The 76ers coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs after being down three games to one seemed like the most exciting thing that would happen between the teams this year.
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) July 1, 2026
Showing some Brotherly Love
The trade didn’t just have fans and media talking. Other Sixers and figures with Philly ties have shared their thoughts on the newest addition to the roster.
While Tyrese Maxey took to X to react, fellow Sixers VJ Edgecombe and Jabari Walker reposted the news on their Instagram stories with Walker captioning the story “scary sight.”
And despite their current New York ties, Abdul Carter and Josh Hart shared their thoughts on the acquisition — and the NBA offseason at large. Carter is a Philadelphia native and Penn State product who’s now an edge rusher for the New York Giants while Hart is a former Villanova star who’s now a New York Knick.
Some Celtics fans took to social media to express appreciation for Brown’s time in Boston, especially for leading them to an NBA championship, for which he was named Finals MVP in 2024.
Jaylen Brown said he'd go to war for Boston.
He did that, secured a title, and likely put his name in the rafters. For him to be sent to Philadelphia is something probably no Celtics fans wanted, but it was a fruitful tenure overall.
And in Philly, fans are looking forward to seeing the connection between Joel Embiid and Brown following some of the comments Brown made regarding Embiid and his “flopping” after the Game 7 matchup between Boston and the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs this season.
Not only did the Sixers come from out of nowhere to stun the NBA by acquiring Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown, and not only did they do it for a criminally cheap price, but they also somehow managed to ship out the remaining two years and $110 million remaining on Paul George’s contract.
And, just like that, a new window of title contention has arrived.
That’s the most important takeaway for Sixers fans. Brown transforms the Sixers in both the short and long term. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP and a sixth-place finisher in regular-season voting this year, the longtime Celtics wing is basically the exact player you would create in a lab if you were dreaming up the perfect star to maximize a team with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in the backcourt. He has the size, versatility, and defensive chops to help make up for however much of that they give away at the guard position. He is a straight-line player who can get to the rim through traffic with or without the ball in his hands. He is an adequate and willing three-point shooter who showed signs of being much more than that earlier in his career. He can alternate seamlessly between primary and secondary scoring roles. Basically, he is the exact player the Sixers would have been crossing their fingers to have a chance to draft at some point in order to make the Maxey-Edgecombe pairing a legitimate contender.
Even if only half of that was true, the Sixers would have still been justified in making this deal. The unprocessable thing about this deal is the mind-bogglingly low price Gansey somehow managed to finagle from a Celtics team that doesn’t make many bad decisions.
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has gotten off to a strong start in Philly.
Consider a deal that the Lakers and Jazz struck earlier in the day on Wednesday. In exchange for the right to sign restricted free agent center Walker Kessler, a zero-time All-Star who played just five games last season before undergoing shoulder surgery, the Lakers agreed to pay:
a 2031 unprotected first-round pick
a 2033 unprotected first-round pick
two first-round pick swaps
That’s what the Lakers gave up for the right to sign Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal.
Here is what the Sixers will reportedly give up to acquire Brown:
a 2031 unprotected first-round pick
an additional first-round pick, TBD (initial reports suggest it will either be the Clippers’ unprotected 2028 first-rounder or the Sixers’ 2028 first-rounder, whichever is more favorable).
two second-round picks, one in 2028 and the other in 2030
(It’s worth noting that the Kessler deal was struck by Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, the former Celtics president who once upon a time acquired Brown and Tatum while fleecing teams in the process.)
Jaylen Brown will partner with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to lead a revamped Sixers roster.
But the real coup de grace is the inclusion of George, whose contract many believed was under water to the point that the Sixers would’ve needed to attach a first-round pick just for some other team to take it onto their books. Maybe that was errant thinking about the rest of the league’s willingness to spend $110 million over two years on a 36-year-old who has played in 78 games over the last two regular seasons and has played in more than 56 games just once since 2019. Whatever the case, the Sixers should be thrilled.
George is a tidy anchor for such a mind-blowing deal. The Sixers basically traded him for a much better player who is 6½ years younger. The cost for the move was less than what the Raptors traded for 35-year-old Kawhi Leonard (Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected firsts, a pick swap, and change), who is in the last year of his contract and will be able to walk away if the Raptors don’t give him a huge contract extension into his late 30s.
Even if the Celtics and the rest of the NBA knows or suspects something that the Sixers don’t, even if the trade doesn’t prove to be a game changer, it still doesn’t leave them a whole heck of a lot worse off than they would’ve been over the next couple of years with George.
Heading into the offseason, it sure looked like the Sixers would need to be in a mode of making the best of things and preparing for the day when George would move on and free up some payroll maneuverability. Instead, they’ve vaulted themselves into the realm of top-end contenders for the next three seasons.
On Wednesday evening, FanDuel had the Sixers tied as the fifth favorite for the NBA title at 22-to-1, trailing the Spurs (2.4-to-1), Thunder (2.5-to-1), Knicks (8.5-to-1), and Celtics (14-to-1).
Their immediate title hopes still hinge largely on the availability of Joel Embiid. The difference now is that they will not need Embiid to be anything close to his MVP prime in order to be taken seriously. Even if he is some lesser form of who he was last postseason, the Sixers can make an argument for having the edge in top-end talent regardless of matchup. Even if Embiid is absent entirely, they almost certainly should be expected to challenge for a top-four playoff seed.
Are there ways this could go wrong? Sure. The loss of the 2028 pick would be particularly acute for a team that was presumed to need two or three solid drafts to get itself ready for the post-Embiid era. The Sixers’ depth is still a major question mark. They have a conspicuous lack of volume-capable three-point shooting on the wing. We have yet to hear Brown’s thoughts at having been traded to a place like Philadelphia, on a team with two young ball-dominant scorers and Embiid. At the same time, they can always pivot if it doesn’t work.
