The 76ers put together a strong offseason, but that doesn’t mean they walked out of free agency with everything they needed. Even after a summer that stood above the rest of the league, there were still a few names on the board who could have helped Philly in ways it still may feel later in the season.
The biggest miss may have been Jonas Valanciunas. Philadelphia entered the summer still sorting out its backup center situation, and that issue remains unresolved.
Valanciunas was available, yet the 76ers passed, and he eventually went back to Europe to keep his career going. For a team that could have used a veteran big, the fit was obvious: he still brings scoring touch inside and real muscle on the glass.
Kyle Anderson was another player who could have fit neatly into the rotation. The veteran forward landed with the Raptors on a veteran’s minimum deal, and that made him especially interesting for a 76ers team that still needs more help at forward.
Anderson isn’t built on flash, but his basketball IQ and versatility make him useful on both ends. He sees the floor quickly, doesn’t need touches to matter, and would have given Nick Nurse a steady plug-and-play option.
Then there’s Matisse Thybulle, a name that would have made sense if Philadelphia wanted to address one of its clearest issues: perimeter defense. The 76ers were never even linked to a reunion with the two-time All-Defensive Team member, who signed a new contract with the Lakers.
Thybulle’s availability has been a concern, but his defensive value still speaks for itself. His on-ball defense and defensive playmaking remain elite by most standards, and his improved three-point shooting only adds to the appeal.
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Detroit has been mentioned as a possible trade partner in that search, with the conversation centered on whether Philadelphia can find a cleaner balance of size and spacing without shaking up the roster too much. Any move would still have to work on the salary side, and the more realistic paths seem to involve shuffling a younger forward out of the mix rather than making a splashier change. [Read more 🡒]
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Missi is the kind of center who could give the 76ers real size, energy and a more stable option when Embiid sits, which is why his name has surfaced in trade chatter. The complication is obvious: New Orleans has not treated him like a movable piece, and the market around him suggests the Pelicans still see him as part of their core rather than a player to cash out quickly. [Read more 🡒]