At times this past season, the Philadelphia 76ers looked like a championship-caliber team and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. But the Sixers still have a lot to figure out this offseason, including their identity, according to Bob Myers, president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
Sixers To Make 3-point Shooting and Rebounding A Priority This Offseason
“We’ve got to find an identity; we just don’t have one,” Myers told Kyle Neubeck of PHLY earlier today.
Philadelphia went 45-37 this past season, finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference. While the 76ers improved their win total by 21 games over the previous season, they still dealt with several injuries and inconsistencies. The Sixers overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs before being swept by the New York Knicks in the semifinals.
Philadelphia was just average on both ends of the floor, ranking 16th in offensive and 17th in defensive rating. The 76ers struggled to shoot, and the offense was often stagnant. However, the Sixers did a good job of getting to the foul line, rebounding offensively, and not turning the ball over much.
The 76ers defended decently well, holding opponents to 46.7% from the field (12th) and defending the 3-point line (35.3%). The Sixers also did a great job of forcing turnovers. However, they struggled to protect the rim and rebound the ball on the defensive end. The Knicks produced a 63.6% effective field goal percentage and dominated the offensive glass in the Eastern Conference semis.
The Sixers used 30 starting lineups and 23 players. As Paul George (45 games), Joel Embiid (44), and Kelly Oubre Jr. (32) combined to miss 121 contests.
On the positive side of things, Tyrese Maxey produced a career season, earning All-NBA third team honors and finishing seventh in Clutch Player of the Year voting. VJ Edgecombe had a fantastic rookie campaign, while Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona showed flashes of being capable of regular minutes. Meanwhile, Quentin Grimes had his ups and downs, though he struggled during the playoff run.
Philadelphia was 24-14 with Embiid in the starting lineup and 22-15 when George played. The Sixers’ best lineups (16-8) included Edgecombe, Maxey, Embiid, Barlow, and George or Oubre. They were 8-7 in games with George and 8-1 in contests where Oubre replaced George.
76ers 2026-27 Financials and Who Will Be in Philly This Upcoming Season
“It’s not a championship caliber team right now, but we’re gonna work on that….” Sixers’ new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey, said at his introductory news conference today. “We’re gonna do everything we can to bring players in that can fit and help.”
Philadelphia has 11 players under contract for next season with a salary cap hit of $182.7 million. Barlow ($3.4 million), Trendon Watford ($2.8 million), and Dalen Terry ($2.5 million) have team options. Meanwhile, Jabari Walker and Bona have non-guaranteed contracts.
Maxey and Edgecombe are the face of the 76ers going forward. Embiid, in the first year of a 3-year, $187.8 million extension, and George, who is owed $110 million over the next two seasons, are unsurprisingly expected to return.
“They’re our four guys,” Gansey replied, talking about Maxey, Edgecombe, Embiid, and George. “They’re under contract. We gotta do the best to get them to their best selves. Every night at 7 o’clock, we gotta get them to their best to help us win.”
Sixers new POBO Mike Gansey on the core of Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe
“They’re our four guys. They’re under contract. We gotta do the best to get them to their best selves. Every night at 7’o’clock, we gotta get them to their best to help us win.” pic.twitter.com/8q9uBZZ6mv
— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) June 8, 2026
Sixers Have A Financial Concern
Philadelphia will operate as an above-the-cap team this offseason. The 76ers own the No. 22 pick in June’s upcoming draft. The Sixers figure to keep the draft pick and exercise their option on Barlow, which is due on June 29. Bona and Walker are also likely to return. Terry and Watford are not expected to be with the Sixers.
In that case, the 76ers would have 10 players under contract with a salary cap hit of about $180 million. The Sixers are expected to make a pitch to keep Oubre and Grimes, both of whom are unrestricted free agents.
Keeping Grimes — along with fellow free agent wing Kelly Oubre Jr. — would cause Philadelphia to go well into the luxury tax, something the team has repeatedly avoided in recent years,” ESPN Tim Bontemps wrote a couple of weeks ago. “The belief overall is that Grimes will land something at or below the midlevel exception, and ultimately, it will come from the 76ers.”
What do the 76ers need this summer?
“I want fountains, not drains,” Gansey said when talking about how he is going to build around his ‘Core 4’.
Myers added that the Sixers will make 3-point shooting and rebounding points of emphasis this summer.
Re-signing Grimes and Oubre will go a long way in filling those needs. Grimes and Oubre each averaged 1.7 threes this past season, tied for fourth on the team, which ranked 22nd in the league with just 12.8 triples a contest. However, Grimes only shot 33.4% from deep — he is a career 36.6% shooter from deep. Meanwhile, Oubre’s 36% 3-point clip was a career-best.
While it is hard to project who may be available for the 76ers at No. 22 in the draft, there are a few players who could still be available who would be good fits: Allen Graves, Chris Cenac Jr., and Henri Veesaar.
Obviously, a lot will depend on whether the Sixers can re-sign Grimes and/or Oubre Jr., but Jaxson Hayes or Precious Achiuwa may make sense if the Sixers don’t re-sign Andre Drummond. Luke Kennard is the best shooter available on the free agent market.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