There is always risk. The question is the price of it. For the Sixers, there wasn’t much to decide.
The 76ers have officially entered the summer of blockbuster trades.
They agreed to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday evening.
From the Sixers’ perspective, it is a stunning move for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey to pull off in his first offseason. George’s max contract — still with two years and more than $110 million remaining — was considered difficult to trade given his age and injury history.
But the Celtics clearly were motivated to move Brown, who finished sixth in last season’s voting for NBA Most Valuable Player and had spent his entire 10-year career with the franchise.
Boston reportedly offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, before the Bucks instead sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. On social media and his popular Twitch streams, Brown publicly expressed displeasure with his name being dangled in trade talks and defended his career accomplishments.
So the Sixers have swapped out one three-star roster construction for another, linking Brown with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and former MVP Joel Embiid. Brown has three years and approximately $183 million remaining on his supermax contract. But he is 29 years, played in 71 games in 2025-26, and is an elite attacker and shot-maker coming off his best individual season.
Brown, a five-time All-Star, created an excellent wing tandem with Jayson Tatum that propelled Boston to the 2024 championship and the Finals MVP award that year. Last season, he became the bona fide No. 1 offensive option while Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to spearhead the Celtics’ surprise 56-win season to finish in second place in the Eastern Conference. He called it his “favorite” season on Twitch, drawing criticism — or, at least, eyebrow raises — from some outsiders wondering if that was a swipe at his role (or partnership with Tatum) or why he valued a disappointing first-round exit more than a title run.
Jaylen Brown had a career-year for the Celtics last season and is a five-time All-Star.
Such every-night responsibility will not necessarily be the case with the Sixers, given Embiid and Maxey both have experience as the team’s offensive centerpiece. Yet it is a seismic win-now swing in an Eastern Conference race already boasting the defending-champion New York Knicks — and that has already been revamped with significant trades in recent days.
After Antetokounmpo was moved the night before the NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors agreed to re-acquire Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday. Elsewhere, LaMelo Ball was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ja Morant was dealt from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers.
But George was hampered by multiple injuries his first season as a Sixer, and then last season was suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. He finished 2025-26 strong on both ends of the floor — including in the Sixers’ rally to upset the Celtics in the playoffs’ first round — and said he was looking forward to focusing on basketball training this offseason.
Free agency began quietly for the Sixers, with forward Dean Wade agreeing to sign a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed. Things picked up Wednesday, when reserve center Ariel Hukporti agreed to a one-year deal, The Inquirer confirmed, and Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes reportedly agreed to leave the Sixers to sign with the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.
Then came the stunning blockbuster trade, making Brown a Sixer.
After a slow start, the 76ers‘ first move of free agency came late Thursday night as they signed Dean Wade, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, to a four-year, $39 million deal.
Last season, the 6-foot-9 forward played 59 games (38 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes. With Kelly Oubre Jr. on the move to the Indiana Pacers, Wade could shift into the starting lineup come October.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Sixers’ new signing:
Gansey’s guy
New Sixers president of basketball Mike Gansey has a long history with Wade, so it is quite fitting the former Cavalier is his first free agent acquisition.
As the Cavaliers assistant general manager, Gansey helped bring Wade in as an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal in 2019. After a year playing mostly for the Canton Charge, the team’s G League affiliate, Wade cracked the Cavs’ rotation in the 2020-21 season. Since then, the Kansas State product has been a key contributor for the Cavaliers, whose role players included Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Tyrese Proctor.
New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has a preexisting relationship with Dean Wade.
Though the Cavaliers boasted stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and, later, James Harden, they relied heavily on “glue guys” like Wade under Gansey’s watch. Cleveland won 64 games in 2024-25 and 52 games last season. Meanwhile, the Sixers have struggled to roster role players who fit around the team’s stars in recent years, something Gansey is hoping Wade can change.
“It’s not a championship-caliber team right now, but we’re going to work on that,” Gansey said at his introductory news conference. “Obviously get those four, get the big four [Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe] together on the floor, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring players in here that fit and that obviously can help.”
In Cleveland, Wade was best known for his defense.
With the Cavs, Wade was tasked with defending players at all positions. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, just five players gave up fewer points per drive than Wade last season, according to the ALL NBA Podcast.
Wade’s defensive prowess was noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, when he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors’ leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.
“As much as y’all talk about us three, me, [Harden], and Evan [Mobley], Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers’ 115-105 win over Toronto in Game 2. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (right) acknowledged Dean Wade’s contributions during their time as teammates.
Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket.”
“For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”
Rural roots
Wade’s hometown of St. John, Kan. is a bit different from his landing spot in Philadelphia. The rural town is home to roughly 1,200 residents. For reference, Xfinity Mobile Arena has a capacity of 21,000 for Sixers games.
“It’s a small little farming community, but it’s filled with great people who care,” Wade told Abilene-RC.com in 2018. “Everyone loves each other. If you go there, you really understand what it means to have a family environment. It’s a great little town.”
Added his father, Jay Wade: “It’s rural America. When we need something, we don’t just hop in the car and go down to the Home Depot. We’re 25 miles away from the nearest Walmart.”
Before carving out a role in the NBA, Dean Wade (left), here defending a pass from Kennesaw State guard Tyler Hooker, had a solid career at Kansas State.
Wade led St. John to three state titles. During his senior campaign in 2014-15, he was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and the Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year. That season, Wade averaged 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.4 assists as St. John went 26-0. Wade was a finalist for national Gatorade Player of the Year but lost out to Ben Simmons.
