RealGM Basketball Wiretap

10 October 2025

• Sources Detail Joel Embiid's Isolation, Distrust Within 76ers Organization Last Season

  The Philadelphia 76ers are projecting optimism entering training camp, but sources close to the organization reveal deep-seated dysfunction centered around Joel Embiid during last season's 24-58 collapse. Former staffers and player associates describe an environment plagued by mistrust and communication breakdowns, according to The Ringer.

  "The organization was built around one guy who doesn't trust anyone and mostly keeps to himself," one former Sixers staffer said. When Embiid appeared in just 19 games last season, that isolation created organizational chaos.

  Embiid's refusal to communicate about his injury status extended beyond the public to internal stakeholders. Players frequently arrived at work unaware whether their star would suit up. Coaches often learned Embiid's status during pregame warmups, sometimes less than an hour before tipoff.

  "With Joel, even if there is a plan in place, you can't say anything about it," a second former team staffer said.

  Tension escalated after a November players-only meeting was leaked to ESPN's Shams Charania, with grievances directed at Embiid becoming public. The breach damaged locker room trust and appeared to affect Embiid most significantly.

  "People left that night feeling like they had turned a corner. Everyone promised to keep the details in-house. And then they wake up and all the details are out," a person close to a player said.

  "It all created an environment of dysfunction," said an associate of a Sixers player.

  President Daryl Morey conducted extensive offseason evaluations, resulting in personnel changes across coaching, medical, and support staff. Morey emphasized injecting youth into the roster after recognizing his mistakes building the supporting cast with veterans.

  "We realize we're in the 'prove-it' phase," Morey said at media day. "I don't think it really matters what we're saying up here on our expectations at this point."

  The Sixers enter camp with 69 percent of their salary cap committed to Embiid and Paul George, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in July. George has not provided a return timetable and said he's not ready to "start the full ramp-up."

  Tyrese Maxey has assumed a leadership role, organizing offseason workouts and emphasizing consistency regardless of personnel availability. Second-year guard Jared McCain will miss four to six weeks after tearing a ligament in his right thumb during practice.

• Quentin Grimes Signs $8.7M Qualifying Offer With Sixers

  Quentin Grimes has signed his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer with the Philadelphia 76ers. Grimes will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 and cannot be traded without his permission.

  Grimes and the Sixers never appeared particularly close on a deal. The Sixers' first formal offer was a four-year, $39 million deal. Grimes was looking for a contract in the $30 million range and then came down to the $20 million to $25 million range.

  The Sixers only offered Grimes an additional $100,000 above his $8.8 million qualifying offer to incentivize him to waive his inherent no-trade clause. Grimes offered Philadelphia a one-year, $17 million framework and a two-year deal at $34 million with a player option, which were both rejected by Philadelphia.

  Grimes averaged 21.9 points and 4.5 assists in 28 games with the 76ers after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks at the February deadline. Grimes spent his first two seasons with the New York Knicks before trades to the Detroit Pistons, Mavericks and Sixers.

• Jared McCain To Be Re-Evaluated In Four Weeks After Thumb Surgery

  The Philadelphia 76ers announced that Jared McCain underwent surgery for a UCL tear in his right thumb. The Sixers said that McCain will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

  McCain averaged 15.3 points as a rookie for Philadelphia. His season was cut short after 23 games due to a torn meniscus in his left knee.

• Sixers Waive Marcus Bagley

  The Philadelphia 76ers waived forward Marcus Bagley. The team had signed Bagley to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract.

  Bagley is expected to return to the Delaware Blue Coats for the G League season. Bagley played for Delaware last year before a late-season callup to the Sixers.

• Sixers Waive Igor Milicic Jr

  The Philadelphia 76ers have waived forward Igor Milicic Jr. The Sixers had signed Milicic to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract.

  Milicic is expected to join the Delaware Blue Coats for the G League Season.

• Sixers Rejected Quentin Grimes Proposal To Extend Qualifying Offer Deadline

  The Philadelphia 76ers have declined the request from Quentin Grimes and his representation to extend the deadline for Grimes to sign his qualifying offer. The deadline for restricted free agents to sign their qualifying offer is Wednesday, October 1. Teams can choose to extend that deadline, but that is rarely done.

