It was an offseason full of home run moves for the first-time Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations, Mike Gansey.
I mean, what acquisition was there to dislike? Picking up Dean Wade as the first big move in free agency seemed underwhelming until the Sixers followed up by trading for Jaylen Brown. Once they lured in LeBron James on a minimum deal, that placed Wade in a bench role, which you can't help but love. That trio of moves right there is a blockbuster summer.
But it's not just the big moves that went over well with fans. It's the short-term acquisition of Anfernee Simons. A guy who just made $100 million is coming to the Sixers to earn potentially just $6.0 million for a season. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed a $66 million deal in 2024 and will land in Philadelphia on a $3.8 million minimum contract.
The Ariel Hukporti move won't pan out due to a season-ending injury, but there was optimism surrounding him upon his arrival. It really has been all hits on paper, but Gansey is human. He's bound to strike out. And the front office leader might've made his first head-scratcher before opening night.
The Tacko Fall decision
The Sixers entered training camp with an open two-way slot. Their group of Exhibit 10 players was fighting for it. Tacko Fall ended up having an advantage as large as him, seeing as though he was the only big man in the non-guaranteed mix. Injuries at the center position piled up, and none of the Exhibit 10s around were making it difficult for the 76ers to think about cutting them loose.
As the 76ers finalized the roster before their first game against the New York Knicks, Fall was signed to a two-way deal. While two-way players don't make or break a roster, the final slot was a little more valuable this time around.
A real head scratcher
Joel Embiid is healthy, but it's absolutely fair to be skeptical about his ability to stay that way. Adem Bona has been dealing with a foot injury since the start of camp and missed the entire preseason. He is entering Tuesday's action as questionable. Hukporti is out for the season due to a torn Achilles. The 76ers clearly feel confident in their small-ball options, but even some of those guys are dealing with injuries. Dean Wade has a hurt ankle, and Dominick Barlow is out for multiple weeks due to a back injury.
To top it all off, Fall is hurt as well. On the second day of training camp, he went out with a hip injury. The big man missed the entire preseason and just started getting back to solo work on the court. Fall has been ruled out against the Knicks.
There are reasons to understand the Fall pickup. He's got size (duh), played for a Gansey-assisted team in the past with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and is clearly tight with the veteran forward, Jaylen Brown, who was Fall's teammate during his Boston Celtics days. Connections and chemistry are important, but the timing and uncertainty here are an issue.
Fall hasn't logged NBA minutes since 2022. Over a three-year span, he played in 37 games, seeing the court for just 6.2 minutes per game. Since then, it's been a tour overseas. The Sixers will more than likely patch up their depth concerns sometime in the winter when they can utilize their 15th roster spot. For the time being, they are playing a risky game. Was there really not a two-way-eligible player available who was better than this situation right here? Time will certainly tell.
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