RSS 76ers Team Notes

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Report: Sixers ‘looking to potentially move’ Andre Drummond or Kelly Oubre Jr.

We’re now roughly two weeks away from Sixers media day, and Quentin Grimes is still floating around in restricted free agency. NBA insider Jake Fischer recently suggested during a Bleacher Report livestream that there’s a chance Grimes will take his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer—which he has until Oct. 1 to accept—since he doesn’t see the Sixers “balking at Grimes’ asking price.”

That wasn’t the only Sixers-related news that Fischer shared, though. He added that “there has been buzz all summer long about the Sixers looking to potentially move one of, if not both, Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre.”

Hilariously, the Brooklyn Nets might be a potential landing spot for Drummond (again!).

Andre Drummond is one possibility for a salary dump, two sources tell us. Losing his $5M expiring would help 76ers get some relief under CBA. What might Nets want? Don’t know but how about a reduction in protections on that 2028 first, now protected 1-8? Nets have 19 seconds!

— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) September 8, 2025

Meanwhile, Oubre does not seem thrilled about coming up in trade rumors.

Kelly Oubre Jr. with a strong reaction to the trade rumors #Sixers pic.twitter.com/kcPuQo3GmD

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) September 10, 2025

Grimes might be the main reason why the Sixers are exploring those types of trades. They currently have $185.9 million in salary on their books, which leaves them only $10.05 million below the first apron and $21.9 million below the second apron. If they spent their $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception, which would hard-cap them at the second apron, they couldn’t give Grimes a starting salary higher than $16.2 million without dumping salary elsewhere first.

If the Sixers flip either Drummond or Oubre for a less expensive rotation player, that’d be one thing. Salary-dumping them onto the Nets or into another team’s mid-level exception would be another.

A few weeks ago, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse told talkSPORT that he wasn’t sure whether Joel Embiid would be ready for training camp. Meanwhile, Paul George is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee that he underwent in mid-July after he suffered an injury during an offseason workout. At this point, there’s no guarantee that either one of them will be ready by opening night—no matter how many workout videos are dropped.

Drummond was underwhelming last season, although a toe injury didn’t help matters. When the Sixers signed him last summer, part of the theoretical appeal was that he could fill in as a spot starter whenever Embiid needed a night (or 60) off. That didn’t play out as expected last year, although Drummond just turned 32 in August. He’s still young enough to feasibly have a bounce-back year if he can stay healthy.

Unless the Sixers absolutely need the savings from salary-dumping Drummond to re-sign Grimes, I’d lean toward keeping him at the start of the season. (This stance has not made me popular in the Liberty Ballers Slack channel.) Adem Bona and rookie Johni Broome are the Sixers’ only two other traditional big men under contract. Until the Sixers are fairly confident that Embiid has two functioning knees, they’d be taking a massive risk by dumping Drummond and relying on two young, relatively unproven backup bigs behind their star center.

Trendon Watford, Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker can all soak up frontcourt minutes as well, but none of them are traditional centers. The Sixers could also look to backfill Drummond’s roster spot with another veteran center on a minimum contract—Precious Achiuwa, Thomas Bryant and Charles Bassey are among the best available options—but there’s no guarantee any of them would be an upgrade over him. Would the $2.7 million in savings that they generate by swapping him out for another min-deal center be worth the cost of salary-dumping him in the first place? If that’s what gets them over the line with Grimes, sure, but otherwise…

The Sixers presumably aren’t considering an outright salary-dump of Oubre, particularly in the wake of George’s injury. While they’re loaded in the backcourt, Oubre and Justin Edwards are the only other traditional wings on the roster. However, even trading Oubre for a cheaper player would come with a clear opportunity cost as well.

Outside of Embiid, George, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, Oubre and Drummond are the Sixers’ next two highest-paid players at $8.4 million and $5.0 million, respectively. Since the Sixers figure to go over the first apron if they re-sign Grimes, they won’t be allowed to take back more salary in a trade than they send out. So, unless they’re trading one of their Big 3 or Edgecombe, Oubre and Drummond are their two biggest trade chips from a salary perspective. (The Sixers can aggregate contracts as long as they don’t cross the second apron, which they likely won’t do this season under any circumstance.)

If salary-dumping Drummond or trading Oubre for a cheaper player is a precursor to signing Grimes to a long-term deal, the reward might outweigh the risk. But if the Sixers are just looking for ways to trim their luxury-tax bill—as is tradition in recent years—trading Drummond or Oubre could help capsize them before they even get off the ground this year.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Salary Swish and salary-cap information via RealGM.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ummond-kelly-oubre-jr-quentin-grimes-contract

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Ready to get hurt again, Sixers fans? Team posts Embiid, PG workout videos

In true Philadelphia 76ers fashion, the team dropped a bit of a surprise last night on their social media.

Around 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening, the Sixers posted photos and videos of an offseason workout at their practice facility. It’s something they’ve done before to fill their socials between campaigns, but this was a little different than previous posts — this one featured participation from both Joel Embiid and Paul George.

work before the work. @PennMedicine pic.twitter.com/X4bbysC1F4

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 10, 2025

pic.twitter.com/cxjgowl3l4

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 10, 2025

(And in extremely Sixers’ fashion, they dropped it when the city was otherwise distracted by the Philadelphia Phillies beating the New York Mets and Kyle Schwarber hitting his 50th home run of the season.)

This is really the first look we’ve had at either Embiid or George as they continue to recover from injury. Though both clips are relatively short, the one of Embiid may provide a bit more insight than the one of George, who is notably working out his upper body and not on the court. Merely seeing PG there is a positive, of course, but doesn’t provide much insight on the status on his knee that underwent arthroscopic surgery back in July.

The 2023 MVP, however, is a different story. The last murmurs from the franchise were that Embiid might be ready for the team’s upcoming training camp, but that was about it. His status for that camp is still unannounced, but even a small clip of him doing on-court activities and seemingly being able to pivot comfortably is the most encouraging sight a Sixers’ fan has seen in quite awhile regarding the big fella.

Possibly the most important detail to note is that Embiid is participating and moving without a brace, sleeve or tape on his knee — something we have not seen in awhile. Seriously, when was the last time you were able to see both of Embiid’s knees when he was playing?

Now, we all know how misleading summer workout videos can be… I’m looking at you, Ben Simmons. That being said, this is probably the first morsel of positivity the Sixers have been able to celebrate regarding Embiid or George, so we’ll take it for now.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...reseason-nba-joel-embiid-paul-george-injuries

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Editor-in-chief mailbag: Some trade rumors, Go Birds, Go Phils

The Eagles are 2-0 after beating the Chief at Arrowhead Sunday. The Phillies are on the verge of clinching their second straight NL East title. Life is good for Philly sports fans … mostly.

As the Sixers rapidly approach media day and training camp, there are still more questions than answers involving the 2025-26 squad, including the futures of veterans Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond, and the ongoing Quentin Grimes negotiations.

I will do my very best to answer your questions in this here mailbag. So let it rip! (Eagles and Phillies questions are certainly allowed as well!)

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...f-mailbag-some-trade-rumors-go-birds-go-phils

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

How much more can we expect from Adem Bona in his sophomore season?

Backup center has always been a highly discussed and important role for the Sixers. What does the team need in that spot to not completely tank their minutes without Joel Embiid? How do they survive when he inevitably misses time due to injury, as he did for most of last season? How can they improve from the ever rotating (and usually underwhelming) mix of veteran centers they’ve had in the past?

Well, last season, rookie Adem Bona was a breath of fresh air.

His playing time may have been low and infrequent over the first couple of months, but the flashes were there. Then, as his playing time increased from January, Bona started proving he can already be a genuinely viable backup center. One who could already simply be better than his veteran teammate, Andre Drummond.

Bona finished the season averaging 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.4 steals and 1.2 blocks with 70.3 percent shooting and a passable 67 percent free throw rate. And following a quieter start to the year, from the beginning of February to the end the season, Bona averaged 9.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.7 blocks in his 21.6 minutes per game with 70 percent free throw shooting.

If you want one standout number to highlight some of Bona’s defensive talent and impact, he averaged a whopping 3.8 blocks per 100 possessions. That ranked him joint third in the NBA, behind only Walker Kessler (also at 3.8), fellow rookie Donovan Clingan, and Victor Wembanyama.

