Welcome to the second part of our annual Sixers free agency primer, evaluating potential trade targets around the NBA.

The Sixers have an unusual cap sheet for today's environment: three max contracts belonging to Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, one medium-sized deal belonging to VJ Edgecombe and a hefty batch of small deals – many of which cannot be cobbled together in trades because of a new rule regarding minimum salaries being aggregated in trades.

So, new Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey does not have a tremendous array of options when it comes to the trade market. Even if he wanted to trade from his strong collection of future draft picks, there is not enough matching salary for him to go for a big swing – unless another team unexpectedly shows a willingness to absorb the remaining two years and $110 million on George's deal, which still seems to be extremely unlikely.

The Sixers are now hard-capped at the first apron as a result of signing Dean Wade. As far as trade capacity goes, barring something unforeseen they have two realistic pathways to acquiring players already signed to contracts: utilizing the remainder of their non-taxpayer's mid-level exception – likely worth about $6 million – and using their bi-annual exception, worth approximately $5.1 million.

Keep all of this, plus the salaries already on the Sixers' books, in mind when pondering these targets:

2026 SIXERS FREE AGENCY PRIMER

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Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers (remaining contract: $15.0 million in 2026-27, $16.0 million in 2027-28): Toppin missed most of last season due to an injury – like many members of Indiana's conference-winning rotation from two seasons ago – but is a gifted offensive power forward who has closed the highest-level games there are as a center. He would be a terrific offensive fit next to Embiid, but is not much of a stopper defensively.

Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans (remaining contract: $14.8 million in 2026-27, $20.8 million in 2027-28, $22.5 million in 2028-29, player option for $24.1 million in 2029-30): For as long as Jones is in the NBA, Sixers fans – and fans of most teams – will be calling for their team to deal with the Pelicans. Jones is an elite defender, though in recent years may have taken a step or two back. He has a major extension kicking in next season, which creates greater risk. That is an especially tough deal to take on for the Sixers.

Isaac Okoro, Chicago Bulls (remaining contract: $11.8 million in 2026-27): Gansey's history with the Cleveland Cavaliers might not only be a factor in free agency; he could look to trade for a familiar face. Okoro is not quite good enough for the case to be solid here given his salary, but he is a name worth noting.

Royce O'Neale, Charlotte Hornets (remaining contract: $10.8 million in 2026-27, $11.6 million in 2027-28): O'Neale has been a strong theoretical target for the Sixers dating back to his days with the Utah Jazz, and was just traded from Phoenix to Charlotte. The Hornets could absolutely use his services at either forward spot, but if they look to get younger, he could be a sensible target for the Sixers yet again.

Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers (remaining contract: $10.4 million in 2026-27): A native of Chester, Jones missed a major chunk of the 2025-26 season due to reoccurring injuries. But he is an outstanding athlete capable of playing either forward position and defending high-level perimeter players. Shooting will always be the question mark for Jones, but he does more than enough to reliably be a quality rotation wing.

Luke Kornet, San Antonio Spurs (remaining contract: $10.4 million in 2026-27, $9.9 million in 2027-28; $2.5 million guaranteed, team option for $9.3 million in 2028-29): After being decimated whenever Kornet replaced Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals, the Spurs drafted two bigs in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday. Could they move Kornet, whose unusually team-friendly contract makes him a useful piece to have regardless of his play?

AJ Green, Milwaukee Bucks (remaining contract: $10.0 million in 2026-27, $10.8 million in 2027-28, $11.6 million in 2028-29, $12.4 million in 2029-30): Green is a sharpshooter extraordinaire, and while Milwaukee should see no reason to move one of their rare developmental success stories, perhaps there is a price for a player whose value was boosted by playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Buddy Hield, Atlanta Hawks (remaining contract: $9.6 million in 2026-27, player option for $10.0 million in 2027-28; $3.1 million guaranteed): Hield is one of Edgecombe's mentors as a fellow native of The Bahamas, and he will always be an elite three-point shooter. His contract offers some flexibility, too.

Naji Marshall, Dallas Mavericks (remaining contract: $9.4 million in 2026-27): One of the Sixers' targets at last season's trade deadline, Marshall would fill a lot of gaps at once: tough defense on the wing, rebounding help and secondary ball-handling are among the things he can provide. With Cooper Flagg locked into a massive role and fellow forward Morez Johnson Jr. entering as the No. 9 overall pick, Dallas could look to move Marshall ahead of a contract season. 

Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls (remaining contract: $9.4 million in 2026-27): Another player the Sixers targeted in February, Smith has positional versatility between power forward and center because of his track record as a three-point shooter. 

Sam Merrill, Cleveland Cavaliers (remaining contract: $9.1 million in 2026-27, $9.8 million in 2027-28, $10.5 million in 2028-29): Cleveland would likely not move their best three-point shooter, but since Gansey mentioned Merrill by name during his introductory press conference when asked about his responsibilities in Cleveland, it is worth noting the connection. Merrill is a guard on the smaller side, but thrives in an off-ball role.

Ron Holland II, Detroit Pistons (remaining contract: $9.0 million in 2026-27, $11.4 million in 2027-28): Holland has tremendous athleticism and defensive chops, but on a Detroit team which starts Ausar Thompson he has not been able to break through. A change of scenery would be in his best interests.

Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers (remaining contract: $8.4 million in 2026-27): Walker has had an underwhelming Pacers tenure so far; the former lottery pick missed a chance to take advantage of Indiana's many injuries last year. He is likely not enough of a proven commodity for the Sixers' liking.

Taylor Hendricks, Memphis Grizzlies (remaining contract: $7.8 million in 2026-27): Hendricks has attempted 7.8 three-point attempts per 100 possessions for his career. Will his fourth season be the one in which he puts it all together?

Jaylin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder (remaining contract: $7.7 million in 2026-27, team option for $7.7 million in 2027-28): Williams is known by some as "the other one" because Jalen Williams is a star. But "J-Will" is a legitimately excellent role-playing big who defends, shoots and passes at a high level. He could start on many NBA teams, and it is probably one summer too early to see Oklahoma City considering moving one of the pillars of their renowned chemistry. But they did just draft 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara and are expected to retain Isaiah Hartenstein.

Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic (remaining contract: $7.6 million in 2026-27): A viable backup center, Bitadze is an analytics darling and a monster on the offensive glass. He would be a more stable force backing up Embiid than what the Sixers have had in recent years.

Gradey Dick, Los Angeles Clippers (remaining contract: $7.1 million in 2026-27): Just traded as part of the package which sent Kawhi Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors, Dick is a talented shooter with some offensive juice, but he has not been able to show it off in full enough.

Clint Capela, Houston Rockets (remaining contract: $7.0 million in 2026-27, $7.3 million in 2027-28): Capela is no longer the player he was on contending Rockets teams, but he is back in Houston and he can still help a team win. Capela will be Houston's third-string center again with Steven Adams set to return from injury, which makes him expendable.

Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (remaining contract: $6.4 million in 2026-27): Another deadline target the Sixers failed to land, Bey should be moved this summer. He has become a dynamic offensive player on the wing, capable of scoring self-created baskets and going on long heaters. The Villanova product could give the Sixers a different look on the wing than Oubre has in recent years.

Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers (remaining contract: $5.6 million in 2026-27): Dunn is one of the NBA's elite defensive guards, and it might take a lot for the Clippers to let him go. Maybe the Sixers do not have enough minutes available for Dunn to justify paying that price, but he is a terrific and additive player.

Ben Sheppard, Indiana Pacers (remaining contract: $5.0 million in 2026-27): Sheppard could be a cost-cutting casualty in Indiana depending on the Pacers' free-agency plans. He is a prototypical role-playing off-ball swingman whose production will, to some degree, be reliant on him making spot-up threes.

Taurean Prince, Milwaukee Bucks (remaining contract: $3.8 million in 2026-27): Prince missed much of last season with an injury and will not blow anybody away. But he has a sturdy frame on the wing and is more than capable spotting up on three-point tries. The author of an all-time funny quote is now a veteran of 10 NBA seasons.

Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers remaining contract: $3.6 million in 2026-27, team option for $5.6 million in 2027-28): Tyson crushed the Sixers in a Cavaliers win in Philadelphia last season; he was one of the most successful first-round picks made by in recent years by the front office Gansey just departed. He is probably a year away from being in any remotely substantive trade talks, but if he could be available, Gansey would know. 

Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans (remaining contract: $3.5 million in 2026-27, team option for $5.5 million in 2027-28): Another recent first-round pick, Missi had a strong rookie campaign for the Pelicans before a new front-office regime entered and essentially replaced him immediately by drafting Derik Queen. Missi has been available for some time now, and perhaps his preexisting relationship with Embiid earns him bonus points as a Sixers target. 

Kris Murray, Memphis Grizzlies (remaining contract: $3.1 million in 2026-27, team option for $5.3 million in 2027-28): Murray was just traded from Portland to Memphis as part of a deal which finally sent Ja Morant to a new team. The Grizzlies have a roster crunch coming; Murray is one of many young wings that could be moved as a result. 

Justin Champagnie, Washington Wizards (remaining contract: $2.6 million in 2026-27; non-guaranteed, team option for $3.0 million in 2027-28; non-guaranteed): Champagnie is constantly undervalued, and even if he is not an ideal rotation regular on the wing, he is at the very least capable of contributing in small doses. He is an elite offensive rebounder, and while he does not have any other standout traits he also does not have any major weaknesses. He can be a meaningful upgrade over what the Sixers had in their middle-to-back-end roster spots.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Memphis Grizzlies (remaining contract: $2.4 million in 2026-27): Teams can carry up to 20 players in the offseason, but if the Grizzlies are unable to secure a roster spot for Prosper heading into the season a trade is always possible. Prosper, who turns 24 years old this week, averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds (2.2 offensive) per 36 minutes, with his career-best 40.5 percent clip from beyond the arc helping him earn a promotion from a two-way deal to a standard contract.

GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies (remaining contract: $2.4 million in 2026-27): Jackson could also theoretically be a victim of the numbers game in Memphis, and after a terrific start to his career has not been able to completely establish himself as a rotation-caliber forward. Still only 21 years old, Jackson's 6-foot-9 frame and impressive skill level make him an intriguing prospect.

2026 SIXERS FREE AGENCY PRIMER

SALARY CAP DETAILS | TRADE TARGETS | FREE AGENTS