The Philadelphia 76ers made the decision after their season ended to fire President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey. They hired a new President in Cleveland Cavaliers assistant general manager Mike Gansey. While front office hires are usually people that the media and fans don’t necessarily know, people are starting to know Gansey because he’s won the offseason.
The new PBO had his introductory press conference with the Philly media on June 6th at their practice facility. He came out dressed like the movie character John Wick. The majority of the presser was front office speak because the team was being weighed down by the monstrous contracts of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. One major takeaway was that the current team wasn’t in a position to contend this upcoming season after being swept by the Knicks.
The roster after the season was full of holes, as they needed scoring off the bench, multiple wings, and a backup center. It was a long laundry list for a financially strapped team. Gansey quickly went to work, beginning with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Slow & Steady Wins The Race
Due to a controversial trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder involving fan favorite Jared McCain, the Sixers acquired the 22nd overall selection. There was uncertainty about what Gansey would do with the pick because the team had a number of needs.
Gansey selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr, an athletic three-level scorer who helped lead Bama to a Sweet 16 appearance. The guard draws comparisons to players that Gansey had in Cleveland, such as Darius Garland and Dennis Schroder. Philon can give the 76ers bench a scoring punch they desperately lacked this past season, especially since the McCain trade.
The selection of Philon was a great start, but this team was still lacking a power balance-shifting move. Fans weren’t sold on the vision of running it back with George and Embiid. Neither was Gansey, who made a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown, a top 15 player in the NBA. The Celtics wanted upwards of 5 first-round picks, but they overplayed their hand. Gansey waited for the price to drop and swooped in for the All-NBA wing. The move sent shockwaves through the league and has pushed the Sixers into the conversation of legit title contenders.
While in Cleveland, Gansey was known for working and winning in the margins. He helped discover players that were overlooked, such as Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson. He made it clear that he wanted Wade and signed him to a four-year contract with the 76ers. The free agency period wasn’t over for Gansey, though, as he added center Ariel Hukporti and guard Anfernee Simons. Even the two-way contracts of Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert can give the team a way to build potential rotational pieces. Their depth seems to be in a good position for the first time in a long time.
Mike Gansey: Actions Over Words For The Sixers
Not too many people knew about Gansey before the 76ers hired him to call the shots. Even his introductory press conference left questions about what he will do this summer. In an offseason that didn’t project a ton of attention, all eyes have been shifted to the 76ers. Gansey cannot win the executive of the year award in July, but he can at least be a preseason favorite after his latest moves.