Entering the NBA, we knew Bona’s incredible athleticism combined with his motor gave him a host of defensive tools. Tons of bounce, a near 7-foot-4 wingspan, strength, speed, fight on the glass, explosive and rangy shot-blocking, and remarkable lateral quickness for a player of his size to shift his feet at the perimeter against smaller players. He had all the Sixers could want to make an impact off the bench at that end of the floor.

It’s this side of the floor where Bona will inevitably always leave the biggest mark, and we saw that ability often in his rookie campaign.

When it comes to improvements the Sixers can hope Bona to make in 2025-26, it centers around his offense. He clearly has a bunch of potential as a high-energy, high-flying finisher, both as a threat to run the floor in transition or burst to the rim with his power and speed as a pick-and-roll threat. He’s already started making more of impact in that way, though, as he developed through last season.

Bona has a great reputation with his coaches and teammates as a hard worker, and that’s translated to some of the simple yet important offensive developments he’s made. Whether it’s getting better at finding space through defenses as a roll man, catching teams off guard in space in the dunker’s spot, using pump fakes more often to get defenders off their feet before he hammers home dunks, or even creating a little for himself with fake dribble hand-offs.

He had a nifty fake DHO and some solid face-up drives in his best game of the year against the Bucks on Apr. 3, when he dropped 28 points on 13-of-15 shooting (plus six boards, two steals and three blocks). Building on that improving touch as a finisher and agility that not all opposing bigs can keep up with could really help Bona take his offensive game up a level.

Defensively, more experience should only help, and continuing to polish his composure and reducing his fouls would be the main benefit. In the early months of his rookie year, Bona’s fouls were frequently high — just as you’d expect for most rookie big men tasked with protecting the rim. But he improved as the year went on, allowing him to play 20 or 30-plus minutes far more often. After racking up 6.3 fouls per 36 minutes from the start of the season until the end of January, he cut his fouls down to 4.2 from February onwards. As a rookie learning on the fly, who was fairly quickly thrown into a larger role, that’s pretty good.

Increased opportunity should continue for Bona, too. Of course, the hope is that Embiid can actually put together a far healthier season. But for the backup spot, Drummond didn’t exactly lock up that role last year. Apart from having his own injury struggles, Drummond had the worst rebounding season of his career, he’s always been a limited finisher, and Bona may simply have more to offer than the 32-year-old. Whether it’s athleticism, blocking, finishing, vertical threat, or defensive versatility to switch, Bona has various advantages over Drummond. Not to mention the benefit of youthful potential (along with his tireless work ethic) to keep getting better.

Add to that the buzz that the Sixers are looking into moving one or both of Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. to open up more money to pay Quentin Grimes, and Bona really could be set to take on an important role next year.

He looks ready to do so, too. If Bona’s defensive IQ and reduced fouling continues trending in the right direction, and can be combined with any offensive growth, he’s going to be quite the valuable role player.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...urkey-andre-drummond-trade-rumors-joel-embiid

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Editor-in-chief mailbag: Grimes’ situation lingers, Bona’s role, more

It’s no surprise that many of your questions pertained to Quentin Grimes contract negotiations and the trade rumors involving Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond. Let’s dive right in!

Lots to unpack here. These are loosely related so I’m lumping them together.

To put it simply, I would understand attaching an asset to Drummond in order to get off his salary. You’d get his $5 million off the books, giving you more breathing room below the second apron. If you wanted to sign a vet big to a minimum deal, you’d still get some savings — and potentially a younger and better-fitting player. I like Drummond and I understood why the team signed him. But the reality is he’s 32, is coming off an injury-riddled year and doesn’t fit with the current team’s vision.

The idea of trading Oubre is much more complicated. For me, if I’m moving him, I would need to get something of value. Despite his poor three-point shooting and occasional tunnel vision, he’s a rotation-caliber wing who can go get his own bucket, plays strong defense, adds athleticism and is a strong rebounder for his position. His salary is quite reasonable. Would I look to move Oubre if things go south as the deadline approaches? Absolutely. But trading him for cost-cutting purposes is a tough look. Not a KJ Martin-level bad trade, but certainly a mishandling of assets.

As for Beasley and Leonard, both of those situations are awfully messy. It sounds like Beasley is not completely out of the woods from a legal standpoint. Even without that, I don’t think he’s a fit on this guard-heavy roster. Would the Sixers love to get Kawhi on the TMLE? Of course! Again, I think that situation has a ways to go before it’s sorted out and we know what happens. My gut tells me Leonard’s contract will not be voided, but we’ll see. My guess would also be that trading Drummond and Oubre would really only happen if it’s necessary after Grimes comes to terms. If Grimes takes the qualifying offer, those guys might simply stay put (and be trade chips at the deadline if things go horribly).

I’ll start this off by saying the mechanics of it are nearly impossible because of base-year compensation rules. It would require a third team with some funky configurations or both players signing the same exact contract and being moved when they’re both trade eligible. It seems highly unlikely.

For shit and giggles, though, it’s an interesting thought. Grimes would be a dynamite fit as the Warriors’ starting 2 next to Steph Curry. His shooting and defense are great complements between Curry and Jimmy Butler. Grimes’ ability to scale up like he did last year with the Sixers would be ideal for when the 37-year-old Curry and 36-year-old Jimmy Butler need a night off. He’s unquestionably a better fit and a more win-now player for Golden State.

Based on where they are currently, Grimes is the better NBA player, but Kuminga fits the Sixers better from a positional and age standpoint. It’s no secret the Sixers have a glut of guards and a dearth of 4s. Swapping these two players for each other would resolve that. Kuminga is also roughly 2.5 years younger than Grimes, better aligning with the Sixers’ desire to get younger and more dynamic.

Again, it’s unrealistic, but it’s interesting.

I’m as curious as anyone to see what Bona’s role will look like this season. Obviously, the health of Embiid and the status of Drummond will dictate much of it. He aligns with the youth movement quite well. He was solid for Turkey this summer, but he was also backing up the best player in the tournament, so it wasn’t a great gauge of where he is right now. I’m curious to see what he most worked on this summer.

What we know about Bona is that he’s an outstanding rim protector who seems to be just scratching the surface of what he can be defensively when you consider his length and lateral quickness. He was really just an OK rebounder and did struggle with fouls early in the season. Those are areas he’ll have to improve if he wants a bigger role.

I think there’s some untapped stuff there offensively as well. The shot isn’t broken. I would not be surprised to see him take a corner or trail three or two this season. That aforementioned quickness also makes him interesting as a downhill driver. He’s going to have an athletic advantage on most bigs. If he can use that ability to get downhill and develop a couple counters, he might offer a little more on the offensive end.

At a minimum, I think he can give this team solid backup big minutes. He did that at the end of last season, even as the roster was decimated, so that’s a reasonable expectation. Maybe I’m higher on him than others, but I think he could play a big role in certain lineups and matchups.

That lineup mentioned with Bona is one I’d like to see a whole bunch. Even more so, I’d love to see how it looks with Tyrese Maxey in there and Edgecombe sliding to the 3 with either Justin Edwards or Trendon Watford at the 4. I’m so curious to see what Watford looks like surrounded by better offensive players and how his passing could open up things for the young guards. Remember, Watford and Maxey are close friends. Sometimes those things do translate to the court.

As far as Edgecombe, if you’re a Sixers fan and you’re not excited about Edgecombe … I don’t know what to tell you. He looks like he has a chance to be a special player. Plus, he seems to have the perfect demeanor to thrive in Philly and endear himself to the fans in a hurry. I’m curious how big his role will be, but I think he’s going to force Nick Nurse’s hand.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...s-andre-drummond-kelly-oubre-adem-bona-sixers

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

What does a successful sophomore season look like for Justin Edwards?

Well, at least last season went well for somebody.

After going from one of the top high school recruits in the nation to an undrafted free agent in the span of one college season, Justin Edwards was not expected to see a lot of minutes for the 2024-25 season. Even after the disastrous start, it wasn’t until the calendar flipped to January that he played more than five minutes a game.

As the rest of the roster continued to dwindle though, Edwards was able to take advantage of the increasing number of opportunities that were coming his way. He would end up playing 44 games in his first year as a pro, starting 26 of them. He averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and one steal per game playing about 26 minutes a night.

The Sixers liked enough of what they saw in him to convert his two-way to a standard NBA contract during the season, and ripped that one up again at the beginning of the summer to tack on another year and a few extra dollars.

