Kelly Oubre, Jr. rounds out the starting five as a chaos agent of sorts. The 28-year-old’s athleticism was “a breath of fresh air” as Morey put it at the end of the season. And as he demonstrated last season, Oubre’s effort level will never be an issue. Paired with Martin, the Sixers have a wing duo that’s willing to do the dirty work to allow their star trio to thrive.
For a team that spent the bulk of its cap space on George and Martin, the Sixers filled out their bench quite well.
A reunion with Andre Drummond should allow the Sixers to avoid cratering when Embiid is off the floor. Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson are playoff-tested guards. All four veterans also possess the ability to scale their roles up and down. All four should be ready to impact games at a moment’s notice. That was something the Sixers did not have when Embiid underwent meniscus surgery last season.
Much like Oubre, Ricky Council IV and KJ Martin offer an element rarely seen during the Embiid era. Council shined as an undrafted rookie last season, overlapping in skills with Oubre somewhat as an athletic mayhem maker who can get to the basket and draw free throws. Martin is in the same category athletically but is more of a frontcourt player — which is good for the Sixers. Martin also showed off some small-ball five capabilities at the backend of last season.
Yabusele is an intriguing wildcard. He’s clearly hungry to prove he belongs in the NBA, most likely turning down more money to stay overseas to join the Sixers for the league minimum. At 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, Yabusele fits the mold of a true power forward but possesses a good amount of athleticism and versatility. He also adds a little sandpaper to the group, something a contender can always use.
Even in Jared McCain and Adem Bona, the Sixers have rookies who seem ready to play, though their numbers might not be called a ton this season. McCain can really shoot it (despite his poor numbers from summer league) and is a much better player with the ball in his hands than people realize. Bona is an ideal rim-running big built for the modern NBA. When Embiid ultimately misses time, he’ll have a chance to provide strong energy minutes backing up Drummond.
With all that said, this is only the beginning. The roster is likely set for opening night, but as Morey likes to remind fans, it’s not a finished product. When the trade deadline rolls around, Morey will have KJ Martin’s $7.9 million cap hit along with up to four first-round picks and six second-rounders at his disposal to make necessary upgrades.
Think back on the entirety of Embiid’s time here — has he ever had a better supporting cast to start a season in his career? Has he ever had this assortment of versatile players surrounding him? The simple answer is no, he hasn’t.
Much like when the Hield trade was made, this is all theoretical. But theoretically, as we sit here in August, this roster looks damn strong.
At last year’s NBA trade deadline, the Sixers swung a deal for sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
Daryl Morey understands as well as anyone that a team featuring Joel Embiid needs shooting. In Hield, Morey acquired arguably the second-best active three-point shooter in the NBA.
To say the results were mixed would be kind. Hield got off to a roaring start — and had a nice finish in a Game 6 loss — but was rarely the difference-making shotmaker the Sixers were hoping for. Sure, maybe with more time to gel with Embiid, Hield could’ve made a bigger impact, but as his sign-and-trade to the Warriors indicates, the deal ultimately didn’t work out.
(Credit to Morey for snagging two extra second-rounders at the deadline in the Patrick Beverley and Jaden Springer deals as well as a 2031 second from Golden State, ultimately making the Hield trade sort of a wash.)
Instead of re-signing a shooter like Hield, the Sixers went in a different direction this offseason. When you look up and down the roster, you won’t find shooters or defensive specialists. You’ll find players with varied and versatile skillsets, something teams like the Celtics and Knicks already possess.
With the reported signing of Guerschon Yabusele, the team has 14 players under standard contracts and that will likely remain the case when the team heads to the Bahamas for training camp in October. With the roster essentially complete (at least for opening night), let’s dissect some of the signings.
This newfound versatility starts with the team’s monster free-agent acquisition of Paul George. The nine-time All-Star has been one of the preeminent two-way wings in the sport. George is an elite shooter who can create off the dribble and still defend at a high level. He’s 34 now, but was an All-Star this past season and should fit perfectly next to Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
While Caleb Martin was a less-heralded signing, the former Heat wing is still a significant addition. Though it might not be to the level of a player like George, Martin can similarly dribble, pass, shoot and defend. Martin flashed the ability to scale his role up and down with Miami, at times being a key connective piece while also challenging Jimmy Butler as the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston in 2023.
The Sixers have built a well-rounded team full of experience and grit. Will they be able to improve upon their performance from last season? Time will tell.
Sixers focused on versatility rather than specialized role players this offseason
Daryl Morey didn’t target shooters or defensive specialists. He went after players that can do it all. The result might be the best opening night roster Joel Embiid has ever had.
Liberty Ballers
Paul Hudrick
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