Sixers’ new president Mike Gansey says roster still short of title contention
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PHILADELPHIA — Newly appointed president of basketball operations Mike Gansey acknowledged Monday that the Philadelphia 76ers are “not a championship-caliber team at the moment,” offering few specifics about his first offseason in charge.
Speaking at his introductory press conference, Gansey declined to outline potential roster moves and sidestepped questions about oft-injured center Joel Embiid, who has three seasons and $188 million remaining on a max contract. “With him and the roster we have, that’s who we have,” Gansey said. “We’ve got to get those guys on the floor. We’ve got to create an identity.”
Executive Bob Myers, president of sports for the Sixers’ ownership group, provided a positive medical update on both Embiid and fellow max-salary forward Paul George. “There’s no scheduled surgeries this summer. There’s no injury going into the offseason,” Myers said, noting that past off-seasons began with rehab timetables. “This is an opportunity to get better … and with that, the hopes that [Embiid] can be on the floor a lot more.”
Front-office structure
Gansey, a longtime Cavaliers executive before joining Philadelphia, called having Myers in the organization “a cheat code” as he transitions into his first lead front-office role. He confirmed his support for retaining head coach Nick Nurse and said keeping Jameer Nelson — elevated to executive vice president of basketball operations — was “a bit of a sticking point” in accepting the job.
Nelson, a Chester, Pa., native and former NBA point guard, told reporters he had fielded interest from other teams but wanted to remain with his hometown franchise. “To do it for the home team gives me goosebumps,” Nelson said. “Six years ago, when I started, I had no idea where this journey would take me.”
Offseason possibilities
While Gansey did not discuss trade or free-agency plans, PhillyVoice.com published two hypothetical trade frameworks and evaluated whether shedding salary to unlock the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception would be worthwhile.
The 76ers were recently profiled in the Hoops Rumors Offseason Preview series, which examined the club’s cap situation and roster questions heading into the summer.
Source: Hoops Rumors
