The Philadelphia Sixers are still sitting on one of the more obvious needs in the league, and it doesn’t disappear just because LeBron James is in the mix.
Yes, Philadelphia is one of the teams waiting to see whether James chooses them in free agency. The Sixers currently have one open roster spot that would go to the 41-year-old, and if he does land in Philly, they’d still need to clear room for another addition. One possible way to do that would be waiving Dalen Terry, whose contract isn’t fully guaranteed.
But the bigger issue is right in front of them: the Sixers need another frontcourt body behind Joel Embiid.
They already lost Andre Drummond to New York in free agency, though they did keep Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow and added former Knicks third-string center Ariel Hukporti. That gives them some coverage, but not nearly enough for a team leaning on Embiid, who has averaged just 32 games per season over the past three years.
That shortage matters even more now that Philadelphia is in a stronger position to chase a title with Jaylen Brown.
At this stage of the offseason, the market isn’t exactly overflowing with clean fits. Nick Richards stands out as the most straightforward option. He remains an unrestricted free agent after spending the second half of last season with the Bulls, where he posted 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 22.4 minutes over 20 games.
Another name to watch is Jonas Valančiūnas. The Nuggets waived him on Wednesday to open up eight million in salary, and he brings a more established track record than most of the remaining options. Last season, he averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 13.4 minutes across 65 games as Nikola Jokić’s backup.
Valančiūnas may still decide to leave the NBA and return to Europe, since he’s already committed to a EuroLeague team. Nothing has been finalized, though, which leaves the door open for Philadelphia if it wants to make a move.
And that’s the part the Sixers can’t lose sight of. LeBron chatter is the headline-grabber, but the quieter need is just as real. Embiid’s workload has to be managed during the regular season, and the team needs depth to keep him in the best possible shape for the playoffs.
Philadelphia has already had a strong offseason. Adding LeBron would be the splashy finish. But even if that never happens, the Sixers still have work to do, and it starts with another big.
In Other News...
76ers LeBron Pursuit Just Took A Turn Fans Never Saw Coming
The LeBron James sweepstakes has already taken on an unusual feel, and now Philadelphias side of it has pushed into territory that is hard to compare with a normal free-agency chase. Bob Myers, president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, reportedly used a podcast appearance to make a public case for the 76ers as a landing spot, a move that underscores just how aggressively the team is trying to stay in the conversation.
James is handling the process exclusively through Rich Paul, which only adds to the strangeness of a bidding war that is believed to involve Philadelphia, Cleveland and Miami. For the 76ers, the message is clear: they are willing to be creative, even unprecedented, if it gives them a chance to stand out in a race that has no real blueprint. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Just Changed Everything For The 76ers This Summer
Joel Embiids offseason looks different this year, and for the 76ers that alone changes the tone around everything they are trying to build. Bob Myers, president of the teams ownership group, said Embiid is healthy this summer, a notable shift from recent years when the big man was spending those months rehabbing instead of preparing for the next run. Given how dominant Embiid was when he was on the floor last season, even with some missed games, Philadelphia has every reason to treat this as a major development.
The bigger picture is just as important. The Sixers have already made several roster moves and are trying to position themselves as title contenders for the 2026-27 campaign, but that plan only really works if Embiid gets a full offseason to work on his game and build toward the fall. For a team that has spent so much time managing uncertainty, a healthy summer for its centerpiece is the kind of change that can reshape expectations before training camp even opens. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Just Got The Chance 76ers Fans Have Waited For
The 76ers finally made the kind of swing that changes the conversation around Joel Embiid, landing Finals MVP Jaylen Brown in a move that instantly jolted the franchises outlook. For a team that has spent years trying to build a true title-level core around Embiid, Browns arrival gives Philadelphia a new kind of perimeter force and a much cleaner path into the top tier of the East.
Embiid has not spoken publicly about the trade, but the buzz around the team is that he is enthusiastic about the addition and already looking ahead to the coming season. Health will still shape how far this group can go, and the front office may not be done yet, with the possibility of another major move hanging over the roster as the 76ers try to turn a big summer into something even bigger. [Read more 🡒]