With the 2026-2027 NBA season just right around the corner, the Sixers are at the forefront of conversation and intrigue for the upcoming campaign.
Most of the focus is centered around the acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and how they will fit amongst the trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. While the star-studded first five will have to shoulder most of the responsibility on this team, the depth and production from the Sixers’ bench unit will be a major swing factor in how this team contends
both throughout the regular season and postseason. So that raises the question. Do the Sixers have enough depth?
The Backcourt
This is the most quality backcourt depth the Sixers have had in recent memory. The trio of Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should provide the Sixers with plenty of ball handling, shooting and scoring punch off the bench.
Simons joins the Sixers after signing a two-year, $12-million contract with a second-year player-option this summer. Simons is coming off a season where he appeared in 55 games between Boston and Chicago, where he was traded before the deadline in exchange for Nikola Vucevic and draft compensation. Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, while shooting 44% from the field, 39% from threeand just shy of 90% from the foul line. The skill that is going to prove most valuable for this Sixers team is his shooting ability. On top of his 39% from three, Simons attempted a career high 9.9 threes per 36 minutes. His ability to shoot off the catch, off the dribble and off movement is going to be huge for providing space and gravity across many lineups next to the Sixers stars. Simons also has the ability to go off on his own at any given time and be the primary focal point offensively for a bench unit.
Philon, the Sixers’ first-round pick in June’s NBA draft, is a perfect guard to blend in with this team. He’s immediately the Sixers’ second-best passer on the perimeter aside from LeBron James and an elite pick-and-roll operator who is also more than capable of scoring in isolation from all three levels. Philon has the skillset to play both with the ball in his hands or off the ball next to other primary creators — an ability he showed throughout his time in college at Alabama and in high school at Link Academy.
Philon, similarly to Simons, has the ability to be the primary engine of your second unit offense, with even more playmaking juice than Simons provides. He’s also able to fit next to either Maxey or Edgecombe in the backcourt as well playing a tertiary role as a secondary creator or spot-up guy alongside Brown, Embiid and James. Philon is also an excellent transition player which plays right into what is likely to be a major part of the Sixers identity given how Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown and James are four of the most dangerous transition players in the sport. Philon was a steal for the Sixers in the 2026 draft, and his scalability is going to provide the Sixers with a significant jolt in their backcourt off the bench.
Why the Sixers got the steal of the draft in Labaron Philon Jr. | Liberty Ballers
Caldwell-Pope, more famously referred to as “KCP,” is no stranger to playing a 3-and-D role supplementing star-laden lineups. The two-time NBA champion and fellow Klutch sport client won a title alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis in L.A. during the NBA bubble as well as with the Denver Nuggets in 2023 next to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. While Caldwell-Pope is not quite the elite 3-and-D role player he was in his prime, now entering year 14 and his age 33 season, KCP still should be able to provide adequate defense and spacing off the bench and his championship experience and championship level chemistry that’s already established with James won’t hurt either.
Two-way contract guys Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert could provide some value as well if the team runs into some injuries or there’s some heavy rest nights for the Sixers primary players. Love is a microwave scorer capable of having big offensive outburst. Rupert is more of a defense-first guard/wing with standout length and a high motor who is an excellent rebounder.
The Frontcourt
The Sixers’ biggest offseason acquisition prior to the trade for Brown and the free agency acquisition of James was them inking former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade to a four-year, $38-million deal. Wade was penciled in as the Sixers starting power forward prior to the addition of James later on in free agency. Wade is a quintessential 3-and-D forward whose versatile defense is going to be a major chess piece for the Sixers.
I’d expect Wade to lead the Sixers bench in minutes played and time played alongside the Sixers starters. His ability to guard both up and down the lineup from small guards to larger forwards will make him an important piece on the board for the Sixers. I would expect Wade will spend a lot of his time checking opposing team’s primary scoring options. He’s also a phenomenal offensive rebounder who will win extra possessions and space from three. Wade upping his three-point volume should be a point of emphasis for him this year as he is going to get plenty of open looks playing next to the Sixers stars.
Dominick Barlow was a revelation for the Sixers during the 2025-2026 season. Barlow, who started the season on a two-way contract, went on to start 59 games and play 24 minutes a night. His defense, motor and overall activity on both ends made him a key role player on a playoff team last season. Barlow, who spent most of this offseason reworking his jump shot in an effort to become a better three-point shooter, could prove to be a vital role player for the Sixers again this season.
His cutting ability and open court athleticism theoretically fits very nicely alongside the Sixers stars, in particular LeBron James, who is one of the best in the world at finding cutters. Lineups that featured Barlow at the power forward spot next to Joel Embiid were among the most efficient lineups for the Sixers last season. If Barlow can improve his outside shooting, he becomes an even more valuable and fittable piece into the Sixers’ puzzle.
Jabari Walker and Justin Edwards are likely to serve as deeper bench reserves in the Sixers frontcourt. Walker’s rebounding ability on both ends allows him to provide value in that context while also being capable of knocking down an open corner three. Continued improvement as a shooter and defender will be needed for Walker to carve out more of a role. Edwards should be a plug-and-play fit whenever needed as another 3-and-D wing. Edwards will have to show more consistency to warrant a consistent role on this iteration of the Sixers. Improvements in screen navigation on the defensive end would go a long way in helping Edward’s case for more minutes. Edwards is also capable of getting hot from distance as we’ve seen several times over the last couple of seasons.
The biggest question mark for the Sixers depth chart heading into the season is the backup center position. Adem Bona is likely to serve as the Sixers primary backup center to start the season, and he has had his moments throughout his first couple of seasons in the NBA. Bona should benefit greatly when playing alongside James as Bona is an excellent runner of the floor and lob threat who will be better optimized playing with a passer like LeBron. Bona has had his struggles defending bigger players in the low post and with rebounding as he is a bit undersized for a center and does not have the best hands. I expect Bona to provide minutes in the regular season and his defensive versatility to shine more in a better equipped Sixers lineup.
Ariel Hukporti is the Sixers other true backup center option after coming over from the New York Knicks in the offseason by way of free agency. Hukporti saw limited minutes for the Knicks over the last two seasons playing nine minutes a game over 79 contest the past two years. He’s a quality rebounder and provides a bit more size than Bona does at the center spot. Hukporti is known to be an excellent screener which serves him well as he will likely be setting a lot of ball screens for the Sixers ball handlers. I would also expect the Sixers to deploy quite a bit of “small ball” at the 5 with guys like Wade, Barlow and James playing in that spot and alongside each other across the frontcourt and leaning into the versatility that their forward positions provide.
If there is a spot that I could see the Sixers looking to upgrade before the trade deadline it would be the backup center spot as we know how valuable that position is behind Joel Embiid.
The most underdiscussed and underappreciated part of the Sixers offseason was the improvements made to their second unit. I’m bullish on what the Sixers bench will be able to provide for this team and the quality of depth as a whole — something us Sixers fans have not often experienced with this team. Helps when you can sign the greatest player of all time to a vet minimum contract.
