Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Free agency begins Tuesday, and one of the Philadelphia 76ers' biggest priorities will be finding a starting-caliber forward. With limited cap flexibility, the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NTPMLE) could become one of the team's most valuable tools, giving Philadelphia a chance to pursue several intriguing options on the market.
With only three NBA teams projected to have meaningful cap space, the NTPMLE is expected to be one of the strongest offers available to many free agents. After failing to address the position in the draft, the Sixers could use the exception to fill their biggest remaining hole.
Some players like Jonathan Kuminga and former Sixer Tobias Harris may fit the overarching needs of Philadelphia, but there are better fits to be considered in this year’s free agent pool, including one who is familiar with the team’s new front office leadership.
The Sixers have been frequently connected to several top forwards ahead of free agency, with one oft-repeated name being Cleveland’s Dean Wade. Wade has garnered interest from across the league and the Cavaliers are still exploring opportunities to retain him, but there’s no denying the connection to Philadelphia’s new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey.
Gansey initially played a role in bringing Wade to Cleveland as an undrafted free agent and the 6-foot-9 forward is considered one of Gansey’s primary success stories from his time with the Cavaliers, but Wade’s value goes beyond the Cleveland connection.
Wade isn't a dominant scorer, rebounder or shooter, but he offers tremendous versatility on both ends of the floor. He can defend at the point of attack, switch across multiple positions, function as a connective passer and space the floor as a reliable three-point shooter, making him one of the easiest forwards in free agency to plug into an existing lineup and a seamless fit in Philadelphia.
Collins would give the Sixers a more traditional power forward presence with a modern floor-stretching flair. For a team with primary needs in three-point shooting and rebounding, Collins is an obvious fit, so it’s not surprising that he’s another player who has not only been linked to Philadelphia but who is expected to "draw interest" from Philadelphia once free agency begins, according to the Stein Line.
As a shooter, Collins has improved each year in the league and has now shot over 40% from three in back-to-back seasons with more than three attempts per game. He has developed into an efficient three-point shooter while remaining an elite finisher around the basket, converting 80.5% of his attempts within three feet.
The Sixers often found themselves toggling between two offensive identities depending on Joel Embiid's availability. Collins has the skill set to bridge those styles, helping minimize the adjustments required when Philadelphia inevitably shifts between them.
Collins would also give the Sixers a second big capable of facilitating from the elbow and running DHOs. His above-the-rim athleticism makes him an effective rim-runner and lob threat alongside Adem Bona, giving Philadelphia another offensive weapon in both the half-court and transition.
Defensively, Collins struggles on the perimeter and lacks the ability to anchor a defense at the rim. Where he succeeds is as a weakside shot blocker, but he is susceptible to both late rotations and over-helping at the rim, allowing corner opportunities for opponents.
One of the most popular free agent candidates among fans has been Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili. Offensively, Mamu is a versatile big capable of playing inside and out with an impressive ability as an off-ball movement shooter and connective passer for his size. A solid rebounder, Mamu can be beaten in battles for defensive boards, but is also crafty on the offensive glass thanks to a combination of high feel for the game and a high motor.
Defensively, Mamu is much less enticing, often struggling as an interior defender and lacking the quickness to defend in isolation on the perimeter. His high-IQ and motor give him some value as a rotation defender and shot contester.
One more notable name on the forward market is Rui Hachimura, who has an opportunity to return to the Lakers, who possess his Bird rights, but is being pursued by a number of teams with access to the NTPMLE.
Hachimura’s red flags include his limited perimeter defense and underwhelming rebounding numbers, but his offensive versatility has proven potentially worth overlooking those shortcomings. He’s developed into a high-end floor-stretching option, shooting over 40% from three on more than three attempts per game in each of the last three seasons. Much of that production has come as a spot-up shooter. While the Sixers have shown an ability to create open looks in the corners, they lack the high-end playmaking to take full advantage of Hachimura’s particular skills as an outside shooter. However, his offensive value goes beyond his three-point shot.
Hachimura is capable of backing down smaller defenders and shooting over their heads. He has an old-school patience that allows him to work his situation to his advantage, whether it’s a mismatch against a defender or taking advantage of incoming closeouts. One of Hachimura’s traits that would most directly translate to the Sixers as complementary is his ability to run the floor in transition.
The Sixers often look to push the pace, whether off turnovers or inbound opportunities. He fills the lane well and can finish above the rim or work his way to the corner for the open transition three, making him a more versatile option than most the Sixers have seen since they’ve transitioned to this higher pace offense.
Each of these forwards is capable of addressing Philadelphia's biggest positional need while solving a variety of their more nuanced needs, giving the Sixers options in a competitive free-agent market. How aggressively Philadelphia uses the NTPMLE could ultimately reshape the roster. Using the full exception would likely have ripple effects elsewhere, potentially making it difficult for Philadelphia to retain Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes or both.
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