The Sixers have jumped out to an early-season 3-1 record, but their most glaring weakness has already been on full display.
Philadelphia desperately needs frontcourt help, and if the team doesn't address the issue, it could derail what has otherwise been a promising start to the season.
The Sixers entered the season with questions surrounding their rebounding and depth behind Joel Embiid. Those concerns have only grown through the first four games as injuries continue to pile up and opposing teams take advantage of Philadelphia's lack of size.
The problems began in the preseason opener against the New York Knicks, when Ariel Hukporti suffered an Achilles injury. Adem Bona also missed the preseason with a foot sprain, leaving the Sixers thin at center before the regular season even began.
Other frontcourt players have dealt with injuries throughout training camp and the early portion of the season. Dominick Barlow has been managing a back injury, while two-way center Tacko Fall has been sidelined with a thigh issue.
To make matters worse, Jabari Walker, who primarily plays power forward, suffered a knee injury during Philadelphia's win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Walker had an impressive preseason and earned minutes as the team's backup center when Bona was unavailable. His energy, physicality and willingness to battle on the glass provided the Sixers with a much-needed presence in the paint.
With Walker now sidelined, Philadelphia is running out of options.
Even as the Sixers have found ways to win, their struggles on the glass have been difficult to ignore.
Philadelphia has been outrebounded in each of its first four games, averaging just 41.5 rebounds per contest while surrendering 14 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points per game. Those numbers highlight a weakness that opposing teams have already begun exploiting.
The issue was especially apparent in Sunday's 106-93 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Philadelphia was outrebounded 54-37, allowing Detroit to collect 15 offensive rebounds and score 24 second-chance points. Even without starting center Jalen Duren, the Pistons controlled the glass and repeatedly capitalized on Philadelphia's lack of size.
For a team with championship aspirations, those extra possessions can be the difference between winning and losing, especially against some of the league's bigger frontcourts.
The Sixers have enough offensive firepower to overcome those shortcomings on some nights. With LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Embiid leading the way, Philadelphia can score with just about anyone.
However, relying on offensive talent to overcome deficiencies in rebounding and interior defense isn't a sustainable formula, particularly in the postseason.
The Sixers don't necessarily need another scoring center. They need someone who can provide physicality, battle for rebounds, protect the paint and give Nick Nurse dependable minutes when Embiid is on the bench or unavailable.
Just as importantly, they need someone who can stay healthy.
Finding that player won't be as simple as signing a free agent.
The Sixers are operating under a hard cap following the offseason transactions that assembled their star-studded roster. Those moves have left Philadelphia with limited financial flexibility and little room to add another player without a corresponding move.
The team has been expected to wait until December, when the prorated salary of a veteran minimum contract could become affordable under its current cap restrictions.
Under normal circumstances, waiting wouldn't be the worst approach. The Sixers could evaluate their roster, see which players become available and potentially add a veteran center without surrendering assets.
However, the injuries throughout the frontcourt have increased the urgency. Philadelphia needs another healthy contributor, and a trade could offer a path to addressing that need before December.
The Sixers aren't in a position to make a significant trade for a starting-caliber center, nor do they necessarily need to.
What they need is a dependable backup who can provide 10 to 15 minutes a night, rebound and hold his own defensively.
Potter could be an intriguing option because of his ability to stretch the floor while providing additional size in the frontcourt. He isn't the traditional rim-protecting center Philadelphia needs, but his shooting could help maintain offensive spacing when Embiid is off the floor.
Potter also has some familiarity with Embiid, having competed against him during Team USA's preparations for the 2024 Olympics. That experience doesn't guarantee a seamless transition, but it gives him some exposure to the type of talent Philadelphia would be asking him to complement.
Gueye is another name worth exploring. The young big man brings length, athleticism and defensive versatility, giving Nurse another option in different frontcourt combinations.
He is still developing offensively, but Philadelphia wouldn't need him to carry a significant scoring load. His ability to run the floor, contest shots and provide energy on the glass could make him a useful addition to the rotation.
At 6-foot-10, Sims is an athletic big man who can finish around the rim, rebound and provide a physical presence in the paint. His ability to finish lobs and operate as a pick-and-roll big man could give James and Maxey another offensive weapon.
Of the three options, Sims might be the closest to what the Sixers need from a traditional backup center.
None of these players would completely solve Philadelphia's frontcourt concerns, but each offers something the Sixers could use. The challenge would be putting together a deal that makes sense for both teams.
Still, the Sixers should explore their options rather than simply hope their current frontcourt gets healthy.
If Philadelphia decides against making a trade, the team could wait until December to pursue a veteran center once minimum contracts become more affordable against the salary cap.
One name who could make sense is Kevin Love.
Love is no longer the All-Star-caliber player he once was, but he could still provide valuable minutes for a championship contender. His rebounding, basketball IQ and outside shooting would give Nurse another experienced frontcourt option.
Love could also fit alongside Embiid in certain lineups or serve as a floor-spacing center when Philadelphia wants to play smaller.
There is also his familiarity with James, as the two won a championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. That connection could make Philadelphia an attractive destination if Love becomes available and the Sixers have the financial flexibility to sign him.
Love wouldn't solve the team's issues with athleticism or rim protection, but he could provide a steady veteran presence and another capable rebounder.
The question is whether the Sixers can afford to wait that long.
A 3-1 start is encouraging, especially for a team still learning how to play together after an offseason filled with significant roster changes. However, Philadelphia's early success shouldn't distract from the frontcourt issues that have already emerged. The Sixers have enough offensive talent to overcome those shortcomings on some nights, but that won't always be enough, particularly when Embiid is unavailable.
With James in Philadelphia and a roster built to compete for a championship immediately, the Sixers have little room to let a lack of frontcourt depth undermine their aspirations. Waiting until December may be the more financially convenient option, but it isn't necessarily the best basketball decision.
Mike Gansey and the Sixers' front office have already shown they're willing to make aggressive moves to put this team in a position to win. Now, they may need to make another one.
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