76ers Expected To Be Shorthanded When Training Camp Begins, Where Roster Stands and Positional Battles

The Philadelphia 76ers have been pretty quiet this offseason and have a lot of questions to answer when training camp opens on Saturday. The 76ers, who are coming off their worst season since the “Trust the Process” era in the mid-2010s, will be shorthanded as they head to Abu Dhabi to face the New York Knicks on October 2 and 4.

76ers Expected To Be Shorthanded When Training Camp Begins, Where Roster Stands and Positional Battles

Philadelphia went 24-58 last season, its worst season since the 2015-16 season, as it dealt with several key injuries. The 76ers also saw their seven-year playoff run come to an end, which was its longest since their 12-year playoff run from 1975-87. The Sixers were one of the worst across the board.

Philadelphia ranked in the bottom third in the league in both offense and defense. But their most significant issue was on the defensive end, where they ranked last in opponent field goal percentage and rebound percentage. They also struggled to defend the three-point line and protect the rim.

76ers Additions and Financials

Despite the 76ers’ struggles, Philadelphia enters the 2025-26 season with essentially the same squad as a year ago. Five of nine Sixers players from a year ago either re-signed or exercised their player options. The Sixers’ only real offseason additions were free agent Trendon Watford and draft picks, VJ Edgecombe and Johni Broome.

Philadelphia projects to have 20 players when they begin training camp on October 27, which is one player short of the maximum allowed. The 76ers have 13 players on standard deals, and all three of their two-way spots are filled. They also have four players in camp on Exhibit 10 training camps: Igor Milicic Jr., Kennedy Chandler, Emoni Bates, and Malcolm Hill.

Philadelphia’s 13-man roster stands at $186.1 million. The 76ers are about $1.7 million below the luxury tax and are about $9.8 million below the first apron. They are $21.6 million clear of the second apron. The 14th spot is likely earmarked for restricted free agent Quentin Grimes.

Grimes, who came into his own after being acquired from Dallas, and the 76ers are at an impasse. Grimes, who has an $8.7 million qualifying offer on the table, is not slated to be with the team at the start of training camp or in Abu Dhabi.

Quentin Grimes and 76ers Reportedly Far Apart

In the 28 games with the 76ers, Grimes averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. The 25-year-old wing knocked down 2.9 threes while shooting 46.9/37.3/72.5. He scored 20 or more points in 16 of 28 games, topping the 30-point mark four times and hitting 40 twice, and produced four double-doubles.

According to Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Grimes’ agent, David Bauman, told her that the 76ers offered his client a four-year deal worth $39 million. Mizell added that the 76ers and Grimes are far apart, as Bauman believes that Grimes should be making between $20 and $25 million a season.

Michael Scotto of Hoopshype reported that Grimes was disappointed that he wasn’t formally offered a contract until this week. Scotto also conveyed that Bauman told him the Sixers’ offer was a “loose-pitched offer,” which would essentially be Grimes’ qualifying offer with an eight percent average annual raise each season of the contract.

“Now, it appears more likely that both sides are heading toward some sort of one-year deal. Grimes could accept his $8.7 million qualifying offer, which comes with a no-trade clause,” Mizell wrote. “Another option is a one-year “balloon” deal for a higher salary and with a waived no-trade clause. Both would make the shooting guard an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. The deadline to accept the qualifying offer is Wednesday (October 1), which Bauman has requested that the Sixers extend.”

Jared McCain To Miss Time

Despite differing opinions on Grimes’ worth, a source told Mizell that the 76ers still value Grimes, viewing him as a “significant part” of their future. Grimes will likely join the Sixers when the teams return from their trip.

Grimes is slated to start alongside Tyrese Maxey in the 76ers’ backcourt. The 76ers lost seven of the eight games Maxey and Grimes played together.

Grimes is not the only player to miss training camp time for the Sixers. Jared McCain sustained a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right thumb during a workout on Thursday, which is his shooting hand. While it is unknown exactly how McCain suffered the injury, Sixers general manager Darryl Morey said it “couldn’t be any more flukey,” according to Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice. Aaronson also relayed that “the team is still working with doctors to figure out when he’ll be back.”

Not long after Aaronson’s tweet via Bluesky, ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the nugget that McCain will undergo surgery on his right thumb. McCain, who was limited to 15 contests due to a knee injury, will reportedly miss approximately 4-6 weeks, according to Charania.

With McCain out, Edgecombe and Grimes project to compete for the 76ers’ starting shooting guard job when Grimes signs his deal. Whoever doesn’t win the starting job will still have a significant role for the Sixers. Eric Gordon or Kyle Lowry could also see an uptick in minutes at the beginning of the season.

Joel Embiid’s and Paul George’s Health

McCain is not the only 76er dealing with aches and pain. The big question all offseason surrounded Joel Embiid and whether his body would be able to withstand the rigors of another season. Embiid was limited to 19 games last season due to recurring knee problems. However, the Sixers have released videos of the 32-year-old center working out in the offseason, and, by all accounts, he appears to be in good shape. He looks slim. He seems motivated, according to Ky Carlin of the Sixers Wire.

“I feel pretty good,” Embiid explained during the Sixers Media Day today. “I think we made a lot of progress over the last couple of months. We got a plan in place. Try to check off all the boxes, so take it one day at a time. This is still a bit of a wait-and-see period, where we’re taking it day by day. Keep getting stronger. Keep getting better. There have been a few court sessions, so everything has been on schedule. However, I think with the team final, whatever we have planned, there isn’t necessarily an expectation. It’s more about making sure everything is right and doing everything right and then going from there.”

“I’ve done a few stuff,” Embiid said of what he’s been able to do. “Just going, like I said, taking it day-by-day. Obviously, the goal is to play consistently, and not being in the position we were in last year, so whatever that brings me then and whatever the plan is, I think the focus is on just checking all those boxes.”

Paul George Will Not Be A Full Participant At the Start of Training Camp