As the Philadelphia 76ers map out their offseason strategy, it is high time for the front office to be much more specific and deliberate this time around. The team’s weaknesses were on full display this season, and even marginal additions could make a world of difference in their 2025-26 campaign and bid to return to the playoffs.
Most glaring is the situation around Joel Embiid who, despite a recent knee procedure, has too robust of a cloud casted on him to safely bet on his consistent availability. Hence, the 76ers must once again reinforce theiir depth behind the superstar.
Andre Drummond was supposed to fill that role, but he regressed this season. Aside from the fact that he missed a lot of games himself, his finishing waned a lot and his rim protection was virtually non-existent, giving the team a lot of reason to seek another upgrade at the backup center spot.
Here are three free agents they could zoom in on to man the role next season.
3 Free agents the 76ers should consider signing to replace Andre Drummond
1. Steven Adams
The 76ers were the worst team in the league in rebounding this season, and what better way to fix that than pursuing the league’s most imposing force on the boards? Steven Adams has regressed a bit after a major injury sidelined him for quite a while, but he is slowly regaining his form as a beast in the paint.
Despite his near-lack of individual offense, Adams is the league’s prime offensive rebounder. And if the market for his services turn out to be a bit staler than expected, the 76ers should do whatever it takes to secure his services.
2. Tristan Thompson
A cheaper option than Adams would be Tristan Thompson. The 14-year veteran has been more of a locker room guy for the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, but there is still room for him in the league as a tenacious rebounder.
Thompson is guaranteed to command a smaller paycheck than Adams, but he offers the same skill set, albeit at a shafted degree. Still, he would provide a nice depth to support Adem Bona, and his championship experience should be valuable for a team looking to get younger.
3. Mason Plumlee
Mason Plumlee’s days of being a starter-caliber player are over, but the 12-year veteran is still one of the more well-rounded players in his position. While Adams and Thompson are more consistent rebounders than him, he offers something that neither of them does.
Plumlee has great court sense and pairs well with explosive scorers who need table-setters. Plumlee is nowhere close to a Nikola Jokic, but he is an instinctive passer in the high post who can make life more comfortable for his teammates offensively.