The Philadelphia 76ers had a much better season after a miserable 2024-2025 season. They’re coming off a 45-37 season, finishing seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers then defeated the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament and followed with a date with the Boston Celtics in round one of the playoffs. Philadelphia completed a 3-1 comeback and made history: they were 0-18 when trailing 3-1 in a best-of-seven series, and this was their first 3-1 comeback.
The 76ers’ season ended after being swept by the New York Knicks, who went on to win the NBA Finals. With that being said, the 76ers have a lot of work to do this offseason with head coach Nick Nurse returning for his fourth year leading the 76ers, and they have drafted Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. so far, but there is still more work to do. Here are some potential moves to instantly make the 76ers a legit contender.
76ers Free Agency Outlook
Current Free Agents and Likelihood of Returning
Kelly Oubre Jr.
The first we look at among the 76ers free agents is Kelly Oubre Jr. He averaged 14.1 points per game last season and is a versatile forward who can rebound and contribute on defense. Oubre’s biggest case for not being resigned is his inconsistency offensively in the playoffs, but if the 76ers let Oubre Jr. walk, they will need to find a replacement immediately. Oubre Jr. is an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can sign with any team of his choosing without any restrictions, but the 76ers will likely bring him back.
Quentin Grimes
The next free agent is Quentin Grimes. He averaged 13.4 points per game last season but was one of the most inconsistent players on the entire roster. Grimes is considered a priority free agent for the 76ers to retain, but after drafting Philion Jr, it is highly unlikely Grimes has a future in Philadelphia.
Andre Drummond
Now we get into a free agent who is up in the air to return, and that is Andre Drummond. Drummond is widely considered to be the best backup rebounding center in the entire league. He averaged 8.4 rebounds per game last season, but the issue is that he is 32 years old, and the 76ers might not be willing to pay any more money than a veteran’s minimum. The most likely option is to let Drummond walk, but do not be surprised if the 76ers bring him back.
Dominic Barlow
If there is one free agent who is almost a guarantee to come back, it is Dominic Barlow. Barlow, in his first year with the 76ers, demonstrated toughness and rebounding. The 76ers will likely exercise their option to bring back the versatile forward.
Kyle Lowry
Lastly, we have the free agent that is nearly guaranteed not to return, and that is Kyle Lowry. Lowry is 40 years old and took on more of a “mentor” role to the rookie VJ Edgecombe, and rarely saw any playing time. The most likely scenario would be for Lowry to retire from basketball.
Who Could the 76ers Trade For or Sign?
The 76ers could make a splash and trade four first-round picks for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown. This would benefit a “win now” mindset. Now, while it could hurt the future, Joel Embiid and the 76ers are running out of time to win now in the Embiid era, and it is time for Philadelphia to win rather than in the future.
The other move that makes sense for the 76ers is to sign Dean Wade, who is set to enter free agency as an unrestricted free agent. Wade’s stats are not eye appealing, but he is a forward, which is one of the 76ers’ biggest needs, and he can space the floor and provide size.
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