What’s exciting about Edwards is that he does all of the complimentary role player things from the forward position. Something that’s felt rare on a team that’s roster has become increasingly top (or bottom) heavy. He can attack closeouts, he knocks down enough shots when it’s swung to him, and held his own defensively despite drawing a lot of tough assignments on the wing.

So it wasn’t the biggest shock when he didn’t look nearly as good in his second go-around in summer league. With how many games VJ Edgecombe missed, Edwards became the primary focal point of the offense. He shot just 36% from the field and only 69% from the free throw line. He couldn’t stop giving the ball away either, averaging 3.3 turnovers to 1.7 assists.

It’s a bit surprising that a second-year player, especially one who had a fair amount of success in his rookie season, doesn’t dominate summer league. It might not matter in Edwards’ case though.

Even if the Sixers aren’t completely healthy, his role will still be decreased to be that complementary wing around their guard talent. The chaotic, structureless basketball that is summer league isn’t always the easiest environment for that type of player to thrive.

The other reason is that Edwards already has a better track record of scoring consistently in NBA games than any small sample size of summer league. For the last month and a half of last season, he was either the 1A or 1B scoring option, depending on if Quentin Grimes was available.

From the beginning of March, when Tyrese Maxey and Paul George were shut down, to the end of the season he averaged 13.1 points per game. He took over 11 shots per game during that stretch and maintained an effective field goal percentage of 52.7%. His usage rate climbed to 18.7% during this time which, according to Cleaning the Glass, is above league average.

It’s possible the best development for Edwards this upcoming season and beyond is just more of the same. If he’s able to continue being a wing who can score and defend at an above average rate, it’s easy to slide that in to just about any rotation.

While his summer league effort might have thrown some cold water on this idea, there is a chance there’s even more potential to be unlocked in terms of his scoring. He really got more aggressive as a driver as the season went on, and showed that he was able to get himself past some good defenders to get to the basket. The midrange pull-up that’s also featured a lot here was something he was able to get to more and more.

Justin Edwards three-level scoring pic.twitter.com/wf4EZGMlUk

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) May 19, 2025

With how crowded this backcourt projects to be, those opportunities might just not present themselves for Edwards. That could be for the best — some players are better off being optimized for a specific role. How he is able to build on a pleasant surprise of a rookie season should be one of the most exciting storylines for the Sixers going forward.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ers-player-preview-undrafted-kentucky-imhotep

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

How quickly will VJ Edgecombe find a role with Sixers?

It was only a few months ago that the Sixers wrapped up one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory. Expectations were sky-high heading into the year — coming off Joel Embiid’s best season yet, signing Paul George to a massive contract, and looking ready to compete in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. But in just a few months, all that optimism unraveled, leaving the Sixers with 58 losses and nothing to show for their efforts but a trip to the draft lottery.

Fortunately, the ping pong balls bounced in their favor. The Sixers, who were at serious risk of losing the pick entirely, locked into the third spot in the draft and quickly zeroed in on Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe. Now, the crown jewel of a lost season is set to make an immediate impact. A third overall pick is no small investment, but what can Sixers fans expect from Edgecombe in year one? Where will he thrive, and what areas might he struggle in?

As a top-three pick, Edgecombe arrives with skills polished enough to translate from day one, even as other parts of his game continue to develop. His biggest strengths should shine on the defensive end, where he has said on record that he takes the most pride.

“I just hate to see people score. I love playing defense. I know that I can play on the floor if I’m not scoring. I want to be an all-around versatile player. I want to be an elite defender. That comes with grit. I just don’t like seeing other people score. I hate seeing other… pic.twitter.com/PyAGxNWuZw

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 26, 2025

Edgecombe is the real deal defensively. He anticipates well, avoids unnecessary gambles, and already has a strong physical frame despite just turning 20. Much has been made about the Sixers’ crowded backcourt —especially with restricted free agent Quentin Grimes in the mix — but Edgecombe brings a different defensive brand than any of the other guards. He plays vertically, contests shots at a high level, and even averaged nearly a block per game at Baylor. At just 6-foot-5, his ability to protect the rim from the guard spot is something Sixers fans haven’t seen in a long time.

Whether paired with Tyrese Maxey or Jared McCain, his defensive skillset will be a breath of fresh air. In time, as he adds strength and size, he should even be able to hold his own against small forwards.

On the offensive side, things are more of a mystery. Since James Harden’s departure, the Sixers have been searching for a big ball-handler, and Edgecombe has the tools to grow into that role — whether this year or down the line. During Summer League, the team featured him heavily on the ball. His camp reportedly wanted him to land in a situation where he could handle more playmaking duties, and with how quickly the Sixers locked onto him in the draft process, it’s safe to assume both sides see eye-to-eye on that vision.

Still, it would be a lot to ask Edgecombe to run the offense as a rookie. To start, he’ll likely play more off-ball, possibly coming off the bench. As the season goes on, though, don’t be surprised if he gets more opportunities to initiate as he proves himself.

Shooting and pace will be the main areas to watch. Edgecombe’s jumper has good mechanics but needs refinement, especially on the move or off the dribble. If he can hit tough shots with the ball in his hands, his ceiling rises dramatically. That’s why it makes sense for the Sixers to ease him into things, letting him contribute right away as a catch-and-shoot threat while his offensive game develops.

Then there’s his athleticism, which jumps off the page. Edgecombe has a lightning-quick first step and can get to the rim in a hurry. The next step for him will be mastering pace changes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander elevated his game from All-Star to MVP by perfecting this skill, and while Edgecombe isn’t there yet, the ability to shift speeds could open up improving his entire offensive arsenal over time.

So how will the Sixers manage their backcourt rotation? For now, let’s assume Grimes returns as a restricted free agent. Maxey is locked in as the starter, with McCain, Grimes and Edgecombe competing for the spot next to him. Grimes probably has the early edge thanks to his experience and defensive ability, especially if the Sixers commit to him with a sizable contract. If he instead takes the qualifying offer, though — the only real leverage his camp has — the Sixers may push him to the side since he wouldn’t be part of their long-term plans. McCain could make things interesting with his scoring punch and floor spacing, though pairing him with Maxey raises defensive concerns. That would leave Edgecombe starting the year as more of a bench contributor while he gets his feet under him.

But make no mistake — the future of this team runs through Maxey and Edgecombe. It may take weeks or months, but there’s a very real chance Edgecombe plays his way into the starting five this season. With his defensive impact, athleticism, and developing offensive game, the Sixers have every reason to believe he’ll become a core piece moving forward.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...in-tyrese-maxey-quentin-grimes-2025-nba-draft

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

How LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, Aspiration controversy impacts Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers’ future draft picks are climbing in value as more information from Pablo Torre Finds Out alleges salary cap circumvention between the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard via a fraudulent carbon credit company.

Pablo Torre’s investigation into the company, called Aspiration, disclosed an endorsement deal between Aspiration and Kawhi Leonard, rewarding the Clippers star $28 million for doing nothing in return.

The investigation also revealed that a total of $118 million was invested in Aspiration over 18 months through a combination of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong, and the Clippers organization itself.

Simply put, Aspiration’s business model was to sell “Carbon Credits” to companies or celebrities who were told, in turn, that trees would be planted on their behalf, offsetting their personal carbon emissions.

Torre’s reporting notes how Leonard’s endorsement deal with Aspiration came just six months after Ballmer personally invested $50 million into the company in September of 2021.

Later that September, the Clippers announced Aspiration as the “first founding partner” of the Intuit Dome, hoping to offset the carbon footprint of the Intuit Dome construction. The deal was worth $300 million; in return, Aspiration would be the sponsor on the Clippers jersey patch and have a branded cover on the seats.

Fast forwarding ahead to April 2022, on the same day that Leonard’s endorsement is inked, the Clippers purchase $32 million in carbon credits.

The endorsement deal between Aspiration and Kawhi was to be paid out quarterly in installments of $1.75 million. According to anonymous senior executives at Aspiration that Torre interviewed, by the time Leonard’s first payment was almost due, Aspiration was already losing money.

In June of 2022, the Clippers bought $21 million in additional carbon credits, just over two weeks before Leonard’s first payment. Torre’s sources explained how that money came in “very quickly” and was critical in keeping the company above ground until at least Leonard’s first payday, which was already tardy. Torre revealed the document confirmation for the transaction signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Clippers.

Leonard’s second payday was even later, as Aspiration continued to go downhill and eventually defaulted in November 2022. On Dec. 6, “Wong LLC” invests $2 million into the company. Torre details that the LLC was founded by Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong. Wong was also Ballmer’s college roommate. On Dec. 15, Leonard gets his second $1.75 million payment.

