The 76ers are hiring Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey as the team’s next president of basketball operations, a source confirmed to The Inquirer on Friday.
Gansey has served as the Cavaliers’ GM under president of basketball operations Kolby Altman since 2022. In that time, he has shown he is not afraid of making big moves. In 2022, he helped orchestrate a trade with the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell, sending away Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton. Then, earlier this season, the Cavaliers landed James Harden from Los Angeles after dealing away Darius Garland, a two-time All-Star.
Gansey will replace Daryl Morey, who was fired on May 12 after six years as the Sixers’ front office lead. The search for Morey’s replacement was conducted primarily by Bob Myers, president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and former Golden State Warriors president of basketball operations. Meanwhile, a decision on Sixers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson’s future role with the team has not been made clear.
Here’s what Sixers fans and onlookers are saying on social media about Gansey’s hiring …
Changing of the guards
It has been rare to find in recent years, but there is an influx of positivity on Sixers Twitter right now. Many of the pro-Gansey posters have pointed to his track record with the Cavaliers and the team’s relevancy under his reign as enough reasoning to support the move.
Hiring the guy that built a 64 Win team around Garland & Spida, to build a team around VJ & Maxey, is probably a good idea. https://t.co/UinR2ucEhQ
— Vévo (@vevosuave) May 29, 2026
Mike Gansey was my second favorite exec out of the Sixers’ four confirmed prospects. He has over a decade of experience with the Cavaliers and is still only 40 years old.
He is best known for helping Cleveland find hidden gems like UFA Dean Wade (hmm), Craig Porter Jr., etc.
— Jacob Moreno (@jacob_moreno_) May 29, 2026
Obviously depends what he does here in Philly, and tough to evaluate how much say he had in Cleveland, but I like the hiring of Gansey here
Has worked with the two star guard method before and people have talked glowingly about him
— Jake Chipper (@JakeChipper) May 29, 2026
Morey when Gansey gets Kawhi at the deadline next year: pic.twitter.com/R1qa29QOuB
— Brother Love (@MrRon_P) May 29, 2026
Hard to really know how this will turn out but he was part of a really good front office in Cleveland the last few years.
Apparently played a big role in drafting Jaylon Tyson and finding Dean Wade. Known for his scouting and improving rosters around the margins.
At the end of… https://t.co/tdGN0erv33
— Sam Oshtry (@soshtry) May 29, 2026
Always heard good things about Mike Gansey. He was very involved in targeting guys like Sam Merrill and Max Strus — pro personnel types of decisions. Should be a good hire for the Sixers. https://t.co/NyEAZi17W4
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) May 29, 2026
Fit is nasty which means he’s all about business https://t.co/PcTt6dAsWa
— YoCliff (@CliffNotez_) May 29, 2026
As long as he doesn’t show up to the presser in a blue sport coat and black t-shirt, I’ll give him a chance.
— No Sixers No (@Philly_ASA) May 29, 2026
Ball don’t lie
Meanwhile, other fans are pumped that Gansey was a bit of a baller in his own right. The Sixers’ new front office lead played at West Virginia — alongside La Salle men’s basketball head coach Darris Nichols — before playing overseas and in the NBA G League.
My President basketball of operations will dominate your nerdy analytical President of basketball ops in a game of knockout or horse. Mike Gansey let’s gooooooo pic.twitter.com/bkv4ZEg4V5
— Bleav In 76ers (#DemonGanseyFC) (@BleavIn76ers) May 29, 2026
Hiring former college players or bench guys method >>>
Sean Mannion and Mike Gansey please change our lives. https://t.co/4m8ddLRYtX
— Aidan Doc 🧸 (@AidanDoc__) May 29, 2026
Mike Gansey is a WVU legend. Every kid in the state wanted to wear the tshirt under the jersey because of him.
— Deborah Martinelli (@DMart_9) May 29, 2026
Morey could never do this https://t.co/ut060l6ck0
— Mike (@mhc_76) May 29, 2026
Nichols, himself, also expressed excitement about his former teammate coming to town.
With the reported news that Mike Gansey is becoming 76ers’ president of basketball operations, I asked @LaSalle_MBB coach Darris Nichols about Gansey:
“Gansey is one of my favorite teammates,” Nichols, who played two seasons with Gansey at WVU, said via text. “Everyone in the… pic.twitter.com/cgpKa6RM4H
— Aaron Bracy (@Aaron_Bracy) May 29, 2026
Not celebrating just yet
Of course, not everyone is planning the Sixers parade route next year.
Some fans voiced their disapproval with the hiring — many of whom were eyeing different candidates in the Sixers’ publicized search. Others felt Gansey’s trade for James Harden, who famously did not work out in Philadelphia, was enough reason not to trust him with the keys to the franchise.
Mixed feelings on this hire…really wanted Vince Rozman from OKC…but could have done worse than Gansey https://t.co/cHJsCYaNhC
— Philadunkia (@philadunkia) May 29, 2026
Gansey over Lloyd pic.twitter.com/cnNspBK3oa
— ₡ 🗣️ (@SirEmbiid) May 28, 2026
I would’ve been happier seeing jameer get a shot first. But hey let’s see how this goes https://t.co/TOUdAGSiQX
— Leel (@Jaleel24x8) May 29, 2026
looking at the Cavaliers i would go with Jameer Nelson #sixers https://t.co/UMFy4Wef0e
— dxrelish (@dxrelish) May 29, 2026
So we hire another guy who is obsessed with trading for James Harden?
— PhillySportsDude (@SharpStatsGuy) May 29, 2026
So after firing the guy who traded for a 32-year-old James Harden, they’re gonna hire the guy who traded for a 36-year-old James Harden.
— Jalen Bryce Embiid, Esq. (@PhillySportsLA) May 29, 2026
The guy who was involved in bringing Harden to Cleveland is now the GM of Sixers? GREAT!
There’s a reason this is a late-Friday news piece. https://t.co/VE7JQnDrkG
— VG (@ViolationsGreg) May 29, 2026
I have no idea if this is a good or bad hire but it’s the Sixers so it will most likely end up being bad https://t.co/ps4f4rYDPC
— NBA Slime (@TerryFranconia) May 29, 2026
Meanwhile, others are preparing Gansey for the realities of Sixers basketball, which has not been pretty as of late, especially when it comes to injuries.
Get ready to learn more about diseases you thought were eradicated in the 19th century than you ever have in your life, Gansey. https://t.co/xozKmp3482
— CogginToboggan (@CogginToboggan) May 29, 2026