The Philadelphia 76ers are not in position to make a quick fix at backup center, even as they sort through their opening-night roster. For now, financial limitations are keeping them from adding another big man to the 15th spot, which means any move of that kind is more likely to wait until December at the earliest.
That leaves the Sixers leaning on a recovering Adem Bona in the short term, with the possibility of filling out the center rotation with a player on a two-way contract. But just because the roster is tight now doesn’t mean the team isn’t already circling names for later.
On the eve of the preseason finale, Philadelphia was linked to two centers who could fit down the line: Jericho Sims and Moussa Cisse. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that Simmons is a name to monitor, though he’s also drawing trade buzz with the Los Angeles Lakers. Fischer noted that the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks could end up working out a deal that includes a swap of Sims and Dalton Knecht, though nothing is certain yet.
Cisse is the other name to keep tucked away. The Dallas Mavericks big man was described as a "file away" candidate for Philly, with his status tied to what Dallas decides to do with its final roster spot. Fischer said his availability should become clearer sooner rather than later.
That kind of target makes sense for a roster thin on size behind the top options. Bona remains a serviceable answer, but he’s still in the middle of his development and will need to show real growth in year three. Ariel Hukporti was supposed to help absorb some of that load, but a season-ending injury took him out of the picture.
The Sixers can survive by going smaller in some lineups, using guys like LeBron James, Dean Wade, and possibly a combination of Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow. Even so, that approach may not hold up over the long haul. James and Wade need to stay in position, which is where a player like Cisse becomes appealing.
Cisse brings the kind of profile that stands out in a shallow center room: real size, athleticism, shot-blocking, and a reputation as an elite offensive rebounder in limited minutes. Last season, he played 38 games for the Mavericks and averaged 13.9 minutes, 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Dallas is paying Cisse $2.1 million for the 2026-2027 NBA season, and he is on a non-guaranteed salary for next season worth $2.5 million. If Philadelphia doesn’t make any changes at the five before then, December 15 is the date to watch.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Addressed A Frontcourt Concern With Opening Night Near
With opening night drawing closer, the 76ers made a quiet but practical move to shore up their frontcourt depth by converting Tacko Falls Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way deal. The 7-foot-6 center gives Philadelphia another big body to work with as the roster takes shape, and the move fills the teams open two-way slot while keeping a player with previous NBA experience in the mix.
Fall has not been able to get on the floor in the preseason because of a strained hip, but his presence has still been viewed as a positive inside the locker room. Under the new deal, he can be active for up to 50 regular-season games and will earn a salary of $678,882, leaving the Sixers with one less open question as they finalize the edges of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Preseason Finale May Have Clarified Two Key Opening Night Roles
Joel Embiids final tune-up before the regular season looked a lot more like the version the Sixers need. In Philadelphias 125-120 overtime loss to Boston to close the preseason, Embiid finished with 27 points and chipped in across the board, giving the team a much cleaner glimpse of how the offense can function when he is moving with rhythm and purpose. The Sixers wrapped exhibition play at 1-3, but the bigger takeaway may have been how the rotation started to take shape around him.
One of the steadier constants was LeBron James, who led the team in assists in both preseason games, a sign the Sixers may have found a reliable connector for the regular season. Jabari Walker also helped his case with a strong showing in the finale, and his play looked good enough to lock in a spot in the opening rotation. Between Embiids sharper finish and Walkers push, the preseason finale may have answered a couple of the most important early questions for Philadelphia, even if the broader picture is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Turn To Tacko Fall As Center Depth Becomes A Real Concern
With the Sixers already dealing with a thin frontcourt, they are turning to Tacko Fall on a two-way contract as a way to add another true big man to the mix. Fall was unable to take part in the preseason because of a hip injury, but Philadelphias need at center has only grown with the injuries piling up around the position.
Fall brings NBA experience from his time with the Celtics and Cavaliers, along with work in the G League and Summer League, giving the Sixers another familiar center option to evaluate. For a team trying to patch together its depth chart, the move gives them a look at a player whose size alone changes the conversation, even if the bigger question is how soon he can actually get on the floor. [Read more 🡒]