version of Oubre commands on the open market.

    Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., and teammate guard Quentin Grimes celebrate in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Quentin Grimes

    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 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 in Boston, 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 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,” he said. “… Talking to my agents and everything, we’ll kind of figure out what’s the best situation moving forward.”

    NBA reveals Sixers’ Las Vegas Summer League schedule, which includes Labaron Philon’s expected debut

    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 in 2024-25, including a 46-point outburst at his hometown Houston Rockets.

    Grimes then entered restricted free agency, which turned into a messy, monthslong saga. He eventually signed his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grimes parted ways with agent David Bauman and is now represented by Creative Arts Agency.

    Does any of that impact Grimes’ decision-making as he enters the open market? And does Philon’s arrival diminish the Sixers’ need (or desire) to retain Grimes?

    Andre Drummond is looking for more consistency next season.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Andre Drummond

    The veteran center professionally handled a fluctuating role in 2025-26.

    For the bulk of the season, Drummond was the starting center in the games Embiid did not play — and was out of the rotation when Embiid was available. During the playoffs, though, Drummond recaptured the role as Embiid’s backup while postseason first-timer Adem Bona struggled. Drummond averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games.

    The 32-year-old Drummond is still a stout rebounder and big-bodied presence. His corner three-point shooting has elevated from fun novelty to legitimate offensive weapon. But he is not the most mobile, making him a liability on defense.

    It is possible Drummond, whose salary was $5 million this season, desires a playing destination where his role is more defined and consistent.

    First-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. will make the Sixers more fun, and that counts for something
    Trendon Watford

    The Sixers on Monday afternoon declined Watford’s $2.8 million team option for the 2026-27 season, making him an unrestricted free agent.

    Watford, a versatile forward who recorded a triple-double last season, averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 53 games. Injuries, though, impacted his ability to stick in the Sixers’ rotation. Watford has been a close friend of Maxey since they were teenagers, and was a lively presence inside the Sixers’ locker room.

    The Sixers declining that option does not eliminate Watford’s ability to return on a new deal.

    Kyle Lowry

    It is presumed that Lowry, who did not conduct an end-of-season media session, will retire. At the end of the 2024-25 season, the Philly native said he wanted to play one more season to reach 20 for his career, though he was more coy when asked about that plan in recent months.

    Lowry, who played in 14 games last season, was almost exclusively a trusted and enthusiastic veteran on the bench and locker room, particularly for Maxey. His knowledge and respect are invaluable, but the Sixers also could have benefited from having another player on the roster who could contribute on the floor more than the 40-year-old version of Lowry.

    (Note: Adem Bona’s $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes guaranteed July 7.)

    President of basketball operations Mike Gansey and Harris-Blitzer president Bob Myers (right) will lead the Sixers’ free-agent decisions. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Types of contracts available

    This is tricky to determine right now, because it could be dependent on if Oubre and/or 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 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.

    Free agency comes into focus for Sixers with draft in rearview

    The Sixers will also have veteran minimum contracts to fill out their 15-man roster.

    Potential free-agent targets

    Frontcourt help

    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.

    Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (left) defends Sixers forward Justin Edwards during a game earlier this year.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
    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. (Reportedly agreed to deal to return to Portland on Monday)

    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.

    Daryl Morey planned on the decline of Paul George and Joel Embiid with the Sixers as the Heat land Giannis
    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. (Reportedly agreed to deal to return to Atlanta on Monday)

    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

    Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is an option for the Sixers.David Zalubowski

    Shooting

    Tim Hardaway Jr.

    Hardaway has been a top veteran role player on win-now teams in three consecutive seasons with the Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and Denver Nuggets. He finished third in voting for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, after shooting 40.7% on 6.9 three-point attempts per game and averaging 13.5 points for the Nuggets last season.

    Luke Kennard

    Kennard has been a deadly three-point shooter for years, connecting on 44.2% of his career attempts. He also has a more well-rounded offensive game than he gets credit for, and was a useful trade deadline pickup by the Lakers last season.

    Get to know Sixers’ first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. away from the court
    Bones Hyland

    The Delaware native would give the Sixers another wiry guard. He underwent a bit of a career renaissance as a key bench player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, shooting 38.8% on 4.2 deep attempts last season.

    Gary Trent Jr.

    Trent is another knock-down shooter from beyond the arc (career 38.7% on 6.1 attempts per game) who can also create off the dribble. Nick Nurse previously coached Trent with the Toronto Raptors, though they may not have had the best rapport after Nurse publicly critiqued his defensive performance and Trent acknowledged a lack of regular communication during their time together.

