​Rewritten: The Sporting News originally published an update about Mike Gansey and the Philadelphia 76ers aiming to patch holes in free agency. The article notes The Sporting News as a preferred source by clicking here. It’s no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers have been among the most active teams in free agency, completely overhauling their roster after a surprisingly strong postseason run. They pulled off an underdog victory in the opening round against the Boston Celtics before ultimately falling to the eventual NBA champions, the New York Knicks.
While much of the offseason chatter has centered on the blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown and the subsequent departure of Paul George, the Sixers were busy long before that deal was finalized. Their first move in free agency was to pursue Dean Wade, who had spent seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wade rose from a bench role to splitting time in the starting lineup during his Cavaliers tenure and built a rapport with Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey. Gansey spoke highly of Wade in a recent interview conducted during the NBA Summer League, underscoring Wade’s versatility on the floor and his rebounding ability on both ends of the court.
“We’re really excited about those guys, you know. Obviously, I’ve known Dean [Wade] for a while in Cleveland, and he’s kind of that Swiss Army knife, can guard everyone on the floor, and can make an open shot,” Gansey said. “He rebounds, which has been a weakness for Philly the last year.” Gansey’s point is supported by Philadelphia’s rebounding numbers, which ranked 17th in the league with an average of 43.6 boards per game, while Wade posted 4.2 rebounds per game. Although that stat might not seem earth-shattering, it’s important to note he would be sharing the floor at times with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, meaning the ball wouldn’t always be his to secure.
But Wade wasn’t the only acquisition for the Sixers, as they also signed Anfernee Simons to a two-year, $12 million deal, adding significant offensive firepower off the bench after some scoring talent departed in the opening days of the offseason, including Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. The reason Gansey pursued Simons wasn’t simply his scoring totals; it was his ability to knock down three-pointers, an area where Philadelphia struggled in the previous season.
“Then Anfernee [Simons], I mean, we were I think dead last in three-point makes, and you know, shot attempts, three-point attempts too, so having someone like that you can bring off the bench and just let it rip, you know, especially with Joel [Embiid],” Gansey explained, highlighting the role Simons could play off the bench to bolster the team’s outside shooting.