Despite suffering through a brutal 24-58 run in 2024-25, the Philadelphia 76ers have been reticent to greatly overhaul their roster this summer.
Instead, the Sixers made a few minor free agent decisions — and took one bold swing in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The team let free agent power forward Guerschon Yabusele walk for a lucrative two-year, $11.3 million deal with the New York Knicks, an Atlantic Division rival. Philadelphia essentially replaced him with Trendon Watford, whom the Sixers inked to a two-season, minimum deal.
Sixers haven’t made major moves — but some could be on the way
Philadelphia also re-signed three of its own free agents: Justin Edwards, Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry.
The Sixers’ biggest new addition, however, is No. 3 rookie draft pick V.J. Edgecombe, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Baylor.
Still, a pair of veterans on value deals could potentially be offloaded to reconfigure the Sixers’ depth. Emphasis on “potentially.”
Jake Fischer of Substack’s The Stein Line indicates that, while center Andre Drummond and small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. could potentially be on the move, there isn’t a huge rush for that to happen yet.
Restricted free agency updates, roster rumbles and a tale of international intrigue … all via the latest around-the-league notebook from @JakeLFischer: https://t.co/I2DbVkyrHd pic.twitter.com/LyCdw0ShUs
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 12, 2025
“Maybe a move does materialize for one of those veterans at some point, but I must stress that the Sixers do not appear to be operating with some sort of clear-cut directive to trade either player at the moment,” Stein reveals.
Drummond, a former two-time All-Star in his own right who’s now a backup to seven-time All-Star starter Joel Embiid, is still a great rebounder — even if he’s lost some of his athleticism heading into his 14th pro season out of Connecticut.
The 32-year-old was only available for 40 games with the Sixers — not ideal when Embiid suited up for just 19. He averaged 7.3 points on 50 percent field goal shooting and 62.2 percent foul line shooting, plus 7.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.9 assists and 0.5 blocks in 18.8 minutes per.
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Drummond’s inconsistent rim protection and age might make him a bit tough to deal, but the 6-foot-11 big man’s $5 million price tag and efficient production (his output translates to 14.0 points and 14.9 rebounds per 36 minutes).
Oubre, 29, is still a high-flying, downhill slasher, although he’s not much of a jump shooter. The Kansas product is a career 32.5 percent shooter from distance, on 4.6 triple tries.
In 60 healthy games for the Sixers (57 starts), the 6-foot-8 journeyman averaged 15.1 points while slashing .470/.293/.751, 6.1 boards, 1.8 dimes, 1.5 swipes and 0.5 rejections.
He’s on an expiring $8.4 million deal, and while his limited shooting beyond the arc is an impediment, he’s still useful as a drive-and-kick option and can score effectively around the paint.
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