The Sixers enter the 2026-27 season with expectations unlike anything the franchise has experienced in recent years.
The additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have completely changed the outlook of the roster, joining Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe to give Philadelphia plenty of star power.
With a roster this talented, there will be no shortage of storylines throughout the season. Some are obvious. Others could come out of nowhere.
Here are five bold predictions for the Sixers this season.
Tyrese Maxey has already established himself as one of the NBA's premier offensive weapons and shooters, but his role could look different this season. With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown taking on substantial ball-handling and creation responsibilities, Maxey should have more opportunities to work off ball.
Maxey played off the ball earlier in his career alongside James Harden, showing he can thrive in that role while knocking down catch-and-shoot opportunities at a high level.
He has also shown he can catch fire from beyond the arc. His career high is nine 3-pointers in a game, which also ties the Sixers' franchise record. He even made seven threes in the first half of that performance.
With more opportunities to sprint around screens, relocate after passes and shoot wide-open threes instead of initiating the offense every time down the court, Maxey could be more dangerous than ever for opposing teams.
Klay Thompson's NBA record of 14 3-pointers in a single game has stood since 2018. With James controlling the offense more frequently, Maxey could be in the perfect position to have that kind of heater.
Finding reliable production behind Joel Embiid has been a recurring focus for the Sixers, especially given his injury history. That won't change this season, but Philadelphia could fare better than it has in previous years.
The Sixers will attack the position with a backup-by-committee approach. Whether it is Dom Barlow, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti or Dean Wade, Philadelphia has enough versatility to survive stretches without Embiid. The biggest reason this could work offensively is LeBron James.
For years, the Sixers' non-Embiid minutes have often required somebody else to manufacture offense. That's a different problem when James is on the floor. He can initiate the offense, get downhill, operate from the post, find shooters and create easy opportunities for bigs cutting toward the basket.
With James creating those opportunities, he could raise the ceiling of Philadelphia's reserve center unit.
When Embiid sits, Nick Nurse will turn to Dean Wade at center to close games.
The Sixers don't necessarily need a traditional big man closing games if Embiid is unavailable. They need someone who can maintain spacing, switch defensively and create lineup flexibility. Wade checks those boxes.
His ability to defend multiple positions gives Nurse the option of going smaller without completely sacrificing size, with Wade listed at 6-foot-10. Offensively, Wade can space the floor and keep driving lanes open for Maxey, James and Brown.
A late-game lineup featuring Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Wade would have tremendous size and positional versatility while giving Philadelphia four players capable of creating or facilitating offense.
There will be games when Philadelphia decides the offensive and defensive versatility Wade provides is more valuable than having a traditional center on the floor.
Philadelphia could have one of the NBA's most visible teams during All-Star Weekend.
The Sixers will have at least three All-Stars. LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown will all make the All-Star team, with Joel Embiid potentially giving Philadelphia a fourth selection if he stays healthy and returns to his previous level.
Philadelphia's presence won't necessarily stop with the All-Star Game. VJ Edgecombe will make his debut in the Slam Dunk Contest, giving one of the league's most athletic young players a national stage.
Maxey will also return to the Three-Point Contest after competing in the event in 2026. He has made nine threes in an NBA game during his career and already has experience competing against some of the league's best shooters.
The Sixers' roster looks extremely talented on paper, but that doesn't mean the opening-night roster will be the one that enters the playoffs.
As the season progresses and the trade deadline nears, the Sixers will look to fine-tune their roster for a postseason run. Justin Edwards, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dom Barlow will be packaged together at the deadline for a mid-level piece who better fits Philadelphia's needs for the stretch run.
If Edwards continues developing, Barlow proves he can be a reliable rotation big and KCP provides the shooting and defensive versatility he has been known for, their collective value could make them useful pieces in a deadline deal.
The Sixers will have a much clearer idea of what they need by February. Maybe it's another ball-handler, a bigger wing or another defensive-minded forward. Whatever the need, Philadelphia will have to make the most of its assets.
Don't be surprised if the Sixers make a move to improve around the margins.
There is no shortage of star power on this Sixers roster, but that's what makes this season so interesting.
Some of these predictions are certainly bold, but if Philadelphia's new-look roster lives up to its potential, none of them would be particularly shocking.
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