In March of 2023, Ballmer invested an additional $10 million from his personal LLC into Aspiration during a round of fundraising. Torre reveals through court filings of founder Joe Sanberg that Ballmer was the only investor during the company’s fundraising, despite asking 19 investment firms.

The statement the Clippers gave Torre before the first episode of the investigation aired said, “The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations.”

The last investment came with 14 games left in the season, but months after the company defaulted.

This suspicious timeline has prompted the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver to launch an investigation into the Clippers for possible cap circumvention, hiring law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz from New York.

The NBA does not expect to have a resolution on the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention investigation until after the All-Star Game.

The #Clippers host the All-Star Game.

— Spotrac (@spotrac) September 18, 2025

The possible punishment for the Clippers could have sweeping effects for the league, but it would drastically improve the outlook on the 76ers’ future draft picks and where they may land.

They own the Clippers’ 2028 first-round pick and swap rights for their 2029 first-round pick (top three protected) thanks to the return package in the 2023 James Harden trade.

If Silver were to believe the information made public by Torre, and the investigation supports such, there is a chance the league sets an example out of the Clippers, as the integrity of the league and its rules are at risk.

A punishment of multiple first-round picks and voiding Leonard’s contract would be on the harsh end of the scale, as it would cripple the Clippers from a team-building perspective.

An aging roster, an evicted superstar, and no draft capital would likely mean the end for this era of the Clippers, barring an illustrious free agency signing.

This would bode well for the Sixers; the worse the Clippers are in 2027-29, the better the picks, and the more valuable they become as trade chips. The only player on the roster signed through 2028 is center Ivica Zubac.

On the flip side of the token, Silver and Ballmer have historically had a good relationship, ever since Ballmer bought the Clippers from the disgraced Donald Sterling in 2014.

Torre even showed how Silver, when first asked about the company Aspiration at the owners’ meetings, said he “never heard of the company before”.

Torre sent a tweet in response. According to league rules, the Clippers and Aspiration’s “founding partner” deal in 2021 had to be approved by the league, which would assume that Silver had to have some knowledge of the company.

But @pablofindsout just obtained a copy of Aspiration’s $300M+ “Founding Sponsorship Agreement” — which “must be submitted prior to its execution for NBA’s approval and shall not be effective or enforceable until it is expressly approved by the NBA.” pic.twitter.com/pE7EhmXl2S

— Pablo Torre (@PabloTorre) September 16, 2025

When questioned on this at Tuesday’s Front Office Sports’ Tuned In Summit, Silver would walk it back.

“If I said I never heard of it, I meant in the context of the accusations here. I mean, I was certainly aware of the brand.”

In addition to Silver, Ballmer has respect across the league owners, as Ballmer is currently the Chair of the Audit Committee of the NBA Board of Governors. Ballmer is also currently the seventh richest man in the US. All of these factors make it extremely difficult to predict the punishment, as the implications span many directions.

Unless the league lets the Clippers go free, the Sixers will have a valuable stock of draft capital in their back pocket.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/nba-...steve-ballmer-james-harden-sixers-draft-picks

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Is Kelly Oubre Jr. heading for more success with the Sixers, or a sudden departure?

We all know last season was an absolute slog for the injury-ridden Sixers, so there’s no need to dig into that again. But one brighter story was the play of Kelly Oubre Jr., who re-signed with Philadelphia on a very reasonable two-year, $16.3 million deal in 2024 and went on to be a reliable starter at both ends of the floor.

Through all the injury woes and losing streaks, Oubre kept showing up. His high-flying athleticism was consistently matched with high energy, as he started 57 of the 60 games he played while averaging the most minutes of his career at 34.6 a night. For the season, he averaged 15.1 points on a 55.1 true shooting percentage and 6.1 total rebounds, to go along with career-highs of 1.6 offensive boards, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Of course, Oubre has his limitations. For one, his already cool three-point shooting dropped to just 29.3 percent last season (although his volume at least catches the attention of defenders somewhat). He can still take the odd ill-advised jumper, too. However, his positives clearly outweighed the negatives, and his approach at both ends of the floor has turned into something that the Sixers need on the wing.

He continued to make assertive cuts to the basket, use his solid ability as a driver to get downhill and attack the rim (either off the catch or with a few pick-and-rolls/isolations), remained highly efficient in the paint (making 70.4 percent of his shots within three feet of the basket), and run out in transition.

He had a fine defensive season too. The Sixers needed his work on the boards, he could cover both wings and smaller guards when asked to, and was fairly disruptive in passing lanes.

Despite not being an overly high-level player in any one area, Oubre can do quite a few things well enough to be a plus at both ends when he has the right approach. And for the most part last season, that was the case.

Naturally, after a season like that, you’d think Oubre should be positioned to deliver more of the same in 2025-26 and maintain an important, high-minute role…

The spanner that’s just been thrown in the works is the reporting from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer that the Sixers are “looking to potentially move” Oubre. The likely reason being that they may need to move some salary to create more space to give Quentin Grimes a bigger contract. With $185.9 million going out in salary already, the Sixers are only $10.05 million below the first apron and $21.9 million below the second apron. Basically, spending their $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception would then hard-cap them at the second apron, meaning they couldn’t give Grimes a starting salary over $16.2 million.

You can’t entirely blame Oubre for being angry about the noise either. He posted a snappy response, but he did consistently compete last season when he easily could have dialled it in.

Kelly Oubre Jr. with a strong reaction to the trade rumors #Sixers pic.twitter.com/kcPuQo3GmD

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) September 10, 2025

The Sixers have plenty of talent on the perimeter with their guards, but they don’t exactly have any true wings apart from Oubre and Justin Edwards. Dumping Oubre for a cheaper player who won’t contribute much, or moving him in a straight salary dump to clear his $8.38 million salary, doesn’t exactly help from a basketball standpoint. And as our Bryan Toporek has pointed out when digging into the numbers, there’s value in keeping Oubre as a potential player to trade down the line. His salary is one of the team’s most trade-friendly contracts, as their highest-paid player after Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — basically, the guys they either don’t want to move, or would struggle to move because they’re paid so much. George may not even be ready for the start of the season either, as he recovers from the arthroscopic surgery on his left knee that he underwent in July.

There’s still reported buzz that Grimes could accept his qualifying offer, which he only has until Oct. 1 to do, so we’ll find out soon if Oubre is safe in that regard or will be flipped in order to create more cap space for a larger Grimes offer.

For however long Oubre is around, though, he should continue to be a valuable role player for this team. His energy, athleticism and complementary skills at both ends of the floor are still a good fit for the Sixers’ core — and ones they need with little wing depth. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to produce in a similar way in 2025-26 if he stays in Philly with a chance to do so.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-player-preview-andre-drummond-quentin-grimes

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers fans have every right to feel burned out heading into 2025-26

At this time 10 years ago, we were getting ready for a season that came very close to being historic.

The 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers went 10-72, and nearly joined the 1972-73 Sixers, who went 9-73, atop the list of most losses in one NBA season. We all know what happened in the spring of 2016. Just prior to the end of that dreadful 2015-16 campaign, Sam Hinkie “resigned” from his post as General Manager. I put quotation marks around resigned because many understandably feel he was forced out by ownership who caved under the pressure from Adam Silver that “The Process” had simply become too brazen of a tank job.

We’re not writing this post to relitigate The Process or point out how many other teams in the NBA have also lost games on purpose, but we are pointing out that Hinkie’s ousting by the powers that be left a lot of Sixers fans angered. For many of them, Hinkie’s arrival in May 2013 brought about a glimmer of hope for a franchise that was trapped in NBA purgatory. Hinkie had a plan and we were all denied being able to see how he would have carried it out.

Some of that hope would quickly return on opening night in 2016-17 though when Joel Embiid played his first NBA game and finished with 20 points and seven rebounds in just 22 minutes of action against Oklahoma City. Fast forward one more year to 2017-18 and the Sixers won 52 regular season games and a playoff round. It was their first playoff series win since 2012, and before that they hadn’t advanced out of the first round since 2003. I bring up 2003 because everyone knows that the Derrick Rose knee injury in that 2012 series against Chicago is the only reason the Sixers even won that series and so it very easily could have been 15 years from 2003 to 2018 without the franchise winning a round in the postseason.

