The 76ers have a roster problem that doesn’t look like much of a problem at all. They’re nearly full, but the financial squeeze around the first apron hard cap leaves them with only about $1.8 million of room, which effectively blocks them from adding anyone now, even on a veteran’s minimum deal.
That limitation could end up working in their favor.
Philadelphia can open its 15th standard roster spot with a prorated minimum contract starting in early December, but there’s a strong case for holding off. Signing someone then might be a wasted move if better options are still to come later, when the buyout market starts to take shape.
That market usually heats up after the trade deadline, when veterans and their teams work out buyouts, especially with clubs that have already fallen out of playoff contention. And with both the East and the West expected to be better heading into the upcoming season, there should be more average-to-good teams that drift out of the race earlier than expected.
That opens the door for useful names to hit the market - maybe even role players, maybe even starters - and that’s where a team like the 76ers can pounce. For a group with serious postseason goals, that kind of midseason shopping window can be a real advantage.
By then, Philadelphia should also have a much sharper read on what the roster still needs before the playoff push. That makes patience even more attractive. Instead of rushing to fill the final spot as soon as the calendar allows, the 76ers can wait, survey the market, and aim higher.
There’s plenty of precedent for this approach paying off. Some of the best buyout additions have become meaningful pieces for teams that went on to win it all. Philadelphia is in a strong position now, so the smart play may be to sit tight, let the market develop, and then target a player who wouldn’t have been realistic if they moved too early.
In Other News...
Former Knicks Bench Piece Just Landed Another Chance To Stick
The 76ers have added another name to their preseason mix, signing Dillon Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract as they continue filling out the roster before training camp. It is a familiar kind of move for this time of year, when teams bring in players on low-risk deals and let the competition sort itself out once practices begin.
Jones arrives with a resume that includes stops with the Knicks and Thunder, plus back-to-back NBA championship rings despite limited court time along the way. Philadelphia has stacked several Exhibit 10 signings in the same stretch, giving the staff a fuller look at fringe options while leaving Jones with a fresh chance to prove he belongs in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
How The 76ers Managed To Pry Jaylen Brown From Boston
The 76ers spent weeks working to get Jaylen Brown out of Boston, and the path to that deal wound through a complicated negotiation with a rival that was first trying to chase a different superstar. Philadelphia ultimately landed Brown in a trade package that included Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, a price that says plenty about how aggressively the front office viewed the opportunity.
Mike Gansey described the process as persistent and drawn out, with the 76ers staying on the Celtics even as the shape of the talks kept changing. For Philadelphia, the payoff is obvious: Brown arrives as a major piece who can help reshape the roster and push the team toward another title run, while Boston is left to absorb the loss of a player who had become central to its identity. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Were Closer To LeBron Than Fans Realized
LeBron James is headed to Philadelphia on a two-year contract, according to reports, but the path to that decision appears to have been shaped by more than just the Sixers pitch. His move was tied to basketball fit and championship outlook, and those factors put the franchise in a better position once it landed Jaylen Brown in a trade that changed the equation.
Minnesota, meanwhile, may have been closer to landing James than many fans realized. The suggestion is that he could have ended up with the Timberwolves if Philadelphia had not made that Brown trade, a reminder of how quickly one roster move can ripple through the league. The Wolves were already busy on another front after Charlotte sent LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in a separate deal involving draft picks, giving the team a very different look as the offseason reshaped itself. [Read more 🡒]