The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into their 2026-2027 training camp with the loudest roster noise already settled. The team announced its official camp group ahead of Media Day, and work gets underway in Camden, New Jersey, with a group that looks a lot more defined than it has in past seasons.
That’s because the offseason changed everything. Philadelphia landed Jaylen Brown in a deal with the Boston Celtics and then brought in LeBron James on a minimum contract.
With those moves in place, the starting five - and even the main rotation - don’t really feel up for grabs. The real intrigue lives further down the roster.
The biggest battle is the one in the middle. Backup center has been a constant issue for the Sixers, mostly because Joel Embiid usually misses enough time to make that spot matter. Philadelphia needs someone who can absorb those minutes when he’s out, and this camp opens with the job wide open.
The Sixers dealt away sophomore Johni Broome, which leaves Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti in the mix. Bona is already a known quantity to the organization, for better and worse, but he won’t be able to jump into the fight immediately.
He’s set to be re-evaluated at the start of camp, and the expectation is that he’ll miss time early on. That gives Hukporti, the former New York Knicks center, a real chance to make an impression on Nick Nurse and the staff without Bona taking away any of the spotlight.
There’s also one final two-way spot to sort out. This time, the Sixers didn’t rush to fill all three immediately. Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love already have those deals, while the third slot remains open.
That means a small group of camp invitees gets a real shot to play their way into the organization. Jameer Nelson Jr., Duke Miles, Saint Thomas, Dillon Jones, and Tacko Fall are all in the mix over the next few weeks, all trying to earn that last two-way opening and split time with the Delaware Blue Coats. Fall may have the clearest path, at least on paper, because the Sixers are so light at center.
Then there’s the stay-ready spot, where the stakes are different but still very real. Brown is locked in as the starter at small forward, and behind him there are veterans who can soak up those minutes.
LeBron James can slide over with the second unit, or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can handle that role. Either way, those minutes are spoken for.
That leaves Justin Edwards and Jabari Walker Jr. fighting for relevance. Edwards has logged plenty of minutes over the last two seasons, but he’s not locked into the rotation. Walker’s situation is even more fragile, since he’s carrying no guarantee beyond $250K this season and could be cut before January 10 without Philadelphia owing him the full $2.5 million.
For both players, camp is a chance to prove they can be useful when the Sixers need an extra body and a few competent minutes off the bench. Not everyone deep on the roster gets that opportunity. These next few weeks will decide whether Edwards or Walker can force their way into the conversation.
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For the Sixers, the timing matters almost as much as the name on the contract. New Yorks title run ended a 53-year drought and gave the franchise a new layer of momentum, but James decision keeps Philadelphia right in the center of the leagues most watchable Eastern Conference arms race. His mention of Maxey as a key factor only adds to the intrigue, because it suggests the Sixers next chapter is being shaped not just by established stars, but by the guard who may have helped convince one of the games biggest names to change course. [Read more 🡒]