In his first real move running the Sixers, new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey took Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. out of Alabama with the 22nd pick.
His first free agency move was to reunite with Dean Wade, a player Gansey helped find as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office. He moved quickly on signing former New York Knick Ariel Hukporti, a young big man with some upside. Then, after pulling the trigger on the Jaylen Brown blockbuster, he inked guard Anfernee Simons to a deal.
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Upon successfully recruiting LeBron James to the Sixers, Gansey then signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a former LeBron teammate and two-time NBA champ.
While Gansey has (rightfully) been praised for his splashy offseason moves, don’t overlook what he did to fortify the Sixers’ bench. Now the question becomes — how will head coach Nick Nurse use his bench pieces?
The starting lineup is set with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, James and Joel Embiid all locked into their spots. Based on their experience and when they were signed, you’d have to imagine Wade and Simons will be the first guys off the bench. Wade provides defensively versatility, good decision-making and decent spot-up shooting. Simons is arguably the best shooter on the roster and will provide some supplemental ball-handling and shot creation. It’s easy to see how both will play alongside the team’s starters.
With those two seemingly locked into the sixth and seventh spots in the rotation, the rest of the rotation is a bit murkier, with multiple competitions taking place.
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One of the most intriguing competitions will be for the chance to back up Embiid. Adem Bona returns for his third season after the Sixers selected him in the second round in 2024. The team also signed third-year big man Hukporti away from the defending champion New York Knicks. It’s fair to say both players have their flaws and are to this point largely unproven. Can Bona improve his hands, finishing, defensive rebounding and fouling enough for his defensive impact to be felt? Will Hukporti unlock some untapped potential he didn’t get to show as the third-string big man with the Knicks? No matter who gets the first crack, the Sixers will need both big men to play — or perhaps Gansey will be looking for a more proven Embiid backup around the deadline.
Maybe a more under-the-radar competition could be for wing minutes. Justin Edwards also returns for his third season after signing a two-way deal with the Sixers after going undrafted in 2024. After signing LeBron, the Sixers quickly signed Caldwell-Pope. Edwards has long been a favorite of Nick Nurse. He plays hard, can get hot from three and isn’t a liability defensively. KCP is a proven veteran and two-time NBA champion, but he’s struggled with injuries and inconsistency the last two seasons. The guess here is the veteran gets the early nod, but Edwards will be in the mix.
It’s tricky to forecast Philon’s place. Before the blockbuster moves, Philon looked poised to take on a massive role. Things change. Still, the rookie should have a chance to earn minutes. All of Maxey, Edgecombe and Simons will miss time here and there. Plus, there still could be room for another lead ball-handler to take a few minutes. The big thing for Philon is finding the balance of his two seasons at Alabama. As a freshman, he was a guard stopper. As a sophomore, he took on a massive offensive role. Defense will be what gets him on the floor this season.
And don’t forget about Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker.
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Surely Barlow won’t start 59 games like he did last season, but he can be a valuable player. His size, defensive versatility, cutting and rebounding could be enormous assets. Barlow has also been lauded for his basketball IQ, something that should endear him to a player like James quickly. There isn’t an obvious role for Barlow, but Nurse will likely find spots for him to contribute. If his three-ball improves — something he knows he needs to work on — it could change his trajectory entirely.
Walker is the one guy it’s probably safe to assume will be firmly on the outside of the rotation looking in. Still, guys like Walker have value. As the 14th man, you know he’ll be ready when his number is called. He’ll play hard, rebound, make some open shots and will never complain about his role. By all accounts, he’s also a great teammate.
This is unfamiliar territory for the Sixers. Yes, they’re still top-heavy, but this might be the best bench they’ve had during the Embiid era. They’re deep, versatile and have optionality.
The starting group will be exciting to watch, but don’t sleep on this bench.
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