When Wade arrived at K-State, his hometown followed him.
“There are die-hard [Kansas] fans in this town that have bought season tickets to K-State just to keep watching Dean,” Jay Wade told Abilene-RC.com. “They drive to Manhattan for every game and wear purple.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a two-year contract worth “nearly” $17 million with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Oubre’s departure became more plausible when the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade, who now is projected to slide into a starting spot, to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed.
Oubre rebuilt his NBA career in three seasons with the Sixers, and now joins a Pacers team that made the 2025 NBA Finals and is expected to return to contention when All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.
The 30-year-old Oubre was a starter who impacted both ends of the floor for the Sixers, averaging 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games in 2025-26. The 6-foot-8 wing used his athleticism in a more controlled way on offense, shot a career-best 36% from three-point range last season, and was willing to take on challenging perimeter defensive assignments.
Oubre signing with Indiana occurred after he also reportedly planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Sixers had Oubre’s full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are over the salary cap. Oubre’s new contract with Indiana is only a slight raise on the $8.3 million he made last season, suggesting the Sixers could instead complete their offseason by signing a player to a veteran’s minimum deal to stay under the luxury tax ($201 million).
Though Oubre said “I love it here” in Philly during his end-of-season news conference last month, his length, athleticism, and positional archetype are typically valued leaguewide. Oubre also said he hopes he “did myself a good service” by putting a concerted effort into a more efficient playing style.
Former Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., is reportedly leaving Philly to join the Indiana Pacers.
“I learned so much,” Oubre said of his time with the Sixers. “The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here, and I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for this city.
“Obviously I don’t like how [the season] ended. I always say I like to finish what I start, and this is a bit sour for me. But at the end of the day, it’s already written.”
Yet the veteran entering his 12th NBA season also has previous experience with the harsh realities of free agency. Oubre reminded during his end-of-season news conference that, after averaging 20.3 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, he “still found myself barely getting any contracts” until the Sixers signed him to a veteran’s minimum deal that September.
Oubre’s departure comes after the Sixers also lost sixth man Quentin Grimes, who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Lakers Wednesday afternoon. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents and remain uncommitted to returning to Philly or signing with a new team.
During free agency’s first 24 hours, the Sixers also agreed to add reserve center Ariel Hukporti on a one year, $3.4 million deal. They also picked up the team options for Dominick Barlow ($3.4 million) and Dalen Terry ($2.6 million, nonguaranteed until Jan. 10).
Hukporti’s and Wade’s salaries came out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, leaving the Sixers with $2.6 million remaining from that to sign an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception.
Dean Wade (right) is expected to slide in the starting role vacated by Kelly Oubre Jr.’s departure.
The Sixers entered free agency with limited financial flexibility, with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey ($40.8 million), former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all on max contracts that account for the bulk of the salary cap of nearly $165 million. Using the nontaxpayer midlevel exception on Wade hard-capped the Sixers at the first apron ($209 million).
The Sixers finished last season seventh in the Eastern Conference standings (45-37) and, after their stunning rally from down three games to one to upset the Boston Celtics in the playoffs’ first round, were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.
NBA free agency opened at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and, within hours, the 76ers had made their first move, agreeing with Dean Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal.
This was the first free agency move for new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who previously was the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Wade spent the first seven seasons of his career.
Outside of his familiarity with Gansey, Wade’s 6-foot-9 frame and versatility on the court have led many to think he could be a good fit in Philly, but his age (29) and contract terms garnered some criticism.
Here’s how experts are grading the move:
ESPN: B+
Wade’s ability to guard perimeter players and his 36.7% career three-point accuracy make him the type of player the Sixers have been seeking for years, ESPN said.
“The 76ers have plenty of guards and centers but a dearth of wing connectors between them” Zach Kram wrote. “Other than Paul George — a big swing on a maximum contract at forward — they’ve cycled through various options who haven’t quite panned out.”
“Philadelphia doesn’t get a full ‘A’ grade here because a four-year contract is a bit rich for a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in November and already has an extensive injury history. Wade has played between 44 and 59 games in each of the past five seasons — which is a concern, given Philadelphia’s rough injury track record.”
The Athletic was a little more critical of the signing, with the same concerns about the four-year commitment and a lot more pause on Wade’s assets.
“I’ve never fully understood the Wade obsession within the Cavaliers,” Zach Harper wrote. “He’s about a league-average 3-point shooter (36.7 percent). I’m not convinced he’s some great defensive option. He competes on that end but doesn’t have definite matchups you feel great about. He’s never played more than 63 games in a season. He’s never made more than 80 3-pointers in a season. He’s a solid role player, and he could land nicely with Philadelphia. Committing four years is a lot, though.”
New Sixer Dean Wade will turn 30 early next season.
Bleacher Report: C
Wade’s age and consistency again posed a concern, this time for the Bleacher Report NBA staff, which gave the signing one of the lowest grades among all free agency signings so far.
“Dean Wade has started a lot of games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the years, but he turns 30 in November, has a career average of 5.3 points and has a barely-above-average three-point percentage,” the Bleacher Report NBA staff wrote. “In theory, a good floor spacer with size can open up a lot of possibilities for a rotation, but Wade’s not consistent enough to really bend defenses. And while he’s generally been a pretty good positional defender, it’s going to be tougher for him to keep up with NBA scorers as he ages into his 30s.”
The only signing graded lower by Bleacher Report was Zach Collins’ two-year $17 million extension with the Chicago Bulls which received a C-.
