Mike Gansey: Sixers Players Led LeBron Recruitment

PHILADELPHIA — Few executives have had a debut offseason like Mike Gansey. 

The new Sixers president of basketball operations, who was hired in May, has quickly turned the team into a legitimate title contender, trading for Jaylen Brown on July 6 and signing LeBron James to a two-year deal three weeks later. 

Brown held his introductory press conference at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in southwest Philadelphia on Thursday, which was attended by team owners David Blitzer and Josh Harris, along with multiple Sixers players and staff. 

Meeting with reporters afterward, Gansey said he didn’t expect to have the offseason he’s had and was skeptical about his odds of landing James despite the roster and his own relationship with the four-time champion, which dates back to when they were in high school in Northeast Ohio together. He cited Philadelphia’s roster as the team’s biggest advantage. 

“I think with the LeBron thing, I didn’t know how it was gonna go,” Gansey responded to a question asked by Front Office Sports. “Obviously, he’s got a lot of great options. Who knows what he was gonna decide? I thought after Jaylen, we had a better chance. And I guess that’s all we needed. Obviously our players were the biggest recruiters. Talking to Nick [Nurse], too. Our ownership was great with that as well. I think after the Jaylen thing, I don’t want to say it got real, but at least we had a chance to be in the mix but we are very fortunate that he picked us.”

Gansey said James has been in Los Angeles working out with his new teammate Tyrese Maxey, a fellow Klutch Sports client, and that he hasn’t had much contact with him since he signed. Coupled with the team’s trade for Brown, Maxey’s relationship with James helped lure the 41-year-old across the country to chase a fifth and potentially final championship. 

The Sixers have also signed Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the latter of whom previously won the 2020 Finals with James, to build out their depth.

Brown said James has been an active part of the Sixers group since signing with the team and also heard from Joel Embiid and Maxey since the trade. 

The Sixers have four ball-dominant players in Brown, Embiid, Maxey, and James, along with a rising star in V.J. Edgecombe, which leads to questions on how the team will establish a pecking order offensively. 

“It doesn’t have to be anybody’s team,” Brown said. “It just needs to be based on trust, and sacrifice and respect. I’m looking forward to learning from LeBron and the guys.”

Even Gansey admitted that as much as he’s enjoyed looking at his team on paper, “our record is still 0–0.” 

“I’m really excited to see how it looks,” Gansey told reporters. “When you have the talent it’s exciting and then trying to figure it out is the hard part.” 

Boston Bygones

As for his reaction to being traded to Philadelphia, Brown said: “The first thing I did after the trade was throw my phone across the room.” 

Brown did not trash the Celtics on Thursday, but he left some hints as to how he was feeling after spending the first 10 years of his career in Boston. The 29-year-old pointed out that he came to Boston when he was 19 and spent roughly a third of his life in the city. 

Asked to elaborate on his issues with the way the Celtic handled the trade, Brown declined and said he might discuss it at another time. He didn’t get specific with his grievances, but added it wasn’t one thing. 

“The whole process,” Brown said. “My mind is so focused on what’s in front of me, I’m moving on.”

When addressing his time there, he did not mention the Celtics by name and thanked “the city of Boston” instead of the team or any individuals. When asked about his relationship with Jayson Tatum, Brown said the two hadn’t really spoken since he was traded. 

“On my end, nothing but respect,” he said of Tatum. “Besides when he plays the Sixers.”