How could we ever forget what happened shortly after the 2017-18 season concluded? In late May, The Ringer reported that Hinkie’s replacement, Bryan Colangelo and others in Colangelo’s circle were linked to burner accounts on Twitter. Many of the accounts were smearing Hinkie and defending Colangelo, who was widely viewed as a nepotistic hire due to his father working for the Sixers during the 2015-16 season prior to Hinkie’s ouster, and no real search for a new General Manager conducted by ownership. Let’s also not forget the accounts that defended Colangelo’s unusually large collars on his dress shirts. At this point, I think many Sixers fans were simply laughing at the entire fiasco. The laughter stemmed from Colangelo’s sensitivity and the fact that many fans could simply say “The NBA orchestrated Hinkie’s removal…FOR THIS?!?!”

Colangelo stepped down as a result of the scandal and perplexed is probably the best adjective to describe the emotions of the fanbase after that. Philadelphia went the entire offseason without a general manager which left coach Brett Brown in charge of player personnel for about four months. Granted, Colangelo did not officially tender his resignation until June 7, 2018 and at that point the NBA Draft was only a couple weeks away so the franchise was in a bit of a tough spot. But once everyone found out in September 2018 that Elton Brand was the permanent replacement for Colangelo, I think a lot of Sixers fans were likely wondering why Brand, whose previous title was GM of the team’s G-League affiliate in Delaware, wasn’t promoted immediately in June. If Brand was running the team in the 2018 offseason, the infamous Mikal Bridges-Zhaire Smith trade made by Brown on draft night may not have happened.

The Kawhi shot to end the 2018-19 season is probably still the biggest source of disappointment and sadness over the last 10 years. Philadelphia had the eventual NBA Champions on the precipice of overtime in a Game 7 in the second round. Of course, we can’t guarantee that if Leonard’s jump shot rimmed out, the Sixers would have won the game in overtime. Even if they did pull through on that Sunday night in Toronto, there would have still been eight more wins to get to reach the top of the mountain.

From 2019 to 2022 I think nervous and edgy were the words to describe the emotions felt by a lot of fans. After back-to-back trips to the second round, fans began to wonder if the franchise could take the appropriate steps to go from good to great. Jimmy Butler sure didn’t think so as he bailed on Philadelphia in the 2019 offseason which caused Brand, an inexperienced executive, to panic and drastically overpay Tobias Harris. Was Ben Simmons ever going to develop a jump shot? Would Doc Rivers prove he wasn’t a playoff choke artist carried by a loaded 2007-08 Celtics team to his one ring? Could Daryl Morey’s management experience balance out Brand’s inexperience and bring some stability to a front office that desperately needed some? Unfortunately, the answer to a lot of the above questions was no.

But that hope that existed when Hinkie was hired and briefly during the Toronto series in 2019 would return in 2023. Ben Simmons was gone and James Harden, who arrived in the Simmons trade with Brooklyn, had a huge Game 1 and a huge Game 4 against Boston and the Sixers were deadlocked at 2-2 with a Celtics team that seemed to own them and had eliminated them from the postseason in 2018 and 2020. They then played a riveting Game 5 in Boston in which they thoroughly outplayed the Celtics on their homecourt and suddenly had the chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in nearly a quarter century at home in Game 6 … we all know how that ended.

Rivers was fired after the Celtics choke job and by then fans probably felt pretty frustrated. The team’s two best chances at a deep playoff run were ended by a couple of bounces on a Kawhi Leonard jump shot in 2019 and a choke job that started on their home floor in Game 6 in 2023 and ended with a Mother’s Day Game 7 blowout loss in Boston. The team’s chances to win with Joel Embiid as the franchise’s centerpiece appeared to be dwindling.

Nick Nurse’s hire may have cheered up some fans as it was unlikely they could have hired a better replacement. But with Embiid’s knee injury in January 2024 and another playoff exit at the hands of the Knicks, another Atlantic division rival, at that point, many Sixers fans probably felt resignation — and last season’s disaster surely had many fans feeling completely defeated.

So as we prepare for 2025-26, I don’t know how you should feel, Sixers fans, because you’ve felt just about everything you can feel during the last 10 years and change. Sure, there hasn’t been that pure jubilation that comes with winning a championship, and I’m not about to tell you that’s an appropriate emotion now, but there’s really nothing else you haven’t felt. If you’re holding out hope that Embiid has a few more healthy years in him, go for it. If you’re fed up to the point of barely caring, I certainly can’t blame you. If you’re one of those fans that can never bring yourself not to care but are going into the season pessimistically, that’s definitely an understandable feeling. Fans might disagree on how to feel about the 2025-26 Sixers, but I think everyone can agree that this fanbase is burned out.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...right-to-feel-burned-out-heading-into-2025-26

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

All-Star guard Tyler Herro to reportedly miss start of season for Heat

Injuries to stars is not a problem exclusive to your Philadelphia 76ers.

It was reported Friday that Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is set to have surgery on his left foot and will miss the beginning of the 2025-26 season. Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald was the first to report the news. Chiang added some context for the injury and how much time the All-Star could miss.

This ankle/foot impingement has been bothering Herro since the middle of the summer. Herro received PRP and cortisone injections in recent weeks in hopes of avoiding surgery, but the discomfort never subsided and surgery was deemed necessary to avoid more issues down the road. https://t.co/Km3hSX126g

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) September 19, 2025

My guess is Herro will be out for at least the first month of the season and possibly a little more. But more clarity on a timeline for Herro's return will come after today's surgery. https://t.co/wqfXTQHGQV

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) September 19, 2025

Herro made his first NBA All-Star team in 2024-25, averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 77 games. The 25-year-old Kentucky product became the focal point of the Heat offense while Jimmy Butler’s trade demand saga played out. It eventually ended with Butler being sent to the Golden State Warriors while Miami finished 10th in the East. The Heat were able to win a pair of road play-in games against the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks before being swept in the first round of the playoffs by the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

Miami is a team in transition after the Butler trade, now building around Herro and three-time All-Star Bam Adebayo. They did manage to acquire Norman Powell from the LA Clippers for basically nothing this offseason. Powell is coming off a career year and will now likely have to fill a huge void to start the season.

The Heat could very well be a team the Sixers are jockeying for position with in the East. There is a comically wide array of outcomes for this Sixers team. They could compete for a higher seed if everyone is healthy (I know, I know). They could wind up tanking in effort to keep their first-rounder pick again. What seems most plausible is they could be in a play-in battle with the likes of teams like Miami.

We’ll see how long this surgery keeps Herro out and how Adebayo and Powell do in carrying the Heat through the beginning of 2025-26.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/nba-...e-injury-miam-heat-norman-powell-jimmy-butler

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

What will Quentin Grimes Sixers encore look like?

For as much as this organization got wrong in the past year, calling up the team that willingly traded Luka Doncic has worked out pretty well.

The Sixers made the second-most lopsided trade with the Dallas Mavericks this past season, acquiring Quentin Grimes and a second-round pick for Caleb Martin. Initially it was only the Sixers receiving a second from the Mavs, but Martin’s medical allowed Dallas to rework the deal and acquire a second-rounder from Philly as well.

They probably wish they had just voided the trade though, as Grimes went on an absolute heater upon arriving in Philadelphia. In 28 games he would average 21.9 points per game, which would almost double his career high. He did so shooting 46.9% from the field while making 37.3% of the seven threes he took a night. He also averaged 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game during this time. Martin on the other hand, took almost another month before he was healthy enough to make his Mavericks debut.

It did not result in much winning for the Sixers — they would only win four more games after the trade — but that’s hardly the fault of Grimes. Most of his teammates were not in the NBA prior to this stretch, and many of them are not on an NBA roster as a new season is set to kick off.

Previewing how Grimes will follow this up feels a bit odd as so much of the conversation around him is speculating on the contract he is hoping to receive. As it still stands, Grimes is still a restricted free agent, with no apparent end in sight to this stand off that is keeping him unsigned. While that may all end with Grimes taking the qualifying offer, an outcome that really wouldn’t be good for anyone, it basically guarantees he will be playing for the Sixers at least next season. There’s also been some reporting that the Sixers could still make some tweaks to their roster once Grimes’ situation is resolved, despite the season quickly approaching.

One of, if not the biggest reason Grimes is still unsigned, is that the high-paying role he desires, one that produces at a level he did at the end of last season, will not be available to him this upcoming one. The ball, and subsequently any shot he desired, was constantly in his hands and within his control. His 27.5% usage rate with the Sixers was easily the highest of his career, per Cleaning the Glass, a rate that was in the 90th percentile across the league.