Quentin Grimes will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Grimes’ departure is not a surprise after the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that the Lakers were targeting signing Grimes, who will reunite with former Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic. It is also a significant raise for Grimes, who played last season on his $8.7 million qualifying offer after a messy restricted free agency.
Grimes was primarily the Sixers’ sixth man during a 2025-26 season he described multiple times as “solid.” The 26-year-old was part of a terrific three-guard lineup, and reignited his aggressive scoring ability when All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey missed three weeks in March with a finger injury.
But Grimes shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range, while also averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 29.4 minutes in 75 games. And other than an excellent Game 5 performance on both ends of the Sixers’ first-round upset of the Boston Celtics, he was not good enough during the playoffs for a Sixers second unit that desperately needed scoring production.
When asked shortly after last month’s season-ending Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks about how he viewed his free agency and ideal basketball setup, Grimes was not exactly forthcoming.
“I haven’t even really thought about that, honestly,” Grimes said. “… talking to my agents and everything, we’ll kind of figure out what’s the best situation moving forward.”
Quentin Grimes played a large role for the Sixers in the disastrous 2024-25 season but struggled at times last year, especially in the playoffs.
After joining the Sixers at the 2025 trade deadline, Grimes became a go-to scorer for an injured team that had shifted to “tank” mode to increase odds of landing a high draft pick. He averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 28 games with the Sixers that season, including a 46-point outburst at his hometown Houston Rockets.
Grimes then entered restricted free agency, which turned into a months-long saga. He skipped the Sixers’ training camp and preseason games in Abu Dhabi and eventually signed his one-year qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grimes then parted ways with agent David Bauman and is now represented by Creative Arts Agency.
Grimes’ departure suggests that the Sixers will immediately lean on rookie-to-be Labaron Philon Jr., the Alabama guard they selected 22nd overall in last week’s draft to link with the dynamic Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. The Sixers also lost sharpshooting guard Jared McCain in a controversial trade at the February deadline.
Fellow Sixers free agent Kelly Oubre Jr., a starting forward for three seasons in Philly, remains uncommitted to return or sign with a new team. He will reportedly meet with at least the Sixers, Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents.
The Sixers on Wednesday morning also agreed to sign reserve center Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million contract, The Inquirer confirmed. That means the Sixers have about $2.6 million remaining of that midlevel exception, which can be used to sign an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception. They entered free agency with limited financial flexibility, with Maxey ($40.8 million), former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all on max contracts that account for the vast majority of the salary cap of nearly $165 million.
The Sixers finished last season seventh in the Eastern Conference standings (45-37) and, after a stunning rally from down three games to one to beat Boston, were swept by the eventual NBA champion Knicks.
Ariel Hukporti has agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million contract with the 76ers, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday morning.
The move gives the Sixers a new option at backup center behind Joel Embiid, the former NBA MVP who has struggled with numerous health issues in recent seasons.
Veteran Andre Drummond, now an unrestricted free agent, and Adem Bona, whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes fully guaranteed July 7, saw their roles fluctuate last season.
Hukporti, an athletic 7-footer, played his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks. He averaged 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes across 54 regular-season games in 2025-26, primarily as the third-team center. The 24-year-old only logged spot minutes during the Knicks’ championship run, primarily when big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson got in foul trouble.
Hukporti joins forward Dean Wade as free agents who are set to join the Sixers for the 2026-27 season. Drummond, starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr., sixth man Quentin Grimes, and reserve guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) remain unsigned by the Sixers or another team with the first full day of free-agency negotiation underway.
Hukporti’s salary comes out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, giving the Sixers $2.6 remaining from that to use on an outside player. They also have the $5.5 biannual exception.
The Sixers have traded Paul George (and four draft picks) to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown, The Inquirer has confirmed.
Trading for Jaylen Brown and moving off of Paul George’s contract transforms the Sixers in both the short and long term, writes columnist David Murphy.
The Wade deal made it less likely the team would re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr. or Quentin Grimes, and both signed elsewhere Tuesday. Oubre is headed to Indiana and Grimes to the Lakers.
While most people will focus on Wade’s personal connection to Mike Gansey, he’s also a great fit for the Sixers, writes columnist David Murphy.
// Timestamp 07/01/26 8:37pm
The Sixers transformed themselves with Jaylen Brown trade
Paul George and Jaylen Brown faced off in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The 76ers did the unthinkable on Wednesday. They did it to such an extent that it still isn’t thinkable. In fact, it’s barely believable.
Not only did the Sixers come from out of nowhere to stun the NBA by acquiring Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown, and not only did they do it for a criminally cheap price, they also somehow managed to ship out the remaining two years and $120 million remaining on Paul George’s contract.
And, just like that, a new window of title contention has arrived.
That’s the most important takeaway for Sixers fans. Brown is a player who transforms the Sixers in both the short and long term. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP and a sixth-place finisher in regular season voting this year, the longtime Celtics wing is basically the exact player you would create in a lab if you were dreaming up the prefect star to maximize a team with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in the backcourt.
Jaylen Brown (left) and Tyrese Maxey are new teammates.
The 76ers coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs after being down three games to one seemed like the most exciting thing that would happen between the teams this year.
Sixers make blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown; Paul George to Celtics
Sixers fans are familiar with Jaylen Brown as a foe. Now he’s headed to Philly.
The 76ers have officially entered the summer of blockbuster trades.
They agreed to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday evening.
From the Sixers’ perspective, it is a stunning move for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey to pull off in his first offseason. George’s max contract — still with two years and more than $110 million remaining — was considered difficult to trade given his age and injury history.
