The Philadelphia 76ers definitely do not have regrets about the kind of offseason they had. However, if there is one interesting storyline away from the team but somehow still involving them, it is the likely big break that Charles Bassey, their former draft pick, is poised to receive from his ball club this season. Heck, there is a good chance that he will end up being the big man the franchise needed all along.
Bassey, who is still with the Warriors after a brief stint with them in the latter part of last season, is slowly making his case for a major role in Golden State. With Kristaps Porzingis currently sidelined indefinitely due to illness and Al Horford already being 40 years old, Bassey has a prime opportunity to show what he has learned over the years and unleash himself in a way he never could with the 76ers.
Charles Bassey could become another what if for the 76ers this season
The 76ers faithful most likely do not have vivid recollections of Bassey in Philly, which is totally understandable. The six-year big man got drafted by the team with the 53rd overall pick in 2021, but appeared in just 23 games in his rookie year. The front office parted ways with him after his freshman campaign, and he then stayed in San Antonio for quite a while before bouncing around the league.
Unbeknownst to many, Bassey was actually a part of the 76ers just last season when he inked a 10-day deal with the team. However, he appeared in just one outing, playing five minutes in what was basically a forgettable cameo appearance.
Fortunately for him, he found a perfect opening with the Warriors. Golden State liked the energy and rim protection he displayed in his five games with the team to end the previous campaign enough to hold onto him this summer, and the stars have aligned for him to receive more playing time.
Meanwhile, the 76ers still have an unresolved situation with regard to their backup center spot. Their current candidates to secure the role are either injured or forced to play out of their natural position, which makes Bassey's likely breakout a possible what-if for the front office this season.
Big men who are mobile enough on defense and can alter shots at the rim are the kind that the 76ers need behind Joel Embiid. Charles Bassey fits that description, but despite his past two stints with the franchise, it is the Warriors who stand to benefit. That could make Philly view their former center as a missed opportunity.
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