Those chances will drastically decrease now that he will presumably actually share the court with Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, as well as No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe. That’s not even accounting for if Paul George or Joel Embiid suit up consistently. Embiid especially dominates touches, averaging a usage rate in the mid thirties.

While this argument might not be the one his agent is using at the moment to get that payday, Grimes still has a skillset that makes him well suited to fade into the background a bit. As a good three-point shooter he’s always been a helpful floor spacer. He shot 41.7% on catch-and-shoot threes with the Sixers last season.

He’s always been a solid defender as well. While his scoring production here did seem to impact how much he was able to give on that end, his length and feel for the game still helped post career-best steal numbers. The 1.5 per game average, as well as the 1.9% steal rate were also the highest he’s put up.

With the sudden injection of youth to the position, the Sixers have too much talent there to not play a lot of three-guard lineups. Grimes’ ability to not just defend at a high level, but guard up a position or two, will go a long way in determining how viable those lineups are, especially with Maxey and McCain being undersized guards. As someone who’s pretty strong and long for 6-foot-5, it’s something Grimes is capable of.

Grimes will not return as the No. 1 option like he was for most of his Sixers tenure, but that doesn’t mean he needs to completely fade into the background. He certainly showed more as three-level scorer in his time here than George as someone who can actually still get to the rim. If this team is competing in any type of form, he might make more sense as the true third option.

It feels easy to say now that the role for Grimes in 2025-26 will be significantly different than 24-25, but that doesn’t make it easy to guess what the role will be. There could be three or four different versions of this team, all with varying amounts of players with a high profile who could demand a lot of touches. It’s honestly no wonder that this restricted free agency stalemate has lasted the entire offseason. With the deadline for the qualifying offer looming in the first week of October, answers for some of these questions are finally on the horizon.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ericks-tyrese-maxey-jared-mccain-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers debut 2025-26 throwback court

It’s been an open secret that the 2001 Allen Iverson-era throwback uniforms were coming back for several seasons now. It’s overdue, with many fans eventually giving up all hope. However, if there was any lingering doubt that they weren’t coming back, it can now be put to rest. The Sixers’ social page debuted the render of the throwback court, which may or may not look familiar to longtime fans.

if you know, you know.@cryptocom pic.twitter.com/qSVAKrrczS

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 18, 2025

First impressions of the court are strong. It carries several nods to the original design from the early 2000s. The “SIXERS” on both baselines uses the same iconic font that fans remember, and each side of the floor features the “76” logo with the star and swooping basketball placed in the corner.

a closer look. https://t.co/XBnYRLnc3y pic.twitter.com/KP1wh6C8dE

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 18, 2025

That said, this isn’t a direct one-to-one recreation of the old court. The center-court logo has been enlarged significantly, and the swooping basketball near the elbows of the three-point line — a detail many fans loved — is noticeably absent. While it’s easy to assume that was the Sixers’ choice, it’s more likely the league had a say in the change, as the NBA tends to be particular about potential slipping hazards on non-In-Season Tournament courts.

Outside of the design changes, there are several color updates as well. Most noticeably, the area within the three-point arc now features a darker wood trim that was absent in the original design. The painted area has also changed significantly; the original had blue with red and black trim outlining the free-throw keys, whereas this version sticks to black with some red accents.

While it isn’t a direct copy of the original, it doesn’t need to be. Many franchises have brought back iconic jerseys or courts, modernizing them for the present day. For the most part, I think the Sixers did well here. My biggest criticism is the absence of the swooping basketballs — they should have been included. But again, that was likely a league mandate rather than a misstep by the Sixers.

For the most part, this is a gorgeous court that should pair beautifully with the remastered uniforms, which have yet to be officially debuted. Fans will have several opportunities to see the court in person throughout the season, the first of which comes on Nov. 8 against the Toronto Raptors.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...6-throwback-court-black-jerseys-allen-iverson

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Editor-in-chief mailbag: Media day and the preseason are here

Believe it or not, the Sixers will begin their season soon. Media day is this Friday followed by a couple practices before the team heads to Abu Dhabi for a pair of preseason games against the New York Knicks.

There’s still no resolution to Quentin Grimes’ restricted free agency and there will be plenty of questions to ask. What are some of your most pressing questions as we sit here a month away from opening night?

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-mailbag-media-day-and-the-preseason-are-here

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Jared McCain is the biggest variable heading into the 25-26 season

It feels like just yesterday the Sixers drafted Jared McCain with the 16th overall pick, coming off a turbulent season marred by the James Harden holdout and a disappointing first-round exit. At the time, McCain felt more like a consolation prize than a franchise changer — a mid–first round pick in what many considered a weak draft didn’t exactly inspire excitement.

What nobody saw coming was just how good McCain would be in his rookie year. He didn’t look like a first-year player at all. In fact, more often than not, he looked like the Sixers’ best player when he was on the floor. Before the injuries piled up and the team shifted into tank mode, McCain consistently held his own — and at times even stood out — alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. That’s not what you expect from a rookie, especially one drafted outside the lottery.

Much like the rest of the roster, McCain’s rookie campaign was cut short when he tore his meniscus in mid-December and underwent surgery. Without that setback, he very likely would have been in the Rookie of the Year conversation. Now, with both the season and the injury behind him, McCain and the Sixers find themselves at a crossroads in the team’s timeline.

The frontcourt is shaky, with injuries to George and Embiid piling up to the point where many wonder if either can still perform at their peak. Meanwhile, the backcourt is crowded with young talent. Maxey is firmly established, newly drafted VJ Edgecombe is expected to carve out a role, and Quentin Grimes — assuming he returns — will also be pushing for minutes. That leaves big questions for McCain. How will he fit into this evolving mix? What should fans expect from him in year two? And will his play force Nick Nurse’s hand to the point where starting him becomes unavoidable?

Pretty much every recent conversation eventually circles back to the guard rotation and the team’s abundance of guards. While I think this concern has been somewhat overblown in recent months — I’d argue it’s far better to have too many capable guards than too few — it’s still a valid question. Among the quartet of Maxey, McCain, Edgecombe and Grimes, McCain seems to be the most variable.

Among the four, Maxey and McCain are the most questionable defensively, which is a key factor in whether a dual guard rotation can work. Everyone knows how much the Sixers have invested in Maxey, who is now a solidified All-Star on a massive contract. At this point, he appears to be the only one slated to start right away. Given that, it’s hard to imagine McCain starting alongside Maxey on day one — unless he truly lights it up in training camp and forces Nurse to simply play the best talent.

While many might scoff at the idea of McCain coming off the bench, it’s probably the best route for him in the short-term. He’s an offensively gifted player who has shown he can create with or without the ball in his hands. At this stage of his career, it’s important for him to continue getting reps in both roles. Even off the bench, he’s likely to play at least 25 minutes per game and may share the court with Maxey at times. As for his fit with the other guards, I have few concerns; both Edgecombe and Grimes should be excellent defenders who mesh well with McCain and Maxey.

On the other hand, McCain could earn a significant starting role if he makes strides defensively. I don’t expect him to ever become a great defender, but he has shown flashes of good timing and uses his low center of gravity effectively against bigger, taller opponents. Many have criticized the Sixers for bringing back Kyle Lowry, but he is the epitome of the defensive standard McCain should be aiming to emulate. Fortunately for McCain, he won’t be far from Lowry — just a few bench spots away — giving him plenty of opportunity to learn. If McCain can hold his own on defense, it will be difficult for Nurse not to get him significant minutes on the court.

When it comes to expectations for McCain in Year 2, much depends on him building on where he left off nearly a year ago. McCain did everything right in terms of doing what was necessary to earn his minutes on the court. He’s a gifted offensive player and will likely see significant off-ball action, assuming the big names remain healthy — which is a big “if.” He moves frequently without the ball and has demonstrated elite catch-and-shoot ability, including no-dip threes, a skill first introduced to the Sixers by Nico Batum. Theoretically, the Sixers have the offensive fire power to seriously produce on ball, and McCain’s floor spacing will be invaluable to that.

However, if the wheels fall off the wagon again, expect McCain to become a featured player in the Sixers’ offense with more on-ball reps. It will especially come down to George; if he’s out for an extended period or misses time to start the year, the Sixers will rely on McCain’s scoring ability to avoid overtaxing Maxey. McCain has also shown he can make reads and handle the basketball, which is likely something the team will experiment with throughout the season. At a minimum, you can expect him to fill a role similar to what JJ Redick had in Philly, with an added touch of playmaking.

