During the offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers made it clear that they were looking to build up their core and push for a deep playoff run. After last year's major flop (shout out to Joel Embiid's favorite move), they knew changes needed to happen. These included a decent amount of new additions to the roster to help bolster Tyrese Maxey and Embiid's offense.
The first few moves of the summer
The 76ers took a small swing when re-signing Kyle Lowry to a one-year. The veteran is already 38, so putting him on a short contract is relatively safe. They also played it safe when signing Eric Gordon for two years and $6 million, as he is already 35. Kelley Oubre Jr. received a new deal, and Andre Drummond made his return to the lineup after his time with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls.
There were a few other moving pieces, with some players being sent to other teams and another signing Caleb Martin. However, the big swing came at the beginning of July when they gave Maxey the maximum deal and snagged Paul George from the LA Clippers. This is when one could tell the Sixers were getting ready to have a big season.
George finished his Clippers season with 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. If Maxey and Embiid can share the ball well with him, this team will be very dangerous. All of these players can easily average 20+ a game. If done on a consistent level, they'll be a tough team to beat in the East.
The addition of Guerschon Yabusele
As stated in our piece from the Olympics, Guerschon Yabusele deserves another shot in the NBA. He didn't have the best rookie or sophomore seasons averaging just barely over two points per game. This rocky start caused him to disappear from the NBA light. The 2024 Paris Olympics shined a new spotlight on him, though, as he dominated with Team France and showed fantastic improvements.
Yabusele hit the weight room and grew his game. He knew that the Olympics were going to put him on an important stage for all to see, including scouts. If he played hard enough, there would be a shot that he'd get a contract. Enter the 76ers who announced a signing with the forward today.
This is a pretty good move for Philadelphia. It's a small contract, making it low-risk. It gives them a little extra power and energy off the bench that could actually lead to positive movement. Maybe Yabusele is the missing piece that the Process needs to finally come to completion.
76ers biggest opponents in the East
The Eastern Conference is often viewed as the weaker of the two, and this isn't a completely wrong statement. The West has a lot of dangerous players that can put your team down quickly. However, there are some teams that could be a major roadblock for Philadelphia.
Number one has to be the current NBA champions, the Boston Celtics. They consistently defeat the Sixers every single season and still have the "Embiid Stopper" Al Horford. It seems like every year the Cs remind Philadelphia that they made the mistake of not choosing Jayson Tatum. This season, they have a roster that could really compete with the guys in green. However, it's going to be a battle every single game.
Another major challenge this season could be the New York Knicks. They brought in some new firepower with Mikal Bridges completing the Villanova trio. They also secured Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. The return of Julius Randle could also be helpful for the team. They've stacked their chips and went all in for the 2024-25 season and it could be a big roadblock for Philadelphia this season.