    Other options: Kenrich Williams, Keon Ellis, Javonte Green, Bogdan Bogdanović

    Could Nico Batum make a return to Philly?Heather Khalifa / Staff Photographer

    Connections

    (Other than Ben Simmons, who said in a recent Men’s Health story that he would welcome a return to the Sixers in his attempted NBA comeback.)

    Dean Wade

    Wade was one of Gansey’s success stories with the Cavaliers, evolving from undrafted player to rotation forward. His 6-9, 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 are among the teams interested in Wade.

    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?

    Labaron Philon Jr. believes adaptability is one of his ‘biggest traits.’ Applying that with the Sixers begins now.
    Precious Achiuwa

    Achiuwa also played under Nurse in Toronto, and offers the defensive mobility to switch and block shots as a center or power forward. Though he averaged a career-best 10.1 points per game on a bad Sacramento Kings team last season, his offensive game is more limited.

    Nico Batum

    The Clippers on Monday declined Batum’s $5.9 million player option, making him an unrestricted free agent. Nurse (and Embiid) had an affinity for Batum’s veteran savvy during his time with the Sixers during the 2023-24 season, when he swung the play-in game against the Miami Heat with his three-point shooting and even became the team’s designated inbounds passer. But he is 37 years old, and feels deep family connections to Los Angeles and the West Coast.

    Other options: Matisse Thybulle, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II

  • Why Mike Gansey’s sound process in selecting Labaron Philon Jr. bodes well for Sixers’ future

    Why Mike Gansey’s sound process in selecting Labaron Philon Jr. bodes well for Sixers’ future

    At the broadest, most general philosophical level, Mike Gansey aced his first test as Sixers president on Tuesday night. He looked at his draft board, saw a player he’d graded as the best talent by a significant margin, and then he selected that player. The process was sound.

    As insignificant as it may seem, plenty of front offices mess it up. They prioritize things like roster construction or positional fit and they allow motivated reasoning to cloud the reality that all of the perfect players are long gone by the 22nd pick in the NBA draft. You must defy the odds just to select a player who ends up deserving a spot in a playoff rotation, let alone one who can make a decisive impact at a position of need. In Labaron Philon Jr., a sophomore guard from Alabama, the Sixers saw a talent so obvious that they didn’t feel like there was a choice to make.

    “He’s someone that fell into our lap, so to speak,” Gansey said.

    The Sixers ‘couldn’t pass up’ Labaron Philon Jr. after he ‘fell in our lap’ at No. 22 overall in NBA draft

    Of course, the real test is whether they are right. Not just about Philon, a dynamic ballhandler and shooter who averaged 22 points per game last season and who some mock drafts had going in the top 15. Gansey and his front office must also be correct in their evaluations of the players they could have drafted instead of Philon. Zuby Ejiofor, Chris Cenac Jr., Joshua Jefferson, to name a few. Each of those three possesses the size that Philon lacks and that a roster like the Sixers’ will eventually need on the wing alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Each went off the board in the six picks after Philon. Two of them went to Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls (Ejiofor to the Hawks at No. 23, Cenac to the Celtics at No. 27). History will be written by the teams that got it right.

    All you need to know about how the Sixers feel about Philon can be derived by the fact that they saw fit to draft him despite the overlap in skill sets with Maxey and Edgecombe and also the player they traded away for the pick they used to draft the Alabama guard. When Daryl Morey dealt Jared McCain to the Thunder with ownership’s approval, the thought was that the 2024 first-round pick’s long-term utility would be capped by his inability to play alongside two other smallish guards. He and Philon are hardly carbon copies of each other. Philon is a little longer in terms of standing reach and wingspan, and he is a quicker, more dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. But they both exist in the same general bucket, with the same limitations with regard to Maxey and Edgecombe.

    Sixers first-rounder Labaron Philon Jr. averaged 22 points in his final season at Alabama.Kyle Phillips

    Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of Tuesday’s first round, Gansey and Sixers coach Nick Nurse both spent a lot of time talking about how similar Philon is to Maxey and Edgecombe.

    “He’s another fast, kind of exciting guy that kind of plays a lot like Tyrese and VJ,” Nurse said. “It’s another guy with the speed, athleticism, quickness, deep range, some creativity with the ball. He’s a pretty good pick-and-roll player already, probably more advanced than a lot of guys coming out. I think he sees all the pieces of the pick-and-roll.”

    Nurse and Gansey both hemmed and hawed when asked whether they envisioned using all three of their young guards on the court at the same time.

    “I don’t see a lot of minutes, but maybe in certain situations we can,” Gansey said, while also deferring to Nurse.

    Nurse sounded equally skeptical.

    First-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. brings ball-handling, shooting ability, and playmaking to the Sixers

    “I think it’s a little early to answer that,” he said.

