76ers rumors: 2 names to keep in back pocket to replace injured Joel Embiid backup appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There will be plenty of excitement among Philadelphia 76ers fans considering the current offseason has left them with a roster that looks set to take the NBA by storm next season. However, the front office is still looking to further improve their chances to emerge as one of the league’s top teams next season, and one area that remains under consideration is Joel Embiid’s backup.
As things stand, The Process will need to rely on the likes of Adam Bona and Dominick Barlow for backup in case of injuries. However, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the 76ers are looking at several names they can still add.
One of them is none other than Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims, who started 19 games last season out of 65 appearances, averaging 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 points and 1.6 assists per game. Moving on, the Dallas Mavericks’ Moussa Cissé has also been flagged as a player the 76ers may look at.
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The Mavericks need to make a decision over their final roster spot and have handed out considerable minutes to Dwight Powell in the preseason thus far. While extending his stay to a 12th season remains on the table, the Mavs also matched the New York Knicks’ offer for Cisse in restricted free agency in July and guaranteed his $2.2 million salary for the upcoming season by keeping him on the roster past October 1.
Hence, the Mavs have multiple options when it comes to their final 15th roster spot, which potentially means Cisse may still emerge as a player the 76ers are able to snag. Philadelphia were recently handed a blow in the form of Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles injury.
There remain plenty of critics who expect Embiid to once again miss time in the coming season after he appeared in just 38 regular season games last season, which was still a major improvement on the 2024-25 campaign, when Embiid played in half of those games (19).
The 76ers have a clear chance to challenge for the title next season and will be intent on giving their veteran core the best-possible opportunity to make the best of the talent they have available on the roster. That should inadvertently lead to them looking for another Embiid backup in what is left of the offseason.
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