Jameer Nelson is set to be promoted to the Philadelphia 76ers' executive vice president of basketball operations. While this is an enormous achievement for Nelson, he has no time to celebrate his new job, as the Sixers have several fires they need to extinguish -- starting with finally acquiring a capable understudy for Joel Embiid.
76ers must pursue center depth
It cannot be denied that Joel Embiid is one of the greatest centers to grace a basketball court -- when healthy. Few defenders have established an effective method to prevent his dominance when he is on the floor. However, when the 76ers' talisman is resting or on the injury table, the roster struggles to field a player who can replicate his supremacy on either side of the ball.
Even though Embiid is far from his 2023 MVP-winning best, his contribution to winning is still staggering. With 39 appearances to his name in the 2025-26 season, Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Given that this level of production is just months after he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, it is hard to reject the narrative that the 76ers are a far worse team without Embiid in the lineup.
Over the years, Daryl Morey has struggled to acquire a capable replacement for the 32-year-old when his inevitable stint on the sidelines takes place. Andre Drummond was deemed an effective stopgap while Philadelphia uncovered a younger, more athletic option. To some extent, his rebounding provided moments of relief for the team, but with his contract set to expire this offseason, the 76ers' third center option is far from ready to accept a more prominent role in the rotation.
Adem Bona is not ready to be Joel Embiid's understudy
Of course, anybody who is filling in the minutes of a player with Joel Embiid's aura is never going to replicate his impact. Nevertheless, they must find ways to prevent the team from imploding and throwing away any momentum the superstar has helped to create. Whether it’s grabbing rebounds, swatting shots, or knocking down a high percentage of attempts, Embiid’s replacement needs to make their presence felt.
To be fair to Adem Bona, highlight defensive plays have become his party trick -- averaging 1.2 blocks per game during his career. Unfortunately, this does not make him a great defender; in fact, his overeagerness to impress has been his downfall, leading to fewer opportunities on the floor.
Nobody can fault Bona's passion and effort when he is in the 76ers' lineup, but over his two years as a professional, he has yet to prove that his mindset is maturing. His desperation to make big blocks and prevent the opposition from scoring leads to countless fouls, putting his team under unnecessary pressure.
This is not just a defensive issue for the 23-year-old. When utilized during offensive pick-and-roll play calls, Bona's inability to read the defender's movements has seen him called for blocking fouls that kill any offensive momentum his teammates have gained.
Jameer Nelson has been put in this job for a reason, but now he must prove his worth. Finally discovering the perfect understudy for Joel Embiid is a difficult task; however, if the Philadelphia 76ers want to evolve, it is an area that they have to get right.
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