The Sixers have spent the summer building a roster that looks ready-made for a title run, but they’re hardly alone in loading up for 2026-27.
In his first offseason as president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey made the kind of swing that changes the whole feel of a team. Philadelphia sent Paul George and four draft picks to Boston and brought back Jaylen Brown, a five-time All-Star and the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
That move, in turn, helped set up the next domino: LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, decided he wanted to end his legendary career in Philadelphia. The result is a starting five that also includes Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid.
But the Sixers’ new-look lineup is landing in an Eastern Conference that has also been stockpiling talent.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is now with the Miami Heat. The Washington Wizards are expected to have both Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
Kawhi Leonard is likely headed back to the Toronto Raptors. The Indiana Pacers are getting Tyrese Haliburton back.
And Boston, after moving Brown for George, still managed to land Mitchell Robinson from the New York Knicks while keeping the rest of its title-winning core together.
That’s what makes 2026-27 look so brutal on paper. The East could be better than it has ever been, with a long list of teams believing they have a real path to the NBA Finals and at least 11 clubs expecting to make the playoffs.
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Kevin Durant is already seeing the appeal of the Sixers latest swing, and he is not shy about where he thinks it can lead. In weighing in on LeBron James joining Philadelphia, Durant called the setup a juggernaut, pointing to the mix of star power, experience and leadership as the kind of foundation that can change a teams outlook quickly.
From Durants perspective, the details matter almost as much as the name on the jersey. He noted that LeBron taking a minimum contract gives the Sixers a rare blend of talent and flexibility, while also giving them the benefit of a championship-winning coach and front office behind it. For Philadelphia, the bigger question now is whether all of those pieces can actually turn promise into the kind of season Durant believes is there to be had. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Fans Have One Big Reason To Still Worry About Boston
The Celtics did not exactly stand still this offseason, even after losing Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in the deal for Paul George. Boston also added Mitchell Robinson to deepen its center rotation, a move that gives the reigning Eastern Conference power a different kind of frontcourt look as it tries to keep pace at the top of the bracket. For the Sixers, the headline move is obvious, but the bigger takeaway may be how Boston has tried to rework its roster around Jayson Tatum without taking a full step back.
The problem for Philadelphia is that Browns scoring volume is not easy to replace, and the Celtics are betting they can spread that responsibility around while leaning on Georges two-way impact. If that works, Boston could still be a major problem for the Sixers in the East, especially if the new rotation finds its footing quickly. Even after the trade, there is enough talent in place to make Philadelphia wonder whether the path past Boston really got any easier. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Sees One Big Question In LeBron's Sixers Fit
LeBron James arrival on a veteran minimum deal instantly changes the conversation around the 76ers, because Philadelphia now has another marquee name alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. Kevin Durant was among those taking a close look at the move, praising LeBrons mindset and his willingness to fit into different roles, the kind of flexibility that can make a loaded roster work instead of just looking good on paper.
Durant went a step further by comparing the Sixers depth to the championship Golden State teams he played on in 2017 and 2018, a reminder that star power alone is not always the hardest part to manage. For Philadelphia, the big question is less about whether the talent is there and more about how all those high-scoring pieces are going to mesh once the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]