The Philadelphia 76ers can do whatever they want, but a certain All-Star has an incredible offer to one of their most important free agents that they will never be able to match, all things considered.
Guerschon Yabusele is entering unrestricted free agency this year, and given the 76ers’ posturing, it would be highly unlikely for them to keep him on the roster. Philadelphia seems to be prioritizing re-signing Quentin Grimes to a brand new deal, and their financial handicaps make it nearly impossible to pump more money for the Frenchman.
Yabusele and the 76ers reportedly remain interested in keeping the status quo, but the former may soon back out if the latest rumors are true. According to Marc Stein, the San Antonio Spurs are the biggest threat to pry the forward away from Philadelphia.
The 76ers will never be able to beat Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs for Guerschon Yabusele in free agency
The Spurs have some spending power this offseason, and with their team seemingly ready to finally make win-now moves, they are understandably eyeing Yabusele as an addition this offseason.
”Multiple well-placed observers are describing San Antonio as the foremost threat to sign Yabusele away from the 76ers, but I’m also told that Philadelphia has not yet abandoned hope of convincing him to stay. The Spurs certainly boast a persuasive recruiter in the Yabusele chase — his Olympic teammate Victor Wembanyama.”
Aside from the fact that the 76ers can only sign Yabusele if he takes a discount whereas the Spurs can tender him a handsome pay raise, San Antonio also has Wemby to sweeten the pot for the Frenchman.
Yabusele and Wembanyama flashed really good chemistry playing for Les Bleus France in the 2024 Summer Olympics, and the chance to be with an up-and-coming team led by the best player out of France and soon, in the NBA, will be incredibly tempting for the forward.
That is a cheat code in itself, and the 76ers do not have anything nearly as compelling as what the Spurs can provide him fit-wise and narrative-wise. If San Antonio is truly lasered in on going after Yabusele as rumored, Philly should probably take a grip of reality and start looking elsewhere, if they haven’t yet.
Sure, Philadelphia still projects as a better team than San Antonio next season if they can turn in a cleaner bill of health, but the Spurs can offer more money, an entrenched team culture, the chance to play with Victor Wembanyama, and channel some of their French connection. Those will be too much for the 76ers to overcome to keep Yabusele in the fold.
At this point, the Philadelphia 76ers should probably just pack up on this front. They are most likely losing Guerschon Yabusele, and to be honest, can you blame them give what they are up against?