    Both downplayed the significance of the question. Games are more than long enough to accommodate three guards playing starter minutes at staggered intervals. Maxey and Edgecombe both finished among the league leaders in playing time last season, perhaps counterproductively so. In a world where each averages 32 minutes per game, that would leave another 32 where one or the other is on the bench.

    “My mindset is he’s talented,” Nurse said of Philon. “Let’s figure out how we’re going to get him on the floor.”

    Nick Nurse and Mike Gansey saw a lot of similarities between new Sixer Labaron Philon Jr. (right) and VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.Rogelio V. Solis

    The Sixers will have a good problem on their hands if Philon ends up good enough to warrant more minutes than are available. It will mean the minutes he does play are valuable. The Knicks won an NBA championship with Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, and Jose Alvarado. The Spurs had Dylan Harper playing starter minutes off the bench behind De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. The Thunder had a slew of guards contribute, including the smallish McCain and Cason Wallace.

    “You look at our roster, we need help at every position, one through five,” Gansey said. “Obviously, we have the big four, and I think he fits. He’s another guard so now we can kind of focus in other areas on the roster.”

    However Philon turns out, the pick does offer us a little more evidence on what to expect out of Gansey and this Sixers roster. They didn’t use the No. 22 pick to select a player who might someday help alleviate the roster’s clearest current need (size on the wing). They didn’t trade it for a veteran who might’ve made them better in the short term. They didn’t use it to entice a team to take on Paul George’s contract. They did what a team in their position should be doing. They had an opportunity to draft a player they think will someday belong in a championship-caliber rotation, and they availed themselves of that opportunity. That is how it is going to need to be done: piece by piece.

  • The Sixers ‘couldn’t pass up’ Labaron Philon Jr. after he ‘fell in our lap’ at No. 22 overall in NBA draft

    The Sixers ‘couldn’t pass up’ Labaron Philon Jr. after he ‘fell in our lap’ at No. 22 overall in NBA draft

    Mike Gansey made his first move as 76ers‘ president of basketball operations on Tuesday, selecting Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr., with the No. 22 overall pick.

    After his official introduction on June 11 as the team’s new leader, the draft was the first item on the docket. In his opening press conference, Gansey said explicitly that he viewed the 22nd overall pick as one of the critical tools to improve next year’s roster. He liked the range of players expected to be available for the Sixers at 22, but as the Alabama guard dropped down the board, he became the obvious choice.

    “He was the highest guy on our board at 22,” Gansey said. “We had him higher than that. You look at our roster, we need help in every position, one through five. Obviously we have the big four, but we need guys outside of it. I think he fits. He’s another guard, so now we focus in other areas on the roster, but he’s someone that just fell in our lap.”

    First-round pick Labaron Philon brings ball-handling, shooting ability, and playmaking to the Sixers

    The guard played two seasons at Alabama, averaging 22 points, 5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in his sophomore season.

    Nick Nurse said he sees Philon as a player who “can play right away,” and the Sixers needed to add depth at every position. Tyrese Maxey averaged the most minutes per game in the NBA last season. VJ Edgecombe was 11th. Gansey said he doesn’t necessarily see Philon playing alongside those two in a three-guard lineup, but expects him to give both of those players more rest next season, and to get Maxey working off the ball more.

    Sixers head coach Nick Nurse needed more guard depth last season as Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe played big minures.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Philon was also the right culture fit with his competitiveness and hunger, Gansey said. He emphasized that he’s looking for “fountains, not drains.” and wants players who want to be in Philadelphia and will help build a team culture that’s been missing the last few seasons.

    “His mentality, I think fits the way I want guys, and especially with Coach Nurse,” Gansey said. “Nick wants guys who play the right way, play with some edge and toughness.”

    No. 22 overall was the only pick the Sixers owned heading into draft night, but it might not be the only selection the Sixers make in this year’s draft. Gansey said the team will “be aggressive” in attempting to trade back up into the second round if a player they like is available.

    The Sixers may have snagged a draft sleeper in Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22

    If the Sixers bypass the second round, free agency will be the team’s next big opportunity to improve the roster ahead of opening night.

    Picking Philon doesn’t necessarily mean that pending free agent Quentin Grimes is out the door, Gansey said, adding that the front office was engaged with both Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. as free agency approaches. But it does open up the opportunity for the Sixers to let Grimes walk and use that money to upgrade at other positions, if they so choose.

    “It just takes a little pressure off Tyrese and VJ, when you have another ballhandler,” Gansey said. “We’re going to have to get another ball handler too. We can’t rely on a rookie point guard, but I just think he’s just too talented, too young, that where he was at the draft, we couldn’t pass up.”