  Grimes remains a restricted free agent, as he and the Sixers remain far apart in talks on a new long-term contract. The four-year veteran could sign the $8.7 million qualifying offer, which would come with a one-year implicit no-trade clause. Grimes would then be an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason.

  There have been some talks of Grimes signing a one-year deal with what has been described as a balloon payment. In order to get that bigger deal, Grimes would have to waive the implicit no-trade clause that would come with a one-year contract. A player can waive the NTC on a non-qualifying offer deal. The same is true of a two-year deal that includes a player or team option on the second season.

• Sixers Sign Marcus Bagley, Saint Thomas To Camp Deals

  The Philadelphia 76ers signed forwards Marcus Bagley and Saint Thoms to Exhibit 10 contracts. Bagley and Thomas will likely join the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League following the preseason.

  Bagley appeared in 10 NBA games with the Sixers last season while on a pair of 10 Day contracts. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game. Bagley also played in 34 games for the Blue Coats last season.

  Thomas went undrafted out of USC at the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals as a senior for the Trojans.

• Joel Embiid: Goal Is To Play Consistently, Not Be In Position We Were Last Year

  Joel Embiid played just 19 games last season and has tempered expectations ahead of the 2025-26 season following his knee surgery. Embiid said he feels "pretty good" but he's taking it day by day.

  "There's not necessarily an expectation; it's more about making sure everything is right and doing everything right and then go from there," he said. "Obviously the goal is to play consistently and not be the position that we were last year."

  Embiid battled his ongoing left knee injury as well as a foot sprain last season. During the 2023-24 season, Embiid was having another MVP caliber season before tearing his meniscus. Embiid returned for the playoffs and then played in the Olympics before signing a three-year, $192.9 million extension with the Philadelphia 76ers in September 2024.

  Embiid was asked whether there were any on-court adjustments he could make moving forward to avoid injury.

  "At times you can't get out of yourself," he said. "All I know is, ever since I started this, to play hard, play both ends. There's a lot of people in the league that play one side, whether it's offense or defense. A lot of times for me, my mentality is to do whatever it takes to win. For all of my career, it's been having to do both."

  "I've gotten to this point because of how good I am at both ends of the floor. If you ask me to change the way I play, the only guess that I have is either play offense fully and take plays off defensively, which doesn't suit me," Embiid continued. "I don't think I'd ever be OK with that. I don't know. We'll just wait and see. If it's gotta be that way, it's definitely going to be an adjustment, but I don't see that happening."

• Paul George Still Recovering From Knee Surgery As Sixers Open Training Camp

  Paul George will be unable to practice during the start of training camp with the Philadelphia 76ers due to a knee injury he suffered in early July. George has made significant progress, but he hasn't scrimmaged or practiced in full. George has done nearly everything except for full contact.

  "I'm getting better and better," George said. "I'm feeling stronger and stronger. I feel a lot better now than I did at this point last year."

  George needed arthroscopic surgery after injuring his knee. The Sixers have wanted George to have an open-ended recovery to maximize his chances of returning to full health this season. George played in just 41 games last season due to multiple injuries and his production was also generally down from where it was during his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

  George has three seasons remaining on his four-year, $212 million contract signed during the 2024 offseason.

• Kyle Lowry Joins Prime Video As Analyst For Upcoming Season

  Prime Video announced that it has hired Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry as an analyst for this upcoming season.

  Lowry is also set to play for the Sixers this season, his 20th year in the league.

  The multiyear deal includes Lowry "making select appearances" this upcoming year, along with "increased responsibilities in the future."

  "I'm excited to start the next chapter of my basketball journey with the Prime Sports team," Lowry said. "The talent they've assembled is incredible, and together we'll deliver something fresh and special for basketball fans worldwide. It's an honor to be part of this from Day One, and I'm committed to sharing the insights I've gained from my career through NBA on Prime for years to come."

  Lowry is expected to join the studio for the October 24 doubleheader featuring the Celtics vs. Knicks and Timberwolves vs. Lakers.