But the Celtics clearly were motivated to move Brown, who finished sixth in last season’s voting for NBA Most Valuable Player and had spent his entire 10-year career with the franchise. Boston reportedly offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, before the Bucks instead sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.
So the Sixers have swapped out one three-star roster construction for another, linking Brown with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and former MVP Joel Embiid. Brown has three years and approximately $183 million remaining on his supermax contract.
Brown is a five-time All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP, creating an excellent wing tandem with Jayson Tatum that propelled Boston to the 2024 championship. This past season, he became the bona fide No. 1 offensive option while Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to spearhead the Celtics’ surprise 56-win season to finish in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Andre Drummond opens up about free agency and his worth
Center Andre Drummond spent the past two seasons with the Sixers.
Andre Drummond has a “weird pit in [his] stomach.”
The veteran center also is “not willing to play for less than [his] worth.”
Drummond, who spent the past two seasons with the Sixers, turned to YouTube to express his thoughts about his unrestricted free agency in a video posted Wednesday afternoon. The video appears to have been deleted in the hours after it was posted to the site.
“I’m playing for my worth,” said Drummond, a former All-Star who is about to enter his 15th NBA season, “and my worth compared to what the NBA thinks, is always different. It gets a little nerve-wracking at times. … I love playing in the Association. It’s a dream come true for me. But I’m also not willing to play for less than my worth.
“I did that once, and then I got labeled as one of those guys. And I think it really killed my value in the NBA. Because I’m still moving like I’m in my mid-20s. I still have a lot left in the tank, and I’m adding new parts of my game, too.
“And I think by taking that pay cut and accepting what was given to me at the time, I feel like I’ve been climbing out of a hole for the past like four or five years. It’s been hard, bro.”
Drummond is likely referencing when he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers off the buyout market in 2021, then inked a veteran minimum contract with the Sixers for the following season. After that, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Ben Simmons-James Harden blockbuster, played two seasons with the Chicago Bulls (average salary: $3.4 million), and returned to the Sixers as a free agent on a two-year, $10 million deal during the 2024 offseason.
Those moves came after Drummond played parts of his first eight seasons with the Detroit Pistons, where he became arguably the game’s most dominant rebounder, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the 2019-20 season.
After the Sixers agreed on Wednesday morning to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one year, $3.4 million contract, a source confirmed to The Inquirer, it appears unlikely that Drummond returns to Philly. Drummond averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games in 2025-26, while navigating a fluctuating role depending on Joel Embiid’s health and Adem Bona’s reliability.
In Wednesday’s video, Drummond referenced showcasing “a new part of my game” — aka becoming a legitimate corner three-point threat — as a reason “why I should stay around.”
“Every trade deadline and every free agency since the day I got traded from Detroit [in 2020],” Drummond said, “I always get, like, worried around this time. Because, in this job, you never know when it’s just the end.”
Hence, the pit in Drummond’s stomach. In the past, he has been publicly open about mental health struggles, including tattooing “DON’T QUIT” in block letters on his wrist before the start of last season. In Wednesday’s video he took accountability for career missteps, but added that, after his stint with the Bulls, “I was like, ‘Damn, I think I might just have to shut this [expletive] down, bro.”
“I don’t know if I can keep playing like this,” he thought to himself at the time. “It’s not fun, I’m not enjoying basketball right now, because I feel like I’m playing in vain. … This is my livelihood. This is what represents my worth in this league.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a two-year contract worth “nearly” $17 million with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Free agent forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has agreed to a two-year, nearly $17 million deal to sign with the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/qzUyLGX7DP
Oubre’s departure became more plausible when the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade, who now is projected to slide into a starting spot, to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed.
Oubre rebuilt his NBA career in three seasons with the Sixers. He was a starter who impacted both ends of the floor, while averaging 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games in 2025-26. The 6-foot-8 wing used his athleticism in a more controlled way on offense, shot a career-best 36% from three-point range last season, and had the willingness to take on challenging perimeter defensive assignments.
Oubre’s choice occurred after he also reportedly planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Lakers, Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Sixers had Oubre’s full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are over the salary cap.
Though Oubre said “I love it here” in Philly during his end-of-season news conference last month, his length and positional archetype are typically valued league-wide. Oubre also said he hopes he “did myself a good service” by putting a concerted effort into a more efficient playing style.
“I learned so much,” Oubre said of his time with the Sixers. “The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here, and I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for this city.
“Obviously I don’t like how [the season] ended. I always say I like to finish what I start, and this is a bit sour for me. But at the end of the day, it’s already written.”
Yet the 30-year-old also has previous experience with the harsh realities of free agency. He reminded during his end-of-season news conference that, after averaging 20.3 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, he “still found myself barely getting any contracts” until the Sixers signed him to a veteran’s minimum deal that September.
Oubre’s departure comes after the Sixers also lost sixth man Quentin Grimes, who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Lakers Wednesday afternoon. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents and remain uncommitted to returning to Philly or signing with a new team.
New Sixers forward Dean Wade guards Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes during Game 5 of their first-round series.
In Cleveland, Dean Wade was best known for his defense.
A versatile forward, Wade was tasked with defending the one through the five with the Cavaliers. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, against driving ball-handlers, it is hard to find better defenders in the association. Just four players gave up less points per drive than Wade last season.
Wade’s defensive prowess was most noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, where he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.
“As much as y’all talk about us three — me, [Harden] and Evan [Mobley] — Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Donovan Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers 115-105 Game 2 victory versus Toronto. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”
Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket” as he could cover anyone.
“For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “ I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”
Sixers to sign former Knicks center Ariel Hukporti
The Sixers are signing former New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (right).
The Sixers have agreed to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million contract, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday morning.