Almost all talk about the Sixers is understandably doom and gloom. For a moment, however, let’s be positive: what if things actually go right for McCain? Suppose he comes in, lights it up again, and looks like the best player on the floor more often than not. Nurse wouldn’t just give him a starting role; he could be looking at upwards of 34 minutes per game. How would that work from a rotational standpoint, and alongside the other guards I haven’t touched on much yet?

From a rotation perspective, it would be fairly simple. You’d ensure that at least one of Maxey or McCain is on the floor at all times. Maxey typically averages around 36 minutes per game, so McCain would see roughly 12 minutes without him and around 25 minutes alongside him. Both Edgecombe and Grimes will likely be vying for 25–30 minutes, and I think that’s manageable if Maxey and McCain share extended minutes together. Grimes and Edgecombe project as excellent defenders, and I imagine the Sixers will experiment with them in some switch-heavy or perimeter-defense situations.

If McCain earns a larger-than-expected role again, the key for the Sixers beyond the guard rotation will be their forwards — specifically three players who are plus defenders with positive wingspans, similar to what the Cleveland Cavaliers do with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Playing at least two forwards at all times will be critical, which makes the newer additions — Trendon Watford, Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker — very important. If one of those players hits, they’ll likely be featured heavily in a Maxey-McCain-centric lineup alongside Joel Embiid. We could also see the Sixers experiment more with Adem Bona, a proven rim protector, pairing him with Embiid or another big man.

As you can see, there are quite a few moving parts when it comes to McCain. While the uncertainty might be murky, I’d argue it could be a massive positive if he plays his way into a featured or even starting role this season. We saw what he’s capable of in 23 games last year, and if that was a glimpse of what’s to come, the Sixers will certainly face some tough decisions and lineup adjustments — making McCain the biggest variable among their core group of guards.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...view-tyrese-maxey-vj-edgecombe-quentin-grimes

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers announce four signings ahead of training camp

Oh look, basketball is actually right around the corner.

With training camp set to kick off this week, the Sixers have announced four signings ahead of it: Emoni Bates, Kennedy Chandler, Malcolm Hill and Jaylen Martin. Multiple reports have said that these are Exhibit 10 deals, as expected.

So these will be the guys getting a crack at things on the end of the bench in preseason. It will be interesting to see if any show flashes. It’s more likely they’ll all be part of the Delaware Blue Coats for the 2025-26 season. Bates was one of the most highly touted high school recruits ever before his stock quickly dropped in college. He spent his freshman season at Memphis before transferring to Eastern Michigan. He also had off-court issues, accepting a plea deal after being arrested on gun charges.

A 6-foot-10 forward, Bates was a late second-round pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023. He’s played just 25 games in the NBA since, averaging 3.1 points on 32%/33%/25% shooting splits. In his two seasons in the G-League, he’s averaged 19.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and two assists.

Their other signing with the most recent experience is Martin. He’s a 6-foot-6 guard who was an undrafted rookie last season who got a cup of coffee with both the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets. He averaged 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds shooting 41% from the field and 30% from three in the 16 games he suited up for last season.

Chandler was an early second-round pick of the Spurs in 2022, but has spent the last three seasons in the G-League. A 6-foot guard, he’s averaged 13.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and five assists in that time. He got 36 games of experience for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022-23, averaging just seven minutes a night. In that time he averaged two points a game and shot 42% from the field and 13% from three-point range.

Finally is the signing of Hill, who’s spent the last couple years getting bounced around by the New Orleans Pelicans’ G-League affiliate the Birmingham Squadron. A 6-foot-6 wing, his last season there was in 2023-24, averaging 22 points and 6.2 rebounds. He’s played 24 total NBA games, his last coming in 2023 for the Bulls.

However many regular Sixers take the court for preseason is yet to be seen, but these guys will be out there with them, and it will be here in no time.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...s-malcolm-hill-jaylen-martin-kennedy-chandler

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Will Tyrese Maxey regain All-Star status in 2025-26?

Like nearly everything involving the 2024-25 Philadelphia 76ers, last season was not a positive campaign for Tyrese Maxey. Hampered by hamstring and finger injuries during the season, the 24-year-old played in a career-low 52 games. He was also yet another victim of what I’ll politely term Sixers medical staff tomfoolery, trying to adjust his shooting motion to shoot the ball with only three fingers, rather than simply being made to sit out because the pinky on his right shooting hand was so jacked up. Correspondingly, Maxey’s mark of 33.7 percent from three-point range was well off his previous seasons, only ahead of the small sample from his rookie year.

Big picture, a player having a down season isn’t much of a cause for concern. Most players have them from time to time, after all. It was surprising from Maxey, however, given his penchant for continually moving the bar forward from season to season. Behind his one percent better mantra, Tyrese rapidly worked his way from rookie bench player in a sparing role, to legitimate playoff factor, to solid starter, to Most Improved Player and All-Star, to guy putting the team on his back and scoring 46 points in a Game 5 playoff victory. Every time we would reasonably expect Maxey’s progression to plateau, he would bust through the wall like the Juggernaut and unlock some new level of play. So when that development all came to a halt last year, it seemed extra out of the ordinary. The season from hell even came for our smiling assassin.

On the optimistic side heading into this season, I don’t expect Maxey to have forgotten how to shoot (despite that being something Sixers fans have gone through with guards in the past). With all of his digits healthy and intact, I expect he’ll be back closer to his 38.1 percent career mark from downtown. If there is anyone equipped to mentally shake off a down period and come back stronger, it’s Tyrese.

Now, are there some questions that need to be answered? Sure. With Joel Embiid only appearing in 19 games last season, we got an extended look at Maxey as the focal point of the offense. The results were not entirely encouraging. His 2.4 turnovers per game were a career-high and we still didn’t see a lot of the advanced playmaking looks as a passer we might have hoped to find. Things could certainly improve with a healthier, improved supporting cast around Tyrese, plus the fact that he’s still only 24 years old and continuing to progress in various areas. But it’s something to keep an eye on, anyway. Even if his ceiling is “highly efficient second option,” that’s far from the end of the world.

We also want to see how Maxey fares within the Sixers’ new “you can never have too many guards” era. Can he and Jared McCain function as the starting backcourt of the future? How about third overall pick VJ Edgecombe and forever restricted free agent Quentin Grimes? None of these guys are particularly large in a league where seven-footers are increasingly handling the ball more and more. Philadelphia will have to assess how they all work together and Maxey is a part of that equation.

Ultimately, I think Sixers fans should have nothing but positive expectations for Tyrese Maxey heading into the 2025-26 season. He hit the first minor injury-related speed bump of his career, but nobody outworks this guy on or off the court and I fully expect him to be better than ever. It was only 17 months ago that Maxey turned into a human flamethrower against the Knicks. He’ll be that guy again, and if the Sixers return to a place where they deserve to have an All-Star, Tyrese will be right back in the forefront of that conversation.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...biid-quentin-grimes-jared-mccain-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Two Sixers found within ESPN’s NBA Rank top-50 survey

With the calendar now officially turned to fall, the 2025-26 NBA season is nearly upon us! The Philadelphia 76ers will hold their media day on Friday, with practice set to begin on Saturday. Quentin Grimes, the clock is ticking, my guy. Correspondingly, national outlets are beginning their lookaheads for the upcoming season.

Over at the worldwide leader, ESPN posted the top 11-50 for their NBA Rank exercise today, which surveys who will be the best players solely for the 2025-26 season. In the previous installment covering 51-100, Paul George was the only member of the Philadelphia 76ers checking in at 54th overall. I’ll just say George’s ranking could be very low or extremely high — extremely wide range of outcomes there.

In today’s post, we find two Sixers inside the top-50. Joel Embiid is ranked 47th, all the way down from 8th overall last season. Here’s the excerpt on The Process:

“It is almost impossible to rank Embiid after the former MVP played just 19 games last season. If he is back and healthy, he’s obviously a top-10-caliber player, as he was for several seasons prior to 2024-25. But that’s a very big if, particularly after how the past 18 months or so have gone in Philly. — Bontemps

Signature stat: Embiid in 2023-24 became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62) with more points than minutes played in a season.

