It's no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers could use another center.
As it stands, Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti are the backups to Joel Embiid. Bona has spent the last two seasons playing behind Embiid and Andre Drummond on the Sixers while Hukporti served as the New York Knicks' third-string center during their championship-winning campaign.
Considering how much time Embiid tends to miss, it could be in Philadelphia's best interest to add yet another big man to the mix if it misses out on LeBron James . Liberty Ballers links the 76ers to 13-year NBA veteran center Kelly Olynyk.
"Spending five of their 15 roster spots on centers wouldn't be great from a positional allocation standpoint, although the Spurs just did so and made it to the NBA Finals," Liberty Ballers' Bryan Toporek wrote. "But if the Sixers aren't confident in the Bona-Hukporti-Broome trio as Embiid's backup options and they can't land Richards, Olynyk may be the next-best realistic option."
Olynyk spent the 2025-2026 season playing behind superstar Victor Wembanyama on the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds on 49.0% shooting in 42 games.
These are by no means jump-off-the-page statistics, but he's far more proven than Bona or Hukporti. He has played for eight teams during his respectable career, so he's plenty used to adjusting to different systems.
The 35-year-old is also not far removed from quite a solid year. In the 2024-2025 season, which he split between the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans, Olynyk recorded 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. It's worth noting Olynyk has dealt with a handful of injuries throughout his years in the league.
The reality is Embiid needs the proper support in place if the 76ers hope to succeed in the regular season. Olynyk undoubtedly comes with his flaws, including a lack of spacing, defending, and availability, but the veteran big man is one of the best options remaining on the open market.
Join The 76ersRoundtable
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button at the top of the page... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Anthony Pasciolla is the publisher of 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.