The move gives the Sixers a new option at backup center behind Joel Embiid, the former NBA Most Valuable Player who has struggled with numerous health issues in recent seasons. Veteran Andre Drummond, now an unrestricted free agent, and Adem Bona, whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes fully guaranteed July 7, saw their roles fluctuate last season.
Hukporti, an athletic 7-footer, played his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks, averaging 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes across 54 regular-season games in 2025-26. He only logged spot minutes during the Knicks’ playoff run to the championship, primarily when big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson got in foul trouble.
Quentin Grimes will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
Free agent guard Quentin Grimes has agreed to a four-year, $60 million to join the Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/5mcp4pULuD
Grimes’ departure is not a surprise after the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade to a four year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that the Lakers were targeting Grimes, who will reunite with former Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic. It is also a significant raise for Grimes, who played last season on his $8.7 million qualifying offer after a messy restricted free agency.
Grimes was primarily the Sixers’ sixth man during a 2025-26 season he described multiple times as “solid.”
The 26-year-old was part of a terrific three-guard lineup, and reignited his aggressive scoring ability when All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey missed three weeks in March with a finger injury. But Grimes shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range, while also averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 29.4 minutes in 75 games. And other than an excellent Game 5 performance on both ends of the Sixers’ first-round upset of the Boston Celtics, he was not good enough during the playoffs for a Sixers second unit that desperately needed scoring production.
When asked shortly after last month’s season-ending Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks about how he viewed his free agency and ideal basketball setup, Grimes was not exactly forthcoming.
“I haven’t even really thought about that, honestly,” Grimes said. “… [I’m] talking to my agents and everything, we’ll kind of figure out what’s the best situation moving forward.”
After joining the Sixers at the 2025 trade deadline, Grimes became a go-to scorer for an injured team that had shifted to “tank” mode to increase odds of landing a high draft pick. He averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 28 games with the Sixers that season, including a 46-point outburst at his hometown Houston Rockets.
Grimes then entered restricted free agency, which turned into a months-long saga. He skipped the Sixers’ training camp and preseason games in Abu Dhabi and eventually signed his one-year qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grimes then parted ways with agent David Bauman and is now represented by Creative Arts Agency.
Grimes’ departure suggests that the Sixers will immediately lean on rookie-to-be Labaron Philon Jr., the Alabama guard they selected 22nd overall in last week’s draft to link with the dynamic Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third on an excellent NBA Rookie of the Year ballot last season. The Sixers also lost sharpshooting guard Jared McCain in a controversial trade at the February deadline.
So where does that leave the Sixers financially, after entering free agency with three max contracts on their books and 13 roster spots now accounted for?
Using a portion of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception on Wade hard-capped the Sixers at the first apron ($209 million). Hukporti’s deal also came out of the midlevel exception, leaving the Sixers with $2.6 million to spend on an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception.
What does that all mean for Kelly Oubre Jr.’s chances to return to Philly? Because the Sixers have his full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are already over the salary cap, Oubre’s hypothetical contract would be separate from either of those exceptions.
If Oubre opts to sign elsewhere – or the Sixers choose not to bring him back – they could instead sign a player to a minimum contract and likely stay under (or close to) the luxury tax line ($201 million). That has proven important to owner Josh Harris, prompting trades to “duck” the tax at the deadline in recent years (see: McCain, Jared).
Free agent center Mitchell Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal to sign with the Boston Celtics, with a player option in third season, sources tell ESPN. Robinson departs the Knicks after serving a key role on the historic championship team. pic.twitter.com/tl3R6nlU1m
Kessler's $130M deal includes a player option in the fourth season, plus a full trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. The Lakers land their signature center for star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves by moving two firsts and two swaps to the Jazz. https://t.co/7kd6UhvHK9
Free agency grades: Mixed marks for Dean Wade signing
The Sixers are signing Dean Wade (center) to a four-year deal.
NBA free agency opened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and within hours, the 76ers had made their first move, signing Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million deal.
This was the first free agency move under the Sixers new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey, who was previously the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Wade spent the first seven years of his career.
Outside of his familiarity with Gansey, Wade’s 6-foot-9 frame and his versatility on the court have led many to predict he could be a good fit in Philly, but his age along with the four-year deal has garnered some criticism.
Here’s how experts are grading the move …
ESPN: B+
Wade’s ability to guard perimeter players and his 37% three-point accuracy make him the exact type of player the Sixers have been searching for for years, ESPN said.
“The 76ers have plenty of guards and centers but a dearth of wing connectors between them” Zach Kram wrote. “Other than Paul George — a big swing on a maximum contract at forward — they’ve cycled through various options who haven’t quite panned out.”
“Philadelphia doesn’t get a full ‘A’ grade here because a four-year contract is a bit rich for a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in November and already has an extensive injury history. Wade has played between 44 and 59 games in each of the past five seasons — which is a concern, given Philadelphia’s rough injury track record.”
The Athletic: C+
The Athletic was a little more critical of the signing, with the same concerns over the four-year commitment, but a lot more pause on Wade’s assets.
“I’ve never fully understood the Wade obsession within the Cavaliers,” Zach Harper wrote. “He’s about a league-average 3-point shooter (36.7 percent). I’m not convinced he’s some great defensive option. He competes on that end but doesn’t have definite matchups you feel great about. He’s never played more than 63 games in a season. He’s never made more than 80 3-pointers in a season. He’s a solid role player, and he could land nicely with Philadelphia. Committing four years is a lot, though.”
Bleacher Report: C
Wade’s age and consistency again posed a concern, this time for the Bleacher Report NBA staff, who gave the signing one of the lowest grades among all free-agency signings so far.
