The Sixers still don’t have a clear answer on when Dominick Barlow will be back, and that uncertainty lingers as the preseason winds down. Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters on Tuesday, via Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports, that there’s no timeline yet for Barlow’s return. The power forward, who could factor into backup center minutes once he’s healthy, has been dealing with back soreness that has kept him out for most of training camp and all of the preseason so far.
Barlow stayed out of practice on Tuesday, but there was a little more movement elsewhere on the injury front. Anfernee Simons, who is working through a hamstring issue, and Adem Bona, who is dealing with a foot injury, were both partial participants, according to Bodner.
Philadelphia has one preseason game left, Friday against Boston, and Nurse said there’s “some hope” that Simons and/or Bona will be available. It does not sound as if Barlow will be ready for that one.
While the Sixers wait on bodies to get healthy, one of their veterans is already thinking about the bigger picture. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said on Monday that talent alone won’t decide how far this group goes.
Speaking to Kris Rhim of ESPN, he pointed to the challenge of turning all that ability into a functional unit. “Our chemistry is gonna be the biggest part for us,” Caldwell-Pope said.
“Us liking each other, being able to be around each other and have fun on and off the court. … We have so much talent from one through 12, or 15, however many guys we’ve got, and it’s talent everywhere.
I think our biggest thing is just communicating with each other, learning each other’s tendencies, and just trying to implement that on and off the court.”
The front office also made a move off the court by filling a key role in the organization’s development pipeline. The Sixers hired Brad Jones as general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, their G League affiliate, the team announced in a press release.
Marc Stein first reported the hire. Jones spent the last eight years in the NBA G League office and also has prior experience in scouting and video work with the Magic.
Sixers general manager Jameer Nelson had a hand in choosing him for the job, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Rhim. Nelson, of course, overlapped with Jones in Orlando during his playing days there.
The Blue Coats also brought in another familiar name, naming CJ Marchesani as assistant GM. Marchesani had spent the past four seasons in the Sixers’ scouting department.
And in a separate feature for The Ringer, Yaron Weitzman profiled Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, calling him a veteran executive whom “everybody likes” and crediting him as the key force behind an offseason that landed Jaylen Brown and LeBron James.
In Other News...
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 🡒]