Less than one week away from the 2026 NBA draft, we still don\u2019t know much about the Sixers\u2019 plans.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re starting to get word<\/a> of some prospects whom the Sixers have brought in or will bring in for a predraft workout. We can make guesses<\/a> based on big boards and their biggest needs<\/a>, but the draft is unpredictable. Especially down at No. 22, expect the unexpected.<\/p>\n Adding to the intrigue of this year\u2019s draft is the front office turnover, with Mike Gansey replacing Daryl Morey as the Sixers\u2019 president of basketball operations. Jameer Nelson replaced Elton Brand as the No. 2 in charge, too, while Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment president of sports Bob Myers plans to be involved in high-leverage decisions including the draft, trades and free agency. Got all that?<\/p>\n Gansey said during his introductory press conference<\/a> that he helped run the Cleveland Cavaliers\u2019 draft in recent years. His previous picks could hint at where he\u2019d be leaning at No. 22, and how (if at all) that might differ from Morey and Co.\u2018s past approach.<\/p>\n Morey\u2019s front office made 10 picks between 2020 and 2025. Their draft history might be the best part of his Sixers resume<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Sixers hit two home runs with Tyrese Maxey at No. 21 in 2020 and VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 in 2025. Jared McCain (No. 16 in 2024) looks like a solid double at least\u2014albeit for the Oklahoma City Thunder now\u2014while Isaiah Joe (No. 49 in 2020), Paul Reed (No. 58 in 2020) and Adem Bona (No. 41 in 2024) are all clear steals based on their draft slot. The jury remains out on Johni Broome (No. 35 in 2025), and I still believe in Charles Bassey (No. 53 in 2021), damn it.<\/p>\n YearProspectPickClassAge2025VJ Edgecombe3Freshman192025Johni Broome35Senior222024Jared McCain16Freshman202024Adem Bona41Sophomore212021Jaden Springer28Freshman182021Filip Petru\u0161ev50Sophomore212021Charles Bassey53Junior202020Tyrese Maxey21Freshman192020Isaiah Joe49Sophomore202020Paul Reed58Junior21<\/p>\n One thing jumps out about the Sixers\u2019 draft history under Morey: They drafted freshmen with all four of their first-round picks (Maxey, Edgecombe, McCain and Jaden Springer). They always preferred upside over more established options in that range.<\/p>\n When the Sixers were on the clock at No. 16 in 2024, both McCain and Dalton Knecht were still on the board. Knecht, a fifth-year senior, was a first-team All-American at Tennessee after averaging 21.7 points per game while shooting 45.8 percent overall and 39.7 percent from deep. McCain averaged only 14.3 points per game at Duke, but he shot 41.4 percent from deep.<\/p>\n When the Sixers took McCain, some fans were frustrated that they didn\u2019t take Knecht since he was seemingly more of a sure thing. This past season, Knecht averaged 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Lakers. McCain was the right pick at the time, and he continues to be so.<\/p>\n If the Sixers continued their freshman-only ways in the first round, they could take Chris Cenac Jr.<\/a>, Allen Graves<\/a>, Koa Peat <\/a>or Hannes Steinbach<\/a>. Jayden Quaintance<\/a> is also younger than all four of them despite being a sophomore. At least one of those players figures to be available at No. 22, if not more.<\/p>\n Will Gansey follow in those same footsteps, though?<\/p>\n The Cavs\u2019 history with Gansey<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear exactly when Gansey took over the Cavaliers\u2019 draft room. But since he ascended to assistant general manager in 2017, the Cavs had draft picks all over the first round, giving Gansey plenty of experience with a bunch of different scenarios.<\/p>\n On the high end, the Cavs took Evan Mobley (No. 3 in 2021) and Darius Garland (No. 5 in 2019), both of whom developed into All-Stars. Granted, they also whiffed on the No. 5 overall pick in 2020 (Isaac Okoro) while Onyeka Okongwu, Deni Avdija, Devin Vassell and Tyrese Haliburton were all still on the board.<\/p>\n The Cavs did snag Jaylon Tyson with the No. 20 overall pick in 2024, and he turned into a quietly key contributor for them in his sophomore season. In 66 games (42 starts), Tyson averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in only 26.9 minutes per game while shooting 49.3 percent overall and 44.6 percent from three-point range.<\/p>\n Tyson is more akin to the type of prospect whom the Sixers should realistically hope to land at No. 22 rather than a miracle like Maxey. Finding a future star at that spot would be incredible, but if nothing else, the Sixers need a solid single or double there. They can\u2019t afford a total whiff.<\/p>\n During his introductory press conference<\/a>, Gansey hinted at the types of prospects that he\u2019d be looking to bring in.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the draft coming up, for example, you\u2019re talking to plenty of coaches and people who have been around these [prospects],\u201d he said. \u201cYou want to bring in good people. If they don\u2019t want to be here or you don\u2019t feel they fit our culture, then we don\u2019t want them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want people who want to be in Philadelphia. I want competitiveness. I want toughness. I want guys who hate to lose. Those are the kinds of people I\u2019m going to target and want to bring onto this roster.\u201d<\/p>\n With that said, there\u2019s no easy way to gauge intangibles like competitiveness and toughness. That\u2019s where the Sixers need to do their due diligence by talking to coaches and staffers who worked with those prospects.<\/p>\n Luckily, the Sixers already seem to have begun placing a premium on those characteristics even under Morey. Edgecombe\u2019s ferocity on the court might have helped separate him from Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey as the Sixers deliberated who to take at No. 3 last year.<\/p>\n So, as you\u2019re poring over draft profiles and big boards for the next few days, pay close attention to the prospects\u2019 character reports. As much as the Sixers will prioritize upside and fit, they\u2019ll also be hunting for prospects with that dawg in them.<\/p>\n Even if Morey had stayed in charge, the Name, Image and Likeness era would have forced them to change their draft approach regardless.<\/p>\n Five years ago, an NBA-record 353 players initially filed<\/a> as early-entry candidates for the 2021 draft, and 217 early-entry players remained in the draft<\/a>. This year, only 71 players filed<\/a> as early-entry candidates\u2014the lowest mark since 2003, according to Jonathan Givony<\/a> of DraftExpress\u2014and only 31 stayed in the draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now that players can (legally) rake in millions in college via their NIL rights, deciding whether to stay in the draft is much tougher for those who aren\u2019t projected to be high lottery picks. The number of early-entry candidates has plummeted accordingly<\/a> in recent years.<\/p>\n Florida forward Thomas Haugh, UConn guard Braylon Mullins and Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas were all showing up as possible mid-first-round picks in mock drafts during March Madness<\/a>. All three chose to return to school for another year, which thinned out the back half of the first round.<\/p>\n