“Dean Wade has started a lot of games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the years, but he turns 30 in November, has a career average of 5.3 points and has a barely-above-average three-point percentage,” the Bleacher Report NBA Staff wrote. “In theory, a good floor spacer with size can open up a lot of possibilities for a rotation, but Wade’s not consistent enough to really bend defenses. And while he’s generally been a pretty good positional defender, it’s going to be tougher for him to keep up with NBA scorers as he ages into his 30s.”
The only signing graded lower by Bleacher Report was Zach Collins’ two-year $17 million extension with the Chicago Bulls which received a C-.
— Mia Messina
// Timestamp 07/01/26 10:10am
John Collins to sign with Pistons
John Collins, who was previously linked to the 76ers, has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, a rising power in the Eastern Conference that also plans to retain Roman Catholic alum Jalen Duren.
The Sixers nabbed Dean Wade, who will play on a four-year, $39 million deal, for a role similar to what Collins will play for the Pistons as a guy expected to slot in at power forward and providing defense and spacing.
Collins has been a more productive offensive player, however, hence the $17 million salary. He previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks and has career averages of 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds.
New Sixers forward Dean Wade (right) spent seven years in Cleveland.
While many will focus on Sixers president Mike Gansey’s personal connection to new forward Dean Wade, the 29-year-old is a player who would have made a lot of sense on virtually any incarnation of the Sixers in the post-Ben-Simmons era. The rare stretch four who adds big value on defense, Wade developed from an undrafted free agent to a critical playoff rotation piece in Cleveland by excelling at a lot of the dirty work that exceeds the capabilities and/or willingness of many 6-foot-9 shooters. This postseason, the Cavaliers outscored opponents by a net of 16.2 points per 100 possessions when Wade was on the court versus off it. That’s impressive stuff.
The benefit to the Sixers will be similar to what it was throughout his seven years in Cleveland. Wade can play small alongside a couple of bigs the way he did with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He can play a power four alongside a trio of guards, as he sometimes did with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Sam Merrill. He could even give Nick Nurse an option as a small-ball five, though a lot depends on the other pieces the Sixers will presumably add this offseason.
Wade is hardly a prolific scorer. Among players who have averaged 20 minutes per game in 200+ games over the last four seasons, only Nicolas Batum has scored fewer than Wade’s 5.4 points per game. But he is an effective enough shooter — .375 on about six three-point attempts over 100 possessions this postseason — to create space for others on the offensive end.
That’s all that’s needed for a team with a couple of ball-dominant scorers in the backcourt. That’s who the Cavs have been in the Donovan Mitchell era, whether paired with Darius Garland or James Harden. It’s who the Sixers figure to be with VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
Backup center options for the Sixers include some familiar faces
Guerschon Yabusele (left) spent the 2024-25 season with the Sixers. Could he return?
A quiet start to the Sixers’ free agency finally turned newsworthy after 10 p.m., when The Inquirer confirmed that forward Dean Wade had agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract.
Other than looming decisions on starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and sixth man Quentin Grimes, backup center is now the Sixers’ biggest positional priority. Who could be gettable with the Sixers’ remaining salary? Here’s a rundown:
Guerschon Yabusele
A rare feel-good story during the Sixers’ disastrous 2024-25 season, Yabusele parlayed his NBA comeback into a pay raise with the Knicks. To say things did not work out in New York is an understatement, and he was traded at the deadline to the Chicago Bulls. Could he successfully slide back into a complementary role with the Sixers? Or will his performance two seasons ago go down as a career anomaly on a bad team?
Marvin Bagley III
Bagley’s career has fallen far below original expectations as a former No. 2 overall draft pick. But he is coming off a productive season for the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points per game. His career average of 6.5 rebounds — including 2.3 on the offensive end — in 22 minutes is also a sound number. His brother, Marcus, played 10 games for the Sixers and for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats during the 2024-25 season.
Nikola Vucevic
The veteran was once a two-time All-Star, but his decline was glaring during the Sixers’ upset of the Boston Celtics including getting benched in Game 7. He is floor-spacer with skill, but is a liability on the defensive end. He averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in a 2025-26 season split between the Bulls and Celtics.
Andre Drummond
Could the Sixers run it back with Drummond — again? The veteran professionally handled a fluctuating role in 2025-26, averaging 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games. He is still a stout rebounder and big-bodied presence, though not the most mobile on defense. His corner three-point shooting has elevated from fun novelty to legitimate offensive weapon. It is possible, though, that Drummond desires a playing destination where his role is more defined and consistent.
Other options: Nick Richards, Kelly Olynyk, Mo Wagner, Bismack Biyombo, Moussa Cisse, Drew Eubanks, Jaxson Hayes, Ariel Hukporti, Maxi Kleber, Kevon Looney, Xavier Tillman
How Wade signing impacts Oubre, Grimes, and the Sixers cap space
Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., with teammate guard Quentin Grimes against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, February 22, 2025 in Philadelphia.
Dean Wade’s addition makes it less likely that the Sixers will be able to bring back starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr., and sixth man Quentin Grimes, who also entered unrestricted free agency. Yahoo! reported Tuesday night that Oubre planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers.
The Sixers have between $5 and $6 million remaining of the mid-level exception to use on an outside free agent. They are $16.6 million total under the first apron.
Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the other free agents for a Sixers team with limited financial flexibility. All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey ($40.8 million), former MVP Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all remain on max contracts, accounting for the vast majority of the nearly $165 million salary cap.