Fantasy projection: 27.8 PTS, 9.1 REB, 4.6 AST”

To an even higher degree than George, you could make an argument for Embiid to fall basically anywhere. The man is two years removed from winning an MVP award, but could also be the worst contract in the league given his uncertain health situation. You can’t possibly cover any more possibilities than that dichotomy.

On a less fatalistic note, Tyrese Maxey is listed at 28th, down from last year’s 19th overall ranking. Here’s Tim Bontemps again with the Maxey blurb:

“Even Maxey’s incandescent smile lost some shine amid the misery of Philadelphia’s lost season, but the guard is unquestionably the player the 76ers will lean on most with both Joel Embiid and Paul George coming off injury-riddled campaigns. One thing to watch: Maxey’s 3-point shooting. It dropped from 43% three years ago to 33% last season. — Bontemps

Signature stat: Maxey’s five games with 30 points and 10 assists is the most by a Sixers player since Allen Iverson (2006-07).

Fantasy projection: 26.0 PTS, 6.0 AST, 1.6 STL”

Again, it’s perfectly fair to drop Maxey some following a season’s development stunted by injury and a team in free fall. However, I’m much more optimistic Tyrese will course-correct and be back up to where he was previously by this time next year.

I’m guessing no additional Sixers will be sneaking their way into the top 10 when that list goes live, but maybe people factored in Adem Bona’s NBA 2k26 block rating very highly. Soon enough, we’ll have some actual basketball again to dissect and discuss.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...0-survey-paul-george-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Grimes, Sixers reportedly ‘far apart’ on a deal; guard not expected to attend training camp

It wouldn’t be a Sixers media day or training camp without a proper holdout. The team is no stranger to them, with James Harden and Ben Simmons making headlines in recent years. This time, it looks like restricted free agent Quentin Grimes will carry the torch. ESPN’s Shams Charania detailed the latest on Grimes’ situation, alongside fellow restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga’s in Golden State.

Developments on restricted free agents — 76ers' Quentin Grimes and Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga — for NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/h5gRfh8eUy

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 24, 2025

Focusing on Grimes, Charania spoke with his agent, David Bauman, who shared several updates. The short version: the two sides remain far apart on a deal. Sept. 24 marked the first day the Sixers made a “formal, hard offer” to Grimes and his camp. As things stand, Grimes is not expected to attend Sixers media day on Friday or join the team for training camp in Abu Dhabi.

Charania also noted a few surrounding factors that could prove relevant: the arrival of high lottery pick VJ Edgecombe, along with lingering health uncertainty for Paul George and Joel Embiid.

As many know, Grimes has been a restricted free agent for several months with little movement since the start of free agency. Now, as September winds down, there’s still no clear resolution in sight — but that could change soon. The reason you’re hearing about this now is because Grimes has until Oct. 1 to decide on his qualifying offer. That deadline represents the only real leverage his camp holds. If he neither accepts the offer nor reaches a new agreement, the qualifying offer will expire, leaving him a restricted free agent who can only negotiate a new deal with the Sixers.

Taking the qualifying offer could provide Grimes a pathway to a different team and, eventually, a bigger payday. But it comes with significant obstacles. For one, he would gain a no-trade clause for this season, giving the Sixers little incentive to commit real minutes to a player who isn’t part of their long-term plans. That alone could hurt his value. On top of that, any team trading for him would not inherit his Bird rights, which, depending on the cap situation, could severely limit his future earnings.

Tony Jones of The Athletic has indicated Grimes signing the qualifying offer or accepting a balloon deal are the most likely options.

Per sources, the two likely scenarios as we head into Wednesday night are Grimes either taking the qualifying offer, or taking the one year balloon payment….Grimes seeking a trade kicker is not off the table https://t.co/2kD5qU44mb

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) September 25, 2025

There are also plenty of examples of restricted free agents “betting on themselves” and watching their payday slip away. Many Sixers fans will remember is Nerlens Noel. In 2017, Noel turned down a four-year, $70 million deal from the Dallas Mavericks. He opted to take his qualifying offer instead, played sparingly the following season, and never came close to recouping that kind of money. Within a few years, he had fallen out of the NBA entirely.

That situation also doesn’t factor in the current CBA, which penalizes teams for spending big — a major reason why the Sixers seem unwilling to hand out a large deal. The same applies around the league: front offices are hesitant to commit significant money unless it’s to a marquee name. And while Quentin Grimes has shown he’s a legitimate contributor, he doesn’t quite fit that category.

It’s worth noting that this report originates from an agent, so the details should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, it’s concerning that months have passed with little to no progress on a new deal. The clock is ticking, and in just a week the little leverage Grimes has left will disappear. One way or another, developments are coming soon.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...al-guard-not-expected-to-attend-training-camp

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

A Quentin Grimes sign-and-trade wouldn’t be straightforward for the Sixers

Quentin Grimes’ restricted-free-agency saga took a turn Wednesday, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that he and the Sixers remain “very far apart” in contract negotiations. He added that the two sides may be heading toward Grimes picking up his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer or a sign-and-trade.

If the Sixers aren’t willing to pay Grimes what he wants, a sign-and-trade would be his best option. Taking the qualifying offer would be a tremendous risk. (Just ask Nerlens Noel.) Although next summer projects to be friendlier to free agents than this past offseason was, Grimes still might not get offers much higher than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, particularly if he can’t replicate the production from his late-season breakout.

From the Sixers’ perspective, they’d vastly prefer to get something in return for Grimes rather than losing him for nothing as a free agent next summer. In theory, that should make a sign-and-trade more appealing to both sides than Grimes taking his qualifying offer. However, the artist formerly known as Base Year Compensation (BYC) will complicate those efforts.

For the true sickos out there, here’s the exact wording in the CBA:

If you don’t feel like sorting through legalese, here’s the TL;DR version: If Grimes receives more than a 20 percent raise (which he will) and gets sign-and-traded to a team that’s above the salary cap, his incoming salary won’t be the same as his outgoing salary. He’ll count as 100 percent of his new salary for the team that acquires him, but he’ll only count as 50 percent of his new salary for the Sixers for the purposes of outgoing salary.

So, for example, if Grimes signs a contract starting at $20 million flat, he’ll count as $20 million in incoming salary for his new team, but he’ll be only $10 million as outgoing salary for the Sixers. Given the league’s salary-matching rules for trades, that would complicate a deal with any team other than the Brooklyn Nets, who could just absorb Grimes into their cap space without having to send back outgoing salary.

The Sixers are currently $10 million below the first apron, which means they’re allowed to take back more salary than they send out. However, doing so would hard-cap them at the first apron, which they’d presumably like to avoid for the time being. The Sixers thus wouldn’t want to take back more salary than they send out in a Grimes sign-and-trade.

The latest CBA did expand the salary-matching rules for trades. Previously, teams sending out at least $19.6 million in salary or teams over the luxury-tax threshold could only receive 125 percent of the salary they sent out, plus $100,000. Now, teams under the first apron can take back roughly $8.5 million more in salary than they send out. ($8,527,010, to be exact.) However, those limits in conjunction with the BYC rules would still reduce the Sixers’ sign-and-trade options.

Hypothetically, let’s say Grimes is amenable to a deal starting at $17 million flat. He’d count as $17 million for incoming salary and only $8.5 million as outgoing salary, which means he’d fit under the expanded salary-matching rules. However, the Sixers would still need to find a team that was at least $8.5 million under the first apron and had roughly $8.5 million in salary to trade away.

At the moment, only 15 teams are at least $8.5 million below the first apron (including the Sixers). So, that immediately wipes out half the league as a possible option for Grimes. Of those remaining 14 teams, how many have the requisite salary to send out? Particularly considering that players who signed new contracts this offseason aren’t eligible to be traded until Dec. 15 at the earliest?

Perhaps Grimes would take even less than a $17 million starting salary to widen his sign-and-trade options. For instance, if his new deal started at $15 million, he’d count as $7.5 million in outgoing salary rather than $8.5 million. Still, his new team would need to send out at least $6.5 million in salary to satisfy the salary-matching rules, but no more than $7.5 million so the Sixers didn’t take back more salary than they sent out.

Daryl Morey and Co. have the reputation of being one of the more cap-savvy and creative front offices in the league, so they’ve surely explored almost every possible sign-and-trade permutation at this point. (What else have they had to do for the past few months?) But the BYC rules and the salary-matching limits for trades would make a sign-and-trade involving Grimes difficult (if not impossible) depending on the starting salary of his new deal.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...qualifying-offer-balloon-deal-nba-free-agency