The Philadelphia 76ers have gone all-in for the Eastern Conference title next season. By acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, the Sixers have landed the elite two-way wing they’ve spent years searching for.
Brown joins Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid to form one of the NBA’s best Big Threes, while allowing VJ Edgecombe a chance to develop alongside the recently-signed Dean Wade. The move shows how much the 76ers want to win a championship before Joel Embiid’s career ends.
While the starting lineup still has one role-player spot at power forward, the roster looks deeper, more athletic, and something like a superteam. Brown is the exact star that will take the 76ers to a different level, and their projected depth chart proves that.
76ers Projected Starting Five:
Point Guard – Tyrese Maxey
Shooting Guard – VJ Edgecombe
Small Forward – Jaylen Brown
Power Forward – Dean Wade
Center – Joel Embiid
Point Guard: Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey is the undisputed star of Philly’s backcourt. One of the best guards in basketball, Maxey has blossomed into an All-Star capable of scoring at every level.
Maxey averaged 28.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 0.8 BPG on 46.2% FG, 36.7% 3-PT FG, and 89.2% FT while making the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team. He also finished 7th in the Clutch Player of the Year ranking.
The arrival of Jaylen Brown should make life easier for him. Defenses can no longer collapse on Maxey or Joel Embiid without risking open opportunities for another 25 PPG scorer.
Almost no team will be able to keep up when Maxey pushes the pace with Brown sprinting the wing and Embiid trailing the play. Philadelphia’s offense will hit a different level as their 14th-ranked offense (115.9 PPG) and 15th-ranked pace (99.4).
Shooting Guard: VJ Edgecombe
Another no-brainer starter, VJ Edgecombe has the athleticism and defensive upside to earn significant minutes as he looks to add to his All-Star potential.
Edgecombe is coming off a season posting 16.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.5 BPG on 43.8% FG, 35.4% 3-PT FG, and 81.8% FT in 75 games. He finished 3rd in the Rookie of the Year ranking.
Instead, his responsibilities revolve around defending opposing guards and knocking down open perimeter shots created by Maxey, Brown, and Embiid.
Playing alongside three established stars should allow Edgecombe to develop naturally without facing overwhelming expectations. If he embraces his role, he could become one of the best shooting guards in the league.
Small Forward: Jaylen Brown
This is the move that changes everything for Philly. Brown arrives in Philadelphia as one of the NBA’s premier two-way wings and fills the biggest hole on the roster.
The superstar wing is a 29-year-old who is coming off a season averaging 28.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 47.7% FG, 34.7% 3-PT FG, and 79.5% FT in 71 games.
Brown also finished 6th in MVP voting, made the All-Star Team, and made the All-NBA Second Team.
His ability to score 25-plus points on any given night while defending elite perimeter players gives the Sixers a level of versatility they’ve lacked throughout the Embiid era.
Perhaps even more importantly, Brown doesn’t need to dominate the ball to impact winning.
He loves defending the opposing team’s best player and is a bailout option at the end of the shot clock. That versatility should make his transition into Philadelphia’s offense remarkably smooth.
Power Forward: Dean Wade
Dean Wade may not generate headlines, but he fits beautifully alongside the Sixers’ stars, which is why he signed a $39M deal.
He’s a dependable floor spacer capable of guarding multiple frontcourt positions while rarely forcing offense.
The forward averaged 5.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 43.9% FG, 36.2% 3-PT FG, and 71.1% FT. In 59 games, Wade proved his worth enough to get a nice paycheck this summer.
Championship teams need role players to do the ugly stuff, and Wade is exactly that type of glue guy. All he needs to do is rebound, hit open shots, and make the right plays on both ends.
Center: Joel Embiid
We cannot deny Joel Embiid. The superstar center is coming off a 2025-26 season posting 26.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 1.2 BPG on 48.9% FG, 33.3% 3-PT FG, and 85.4% FT in 38 games.
He didn’t play much, but he was dominant when available. The stats above prove that.
The addition of Brown lessens the burden Embiid has carried throughout much of his Philadelphia career, so he can rest for the playoffs and get as healthy as possible.
If Embiid stays healthy, this could easily become the best supporting cast he’s ever played with.
Bench
Labaron Philon Jr., Dalen Terry, Justin Edwards, Johni Broome, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti
Philadelphia’s second unit brings youth and some positive potential.
Labaron Philon Jr., at 6’4″, gives the Sixers another ball-handler capable of developing behind Maxey while providing energy whenever called upon.
He posted 22.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 5.0 APG with Alabama last season and was drafted with the No. 22 overall pick.
Dalen Terry, 23, averaged 3.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.4 APG in 48 games last season. His ability to guard multiple perimeter positions gives Philadelphia valuable flexibility throughout the regular season.
Justin Edwards, the 6’7″ small forward, is one of the organization’s most intriguing young wings. He posted 6.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, and 1.3 APG last season in 64 games.
Johni Broome provides frontcourt toughness, as but he only played 11 games last season, while Dominick Barlow should have a bigger role next season.
Barlow was relied upon to provide energy off the bench, averaging 7.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.7 BPG in 71 games last season.
Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti offers additional size and physicality whenever the Sixers need another traditional center.
Hukporti in particular was signed from the New York Knicks after averaging 2.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 0.5 BPG in 54 games.
The bench may lack star power, but it features enough athleticism and young players to provide some important minutes.
Conclusion: A Potential Superteam In The East
The 76ers’ Big Three has to be feared. This is a trio of a former MVP and two MVP-caliber talents.
Brown led the Boston Celtics to the 2nd seed in the East on his back last season, and if he has the right help, he can do it again, if not more.
Dean Wade and VJ Edgecombe fit naturally into complementary roles that don’t require high usage. It’s a perfect starting lineup on paper.
The biggest question, as always, will be health. Embiid’s availability has always prevented the Sixers from going far in the playoffs (never reaching the Eastern Conference Finals) and Brown’s arrival doesn’t change that.
But assuming reasonable health, only the New York Knicks can realistically believe that they have a chance to usurp them in the Eastern Conference.
There are still opportunities to improve the bench or add another veteran shooter before opening night, but the foundation is already championship-caliber. Get ready for some happy times, Sixers fans.