That top-heavy roster requires shrewd complementary moves, in addition to hoping Embiid and George can be healthier in 2026-27. Backup center becomes the positional priority as free agency continues. Rebounding and shooting will always be welcomed skills for a team that has struggled in both areas.
Day 1 recap: Stars move early, but Sixers strike late
Kawhi Leonard, left, was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors.
Stars have been on the move this summer and that theme continued on the first day of NBA free agency.
After Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant were all traded to new teams, the early free-agency fireworks on Tuesday centered on Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors via trade and LeBron James’ decision to part ways with the Los Angeles Lakers, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
For a moment, that appeared to include the Sixers, who were linked to Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade and still need to make decisions on Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. It looked like both of those moves could be on hold as the Cavs are reportedly one of the teams on James’ list.
But around 10:30 p.m., Mike Gansey struck his first deal and landed Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal, reuniting him with one of his success stories from Cleveland.
Elsewhere, former Roman Catholic star Jalen Duren appears set to return to the Detroit Pistons on a lucrative deal, ESPN’s Marc Spears reported. And Delaware native Bones Hyland stayed in Minnesota on a one-year, minimum deal, according to The Athletic.
A few potential Sixers targets also came off the board, according to ESPN. Robert Williams III agreed to a three-year, $44 million deal with Portland Trail Blazers. Sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. also joined Antetokounmpo in Miami on a one-year, $6.5 million deal.
Forward Dean Wade (left) agreed to a four-year deal with the Sixers.
Mike Gansey’s first free-agency move as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations was adding a player with whom he is quite familiar.
Late Tuesday night, Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. The deal comes out of the nontaxpayer mid-level exception, and will hard cap the Sixers at the first apron.
Wade was one of Gansey’s success stories in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. The 29-year-old Wade evolved from undrafted player to rotation forward, and last season averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes across 59 games. His 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame allows for defensive versatility, and he is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.
There is more than a little symbolism in Mike Gansey’s first free agent signing as 76ers president.
In handing a four-year, $39 million contract to veteran forward Dean Wade, the Sixers didn’t just add a veteran glue guy whom Gansey helped to discover during the latter’s tenure as an assistant general manager in Cleveland. They also effectively closed the door on at least one and potentially both of Daryl Morey’s shrewdest wins as a roster-builder.
Goodbye, Quentin Grimes.
Good day, Kelly Oubre Jr?
Time will tell whether Day 1 of NBA free agency was a meaningful step in an intentional direction or just a modest change that will make the Sixers’ roster a little more sensible next season. Either way is fine.
While many will focus on Gansey’s personal connection to Wade, the 29-year-old iwould have made a lot of sense on virtually any incarnation of the Sixers in the post-Ben-Simmons era. The rare stretch four who adds big value on defense, Wade developed from an undrafted free agent to a critical playoff rotation piece in Cleveland by excelling at a lot of the dirty work that exceeds the capabilities or willingness of many 6-foot-9 shooters. This postseason, the Cavaliers outscored opponents by a net of 16.2 points per 100 possessions when Wade was on the court versus off it. That’s impressive stuff.
Wade can play small alongside a couple of bigs the way he did with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He can play a power four alongside a trio of guards, as he sometimes did with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Sam Merrill. He could even give Nick Nurse an option as a small-ball five, though a lot depends on the other pieces the Sixers will presumably add this offseason.
Wade is hardly a prolific scorer. Among players who have averaged 20 minutes per game in 200+ games over the last four seasons, only Nicolas Batum has scored fewer than Wade’s 5.4 points per game. But he is an effective enough shooter — .375 on about six three-point attempts over 100 possessions this postseason — to create space for others on the offensive end.
That’s all that’s needed for a team with a couple of ball-dominant scorers in the backcourt. That’s who the Cavs have been in the Donovan Mitchell era, whether paired with Darius Garland or James Harden. It’s who the Sixers figure to be with VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
There aren’t many value plays on the free agent market. Wade sure doesn’t count as one even at a modest $10ish million per season. But if the Sixers were going to overpay by a couple of million bucks, it made sense to do it for a player with the size and versatility that will be an absolute necessity on the wing with Maxey, Edgecombe, and this year’s first-round draft pick, Labaron Philon Jr.
Sixers guards Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes are free agents this summer.
When the Sixers drafted Philon, Gansey said the move was not an indication that the team would move on from Grimes, whom Morey acquired from the Mavericks in a low-cost trade in 2025, and who played well enough that year to enter free agency looking for a serious contract. Grimes was less impressive while playing out 2026 on a qualifying offer, but still agreed to a $60 million deal with the Lakers.
Oubre could still end up back in Philly, at least according to the math. The Sixers would maximize their available payroll by re-signing Oubre and then using part of the remaining MLE to add another player. Doing so could create some logistical difficulties during the season, and perhaps limit their trade possibilities, given that they’d be hard-capped at the luxury tax line.
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey is leading his first free agency in Philly.
With Oubre reportedly meeting with five teams on Tuesday, the Sixers could be better off focusing on using the rest of their MLE on a player who offers them a better mix of size, shooting, and affordability, not to mention consistency. That’s a difficult combination to find, of course. Retaining Oubre would leave the Sixers with a competitive starting five when Joel Embiid and Paul George are healthy and a potentially competent one even when one of the two veterans is out.
The important thing is that Gansey’s focus remain as much on the world beyond 2026-27. Wade fits that bill. He will be 33 years old at the end of this contract, when he will hopefully be a solid role player on a championship team. The goal now should be to find the younger versions of Wade: guys you might one day re-sign for a lot more money than you initially needed to give them. It is a difficult thing to develop, grow, and compete all at the same time. But that needs to be the goal.
