The Philadelphia 76ers have lived through one of the most exhilarating summers in their history. When it seemed the project was definitively sunk due to Joel Embiid’s health issues and the decline in production from Paul George, from Pennsylvania they turned the page with the arrival of two superstars—Jaylen Brown and LeBron James.
It goes without saying that they are now among the favorites to win the title, something neither they nor anyone else could have imagined a few months ago. Yes, they had circled in red the name of the Celtics’ then-small forward, but they believed their chances were minimal. Asked about it, the Sixers’ president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey, stresses that persistence has always been a hallmark of the front office he leads.
“We have carried out trades that had been developing for two years and that finally came to fruition because we simply kept insisting. We stayed on top of the situation and ultimately landed the player,” he explains to Tony Jones of The Athletic before assessing how Brown’s arrival came about.
“Obviously it’s something that doesn’t always work, but we always want to ensure we’ve done everything necessary. The negotiation process with Boston for Jaylen lasted a couple of weeks… We simply kept insisting and showing our interest without wavering,” he says.
The Sixers have known how to take advantage of the opportunity. Last season, the situation around Boston—between Tatum and Brown—blew up, which led the Celtics to place Brown on the trade block. In Pennsylvania they were ready and quick. Now it’s their turn to enjoy.
