The 76ers aren’t expected to make much noise right away, but that doesn’t mean the front office will sit still forever. For now, Philadelphia is boxed in by its roster and its finances, with an open spot available but no real room to add anyone unless another player is moved out.
That changes in December, when the Sixers should have a clearer read on what they need and enough flexibility to chase a buyout option for that last spot. A trade or two could also come into play.
That’s where a name like Thomas Bryant starts to make sense.
The Cavaliers aren’t in teardown mode, and after dealing Dennis Schroder last week, they still have a few movable pieces left. If Philadelphia calls, Mike Gansey’s old team isn’t likely to demand a headline-grabbing return. Bryant fits the kind of low-cost, low-risk swing that could help a team trying to patch up its frontcourt without making a splash.
And the need is real. Joel Embiid is still a force, but the bigger issue is availability. He hasn’t reached 40 appearances in three seasons, which leaves the Sixers needing a backup who can start often and still hold up in a playoff setting.
Right now, Philadelphia’s depth chart at center leans on Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti. Bona, 23, is entering his third season and has averaged 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 129 games over the last two years.
There’s something there, but the next leap probably needs to come in 2026-2027. Hukporti, who came into the league at the same time as Bona, has logged 79 games with averages of 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks.
During the Knicks’ playoff run, he played 7.6 minutes per game over 10 contests.
Bryant brings a different kind of profile. He’s been around the league since 2017, with nearly 400 games and 147 starts on his resume.
He’s also been part of four playoff runs, including the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 championship season. He wasn’t a major piece of that team, but he was in the room for the run.
His career numbers show a useful, steady big: 8.5 points per game, 57.3% shooting from the field, 34.8% from three, 4.9 rebounds, and almost one block per game. In his most recent stint with Cleveland, he put up 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 50.6% overall and 35.9% from deep. He also had a 41-game stretch with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022-2023, when LeBron James was there, and averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds.
The financial fit is part of the appeal, too. Philadelphia doesn’t have many tradable contracts, but Bryant’s expiring $2.4 million deal keeps the price manageable. If the Cavs were interested in a young piece like Justin Edwards or Jabari Walker, those are the kinds of contracts the Sixers could use to make the money work one-for-one.
No frontcourt trade target has been tied to Philadelphia yet, but Bryant is the sort of player worth watching as the season unfolds and the weaknesses on the roster become harder to ignore.
In Other News...
Paul Georges Boston Fit Could Be Bad News For The Sixers
Paul Georges fit in Boston is an uncomfortable thought for the 76ers, even after a Philadelphia run that already gave a glimpse of how valuable he can still be in the right setting. His postseason role showed the kind of versatility and shot-making that can swing a series, and the attraction for the Celtics is obvious: a seasoned wing who can score, defend and slide into almost any lineup without needing the offense built entirely around him.
Under Joe Mazzulla, that profile could become even more dangerous in a system already stocked with skilled options and enough spacing to let George work without much friction. The 76ers know the burden he carried in Philadelphia, but Boston would offer a different kind of support and a deeper cast around him, which is exactly why the idea of him landing there has so much bite for a division rival still measuring what it would mean to see his best traits amplified elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Made A Quiet Front Office Move That Could Matter A Lot
The 76ers have added a familiar kind of behind-the-scenes voice to a front office that is trying to keep its identity intact after the departure of Daryl Morey. Philadelphia hired Tommy Balcetis as head of basketball intelligence, analytics and innovation, giving the organization another experienced hand in a role built around information, process and decision-making.
Balcetis arrives after 12 years in the Nuggets organization, where he worked his way up to assistant general manager and was part of Denvers 2023 title run. For the 76ers, the move signals a clear desire to keep an analytics-driven backbone in place while reshaping the front office around it, and it should be one of the more interesting subplots to watch as the team moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Rajon Rondo Just Added Fuel To The 76ers Title Hype
Rajon Rondo has spent enough time around championship teams to recognize when a roster starts to look different, and his recent comments only add to the buzz surrounding Philadelphias revamped lineup. After a busy offseason that brought in Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, the 76ers suddenly have the kind of top-end talent that changes the conversation from improvement to expectation.
Rondo pointed to LeBrons leadership as a major reason the group can rise quickly, and his early confidence fits the mood around a team that now looks built to contend. The real test, of course, comes when the season opens Oct. 20 against the Knicks, but for now the 76ers have plenty of outside voices helping build the title hype before a game has even been played. [Read more 🡒]