The Philadelphia 76ers are navigating a pivotal summer marked by significant roster challenges and strategic decisions as they prepare for the 2025-26 NBA season. After a dismal 24-58 record in the 2024-25 campaign, largely due to injuries to key players, the franchise is focused on rebuilding and positioning itself to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
At the heart of the Sixers' offseason narrative is the ongoing restricted free agency saga surrounding wing Quentin Grimes. Daryl Morey, Philadelphia's president of basketball operations, has described finalizing Grimes' contract as the "last piece of business" for the team this summer. While Morey remains optimistic, he has been tight-lipped about the specifics, stating, "We hope to work things out. I don’t have more detail." Grimes, 24 years old and standing 6-foot-5, made a strong impression after being acquired midseason from the Dallas Mavericks. In 28 appearances with the Sixers, he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 47% from the field and 37% from three-point range.
The restricted free agent market across the NBA has been unusually quiet this summer, primarily due to limited league-wide salary cap space. This scarcity of available funds has led to a sluggish negotiation environment, affecting not only Grimes but also other high-profile restricted free agents such as Jonathan Kuminga of Golden State and Josh Giddey of Chicago. Philadelphia has explicitly ruled out pursuing a sign-and-trade deal for Grimes, narrowing the potential outcomes to either agreeing on a new multi-year contract, Grimes accepting the $8.7 million qualifying offer and becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, or prolonging talks deeper into the offseason.
Grimes' uncertain salary situation has had ripple effects on the Sixers' roster moves. The team lost forward Guerschon Yabusele to the New York Knicks, where he signed a two-year deal using the mid-level exception. Morey confirmed that Philadelphia offered Yabusele a contract above the minimum but below what he ultimately received from New York. This conservative offer was a strategic decision to avoid hard-capping the team’s salary, which would have limited their ability to match any offer sheet Grimes might sign elsewhere. "Yeah, that sucked," Morey admitted. "We offered Guerschon the most that we could that wouldn’t limit us and our ability to retain Quentin. That was above the minimum. I’ve seen reports saying that we only offered the minimum, and that wasn’t true. But it was definitely below what he ended up getting. We knew it would create a challenge for us. So we wanted to retain Quentin. We hope to work that out with his representation, and our focus was on making sure that happens. So, that did impact what we could offer Guerschon."
Beyond contract negotiations, the Sixers are cautiously optimistic about the health of their star players. Joel Embiid, the 31-year-old center and cornerstone of the franchise, is "on track" to be ready for the start of training camp following an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee in April. However, league sources indicate Embiid has yet to resume on-court basketball activities, leaving some uncertainty about his readiness. Jared McCain, the team's 2024 first-round pick who underwent a meniscus repair in December, has been progressing steadily and has participated in limited individual on-court work during the Las Vegas Summer League.
Veteran center Andre Drummond, who suffered a toe injury in December that sidelined him for the remainder of the season, is also "putting in the work to be back next season," according to Morey. The importance of frontcourt depth was a key takeaway from last season's struggles, especially during Embiid's absence. "When we had our key players out – Joel, primarily – that really challenged our depth at the big spot," Morey reflected. To address this, the Sixers prioritized acquiring young, versatile frontcourt players during the offseason, leveraging two-way contracts to maximize flexibility.
Among these additions are Dominick Barlow, with three years of NBA experience, and Jabari Walker, who has appeared in 166 NBA games. Both were signed to two-way deals and are viewed as viable options to bolster the team's frontcourt rotation. Morey expressed enthusiasm about their potential contributions, highlighting the organization's success in developing two-way players into standard roster members. Additionally, Trendon Watford was signed to a two-year minimum deal, valued for his defensive versatility and unique ball-handling skills at 6-foot-9. "Trendon can guard multiple positions and he’s fairly unique in his ability to handle the pass," Morey explained. "We felt like just in general we needed to get players in Jabari and Barlow – I’m just going through our later positions – and then Trendon are all sort of part of this sort of push to get younger and more versatile." Veteran guards Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry also return on veteran minimum deals, though they are not expected to play significant minutes.
The Sixers also made a notable draft-day move, selecting Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall pick, a prize secured through a protected first-round pick and a bit of luck in the draft lottery. Edgecombe represents a promising young talent who could contribute meaningfully as the team rebuilds.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia native Justin Edwards, who showed promise during his rookie season, has re-signed with the Sixers on a three-year deal. "I definitely think this has been a full-circle moment for me, playing in the place I grew up in," Edwards shared. "What I want to do is continue to grow my game and to keep getting better. I want to be in the Rising Stars game next season." His development is a bright spot amid the team's recent challenges.
Outside of Philadelphia, the Utah Jazz have been monitoring the situation with Quentin Grimes closely. Despite a quiet offseason focused on developing young talent, Bleacher Report analyst Greg Swartz highlighted Grimes as a potential target for the Jazz in a sign-and-trade scenario. Utah, having traded Collin Sexton and agreed to a buyout with Jordan Clarkson, has shooting guard minutes available. Swartz notes that Grimes, with his scoring ability and size, would fit well alongside the Jazz's core, which includes Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler. Although the Jazz currently hold 16 traditional contracts, slightly above the 15-player roster limit, roster adjustments could make room for Grimes if the opportunity arises.
Reflecting on the 2020 NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers, veteran Danny Green provided insight into the mindset of players during a condensed offseason. "We enjoyed the time, but said also was short-lived because the next season circled right around the next six weeks. We won in like mid October and then early December was like, ‘All right, we got to get back to work because we got to get this thing rolling by Christmas…’ It was more relief than celebrating it, finally we’re done, we can get out of here. I couldn’t imagine losing and having to go that far, be there for that long. I’d be highly upset. It was more of a relief winning it than it was like a celebration of like, ‘Oh, we achieved something.’ It was like, ‘Damn, we get to go home finally.’" This perspective underscores the urgency and pressure teams face as they prepare for the upcoming season.
As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, the Sixers' situation remains fluid. Their ability to resolve Quentin Grimes' contract situation, the health status of Joel Embiid, and the integration of new and returning players will be critical factors in determining whether Philadelphia can reverse its fortunes and contend once again in the Eastern Conference. Daryl Morey's commitment to learning from past challenges and building a deeper, more versatile roster reflects a strategic approach aimed at sustainable success.
