The Philadelphia 76ers have been quiet on the trade front so far this season, but their latest move might be a sign that silence won’t last much longer. The team just brought back Charles Bassey on a new deal, a reunion that on the surface looks like a simple roster filler - but dig a little deeper, and it starts to look like a strategic signal from the front office with the February 5 trade deadline looming.
At first glance, signing Bassey might seem like a move to shore up the 15-man roster and buy some time for two-way players Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker, who’ve both carved out meaningful minutes in the rotation. But this isn’t just about filling a seat on the bench. Adding another big man - especially one familiar with the system - could be the precursor to a shake-up in the frontcourt.
Here’s why: the Sixers didn’t have to go after another center. They could’ve used that spot to address depth elsewhere. Instead, they doubled down on size, which suggests that the team might be preparing to streamline the big man rotation - potentially moving on from one of their current backups before the deadline.
Right now, Barlow and rookie Adem Bona are handling the bulk of the backup center duties when healthy. Andre Drummond, while not part of the regular rotation, has stepped in as a spot starter when Joel Embiid rests.
But those non-Embiid minutes? They’ve been rough.
The offense stagnates, the defense takes a hit, and the drop-off is glaring. That's been a consistent issue - and Bassey’s arrival might be the first domino in addressing it.
If Bassey sticks around beyond his initial 10-day deal, it could signal that the Sixers are ready to move on from either Bona or Drummond. It’s hard to justify carrying three bench bigs who all bring similar skill sets, especially when none have definitively locked down the role behind Embiid. That redundancy could become a trade chip.
There’s no shortage of potential targets on the market, though the price tag for a true difference-maker at backup center might be steep. Still, with championship aspirations and Embiid’s health always a consideration, the Sixers can’t afford to roll the dice on inconsistency behind their MVP. They need a more reliable option to anchor the paint when Embiid sits - someone who can hold the line defensively and keep the offense afloat.
Whether Bassey becomes that guy or simply serves as a bridge to a bigger move, his signing is more than just a roster footnote. It’s a message: the Sixers know their margin for error is slim, and they’re not content with the status quo in the frontcourt. With the trade deadline approaching, don’t be surprised if this is just the first move in a larger plan to shore up one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses.