The 76ers are heading into the regular season with an obvious problem to solve behind Joel Embiid, and they may have to patch it together with players who don’t fit the traditional center mold.
Adem Bona is still in the mix for steady minutes once he’s healthy again, but Philadelphia’s options get thinner from there. Ariel Hukporti is no longer part of the picture for the 2026-2027 NBA season, which leaves the Sixers looking at some less conventional answers at the five.
Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow are both in the conversation. Because they’re likely to be squeezed behind the team’s deeper group of forwards, the opening at center could be the path that gets them on the floor in support of Bona and Embiid.
Nick Nurse also made it clear that Dean Wade belongs in that discussion.
The 76ers head coach called Wade a “candidate” and pointed to his “pretty good size” when talking about the depth chart behind Embiid and Bona. Wade didn’t sound surprised by the idea when he spoke after Monday’s practice. For him, that kind of assignment is familiar territory.
The veteran has already logged time as a small-ball center during his stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he said that experience taught him plenty. On defense, he said being able to see the action unfold helped him become a better communicator.
On the other end, he pointed to speed, screen-setting and spacing as things he can offer when he’s asked to play a little out of position. The one downside, in his words, is “a lot more wrestling.”
At 6'9" and 228 pounds, Wade isn’t built to bang with every center in the league, but he does bring seven seasons and nearly 350 games of experience with him. His career numbers tell the story of a reliable role player: 5.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, along with 36.7% shooting from three on 3.2 attempts a night.
Wade has never been the kind of player who fills up a box score. He’s the type who knows how to do the small things, handle the dirty work and slide into whatever role the team needs. If Nurse wants him as a backup big, he’s ready for it.
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LeBron Is Already Changing Something Big Inside The Sixers
LeBron James has already started leaving a mark inside the 76ers locker room, and for Jabari Walker, the biggest surprise has been how quickly that presence has translated into everyday leadership. After Philadelphias 2026 offseason additions, Walker described James as more than just another big name in the room, pointing to the way he carries himself and the respect he draws from teammates.
Walkers takeaway was simple: James has a different kind of influence. He has played alongside elite stars before, but this one stands out for the way it changes the tone around the team and gives Philadelphia a new voice as it tries to build something meaningful. The full effect of that dynamic is still unfolding, but it is already hard to miss inside the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Labaron Philon Jr. Is Giving The Sixers A Reason To Believe
Labaron Philon Jr. has spent the preseason doing exactly what a young guard is supposed to do when a team is looking for answers: make the ball move, keep the offense organized and show he belongs. The rookie has flashed real playmaking upside, and his recent work included a strong outing with 14 points and 7 assists in 25 minutes, the kind of line that catches attention even in October. For Philadelphia, that matters because the backcourt has been searching for someone who can help steady the second unit and ease some of the creation load that falls so heavily on Tyrese Maxey.
Philons path to minutes was never supposed to be this direct, but the Sixers do not have many natural floor generals on the roster, and that reality can accelerate a players timeline fast. Drafted 22nd overall, he is already making a case that his feel for the game can translate sooner than expected, giving the coaching staff something it badly needs: a reserve option who can bring a little tactical stability when the starters sit. The bigger question now is whether that preseason promise holds once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Frontcourt Battle Just Got Murkier Before The Season Opens
The Sixers preseason frontcourt picture has become a little harder to read with Dominick Barlow still sidelined by back soreness and short on chances to build momentum before the games start to matter. He has been limited throughout camp and has yet to appear in a preseason game, which leaves him racing the clock as the exhibition schedule winds down and the regular season approaches.
Barlow is not the only big man whose availability has been in flux, either, which only adds to the uncertainty around Philadelphias depth in the paint. Adem Bona is still working through a foot injury, while Ariel Hukporti has already been hit by an Achilles injury, leaving the Sixers with more questions than answers as they try to sort out the frontcourt rotation. [Read more 🡒]