The Sixers New Regime
Sixers fans have been down this path before. New regimes are introduced, promising to build a championship-caliber team. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but here the fan base has been wanting and waiting to experience that winning feeling of being the last team standing in a given season for 43 years.
The Philadelphia 76ers named Mike Gansey President of Basketball Operations on June 8th. He succeeds Daryl Morey, who served in the role for five and a half years, but was let go after the Sixers were swept in the second round of the NBA playoffs by the New York Knicks. Gansey joins the Sixers after 15 years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he rose from intern to general manager.
“I loved Cleveland,” the 43-year-old said. “It would have taken a lot to get me out of Cleveland. I had a conversation with Bob (Myers), Josh (Harris), and you have a championship-level coach in Nick (Nurse). You have a lot of really good players on the roster.
“Josh is passionate. He wants to win at the highest level. He hates to lose. I hate to lose. The more conversations we had, the more excited I was to be here and work with these guys. Bob’s won championships. Nick has won a championship. I won a championship in Cleveland. We want to do that here in Philadelphia.”
Gansey repeatedly talked about the current core group of players he inherited when he was hired. We know the four names quite well: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe (rookie), Paul George, and Joel Embiid. Three of the four players have max contracts (George, Embiid, Maxey). While two (George and Embiid) have had challenges with consistent availability due to injury, illness, or suspension, their contributions remain vital. Gansey is focused on embracing new methods to unlock the full potential of this talented roster and shape a brighter future.
“I just got here,” Gansey said. “I had conversations with Coach. I haven’t had many conversations with Joel and Paul yet. Tyrese and VJ, we have connected. Everyone is all over the world right now. My world is spinning right now.
“I want to get their input and Coach’s input and get this thing together. They are our four guys. They are under contract. We have to do our best to help them become their best selves. Every night at 7 o’clock, we have to have them at their best so we can win.”
The young executive went to work in a heartbeat.
Since becoming President of Basketball Operations for the 76ers, Gansey has quickly reshaped both the franchise’s front office and roster. His early tenure has been defined by an aggressive approach rather than a gradual transition.
His first statement move came on draft night when he selected Labaron Philon with the No. 22 overall pick, a combo guard who fits perfectly with the style of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
After the draft, Gansey emphasized that the Sixers needed greater depth throughout the roster rather than relying solely on their star core, signaling a shift toward building a more complete team.
But the next thing you know Gansey added star power. He acquired five-time all-star, Jaylen Brown from the Celtics in exchange for Paul George, two first round picks and a couple of seconds. It was a blockbuster deal by all accounts.
The Brown trade represents the headline move, but the combination of front-office restructuring, complementary veteran signings, and a renewed focus on defensive versatility suggests he’s attempting to reshape the Sixers into a deeper, more balanced contender.
Gansey knows that achieving success requires teamwork throughout the organization. To that end, a key condition before he accepted the position was the elevation of Jameer Nelson from Assistant General Manager to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.
“I am very excited to have Jameer as my number two,” Gansey explained. “He was a sticking point when I was talking to Josh and Bob. He was somebody I really wanted throughout the process. He is well respected around the league.
“I am 0-2 against him when I was at Saint Bonaventure, and he was at Saint Joe’s. I think I have the win now because I have him on my side. I’m just ready to get today over with and get going because the draft is two weeks away.”
Like Gansey, Nelson has progressed through a single organization since retiring from his 14-year NBA playing career. In 2020, the Sixers hired him as a scout and assistant general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, their G-League affiliate. Now, six years later, he is Mike Gansey’s right-hand man with the big club.
“I’m going to be honest with you,” Nelson said, “I thought I was going to be a coach. But when you’re working in the front office, you get to coach in your own way. Starting as a scout and in the G League, being able to run a team in the minor leagues, it’s important. It was important for shaping me into the executive I am now. Collaborating with coaches and players, I quench my thirst for coaching there.”
For a kid who grew up in Chester, PA, and was a die-hard Sixers fan, his post-playing career is surreal.
“In the past, I’ve had opportunities other places,” Nelson said. “I wanted to be part of the solution here. The thing that matters most to me here is I’m home. My family is here. I’m a Sixers fan. My favorite basketball players of all time are Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, and Kobe Bryant — people who played in this area. I feel like there are possibilities to help this organization move forward.”
This time feels different, but significant work remains.
