The 76ers became the talk of the sports world Friday, when LeBron James announced he would sign with the team to finish out his illustrious NBA career.
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Some final roster tinkering still must occur before training camp begins in late September. The Sixers need to waive one player — likely Dalen Terry or Jabari Walker, who are both on nonguaranteed contracts — to get under the first apron hard cap to sign James. Chris Haynes also reported that veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope intends to reunite with James in Philly upon reaching a buyout agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies, which would require another Sixers player to be waived or traded. And they have one more two-way contract slot available.
But James’ addition means the bulk of business is finished. In short, it has been a heck of a first offseason for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey. Entering the summer, the Sixers appeared to be locked into their top-heavy roster, given Joel Embiid and Paul George’s max contracts were viewed as difficult to trade. Instead, this front office executed a blockbuster deal for an All-NBA wing, secured an all-time great on a veteran’s minimum deal, and added complementary role players that now put the Sixers in the contender tier.
How does it all grade out, player-by-player? Here is a breakdown:
LeBron James: A
James, arguably the best player of all time, decided to join the Sixers because he believes in the title potential of the roster already in place.
Though the 41-year-old will be in more of a complementary role here than when he was a perennial MVP candidate in his prime, he still has All-Star capabilities after averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 60 games last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Sixers will most value his playmaking, exceptional basketball IQ, and experience building championship culture with all of his three former teams in the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Lakers.
To call landing James on two-year, $8 million contract a “steal” — especially when his two former NBA stops were options as sentimental career-enders — is the understatement of understatements.
Jaylen Brown: A+
Even before adding James, the Sixers had already pulled off a stunner when they acquired Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for George and four draft picks.
Brown is coming off his best individual NBA season, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists and finishing sixth in MVP voting while fellow star wing Jayson Tatum was sidelined for months following Achilles surgery. Brown also is a strong perimeter defender. But how will he re-adjust to being one of multiple premier scoring options, joining James, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid?
Brown does come with a massive contract — and will be eligible for a one-year extension Sunday — which keeps the Sixers’ cap sheet top-heavy for the foreseeable future. But that the Sixers were able to turn George’s deal — which was even more of an albatross, given his age and injury history — into Brown shocked the NBA.
Dean Wade: A
Remember when it looked like Wade would be the Sixers’ primary free-agency addition? He was the team’s initial primary target entering June 30, before things turned wild.
The 6-foot-9 Wade is a quintessential role player — especially on this team — as a stout defender who can space the floor but does not need the ball in his hands. He was initially projected as the new starting power forward before James joined, but now bolsters a bench unit that needs it.
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Anfernee Simons: B
Getting Simons on a more-than-reasonable two-year, $12.5 million contract with a player option also was a shrewd move.
The 27-year-old guard is a dynamite, high-volume three-point shooter who fits the “instant offense” off-the-bench archetype. His smaller 6-foot-3 frame does make him a defensive liability, particularly in potential lineups with Maxey or rookie Labaron Philon Jr. Simons also was a teammate of Brown’s for part of last season with the Boston Celtics.
Ariel Hukporti: C
Hukporti’s NBA potential is largely unknown — or at least untapped.
The athletic 7-footer was the New York Knicks’ third-string center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, and averaged only 9.1 minutes in 79 games across two seasons.
Backup center remains the Sixers’ biggest positional weakness, with Hukporti, Adem Bona, and Jonhi Broome as options to fill that role after the departure of veteran Andre Drummond. And though Embiid is optimistic he has figured out how to manage his surgically-repaired left knee, one still must assume he will miss a chunk of games. That means one of those reserves will need to reliably slide into the starting spot.
Labaron Philon: B+
Perhaps Philon slipping to the Sixers at No. 22 in the NBA draft was the first sign of the buzzy offseason to come.
Many evaluators projected the former Alabama guard as a lottery pick, with ESPN expert and longtime coach Fran Fraschilla saying Philon had the potential to be the best point guard in a deep draft class at that position.
Philon flashed that gusty shotmaking, crafty ballhandling, and ability to distribute during Las Vegas Summer League. And now he will have more ability to develop on this star-studded roster.
Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert: B
Both players will begin the season on two-way contracts, designed to split time between the Sixers and the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats.
Love is an aggressive — and streaky — scorer coming off his rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers. Rupert boasts an impressive 7-foot-2 wingspan, but has rarely gotten meaningful minutes in three NBA seasons spent with the Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Sixers have a history of identifying talent with two-way deals. Walker, Terry, and Dominick Barlow were all converted to standard contracts last season.
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