The Sixers' Biggest Update Today Is a Patch, Not a Player

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Monday, September 28

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the 76ers landed Bloom Energy as their new jersey patch sponsor on September 28, the first outside deal since last week's roster moves. Preseason opens October 5 against the Knicks, and two players carry health tags aimed at an October 1 target.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

So what's the actual news today?

Bloom Energy is now paying for space on the jersey, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. No number attached, and it changes nothing about who plays. Seven days after Kyle Lowry, MarJon Beauchamp and Tyrese Martin all left on September 21, a patch sponsor is what passes for movement here, and that tells you where the roster stands: set, and waiting.

How worried should fans be about Caldwell-Pope and Bona right now?

Both are considered questionable for now, each carrying an estimated return of October 1. Bona's issue is in his foot and lower leg; Caldwell-Pope's is in his finger and right arm. Neither has been ruled out of camp, but a shared timetable landing right before preseason opens is close enough to worth watching, not panicking over.

Who fills the guard minutes Lowry, Beauchamp and Martin left behind?

No corresponding signing has landed yet. Caleb Love, Rayan Rupert, Labaron Philon and Jameer Nelson Jr. are the guards already on the roster who inherit that open depth, alongside Anfernee Simons and Edgecombe at the top. Whether Bob Myers adds another body before October 20 remains the actual roster question, not the jersey patch.

What does the schedule look like before it counts?

Preseason runs four games: October 5 versus the Knicks, October 8 on the road versus Brooklyn, October 10 on the road versus Boston, then Boston again at home October 16. The regular season opens on the road versus New York, October 20, on NBC and Peacock.

Where does the cap stand heading into the season?

Payroll sits at $213.2 million, over the $200.4 million tax threshold and past the $209.0 million first-apron line already. Embiid, Maxey and Brown are the three biggest numbers on the books, and Myers has little room to add before the trade deadline without dipping into second-apron penalties.

The verdictNothing here changes the season: a jersey patch pays bills, not games, and the roster's real question is still whether Bona, Caldwell-Pope and the thinned-out backcourt are whole by October 20. Everything about Bloom Energy is background noise until the record says otherwise.

Is Adem Bona expected to play in the 76ers' season opener?

He's not been ruled out, but he's not cleared either. Bona is working back from a leg and foot injury, with a targeted return of October 1, ahead of the October 20 opener.

What is the 76ers' new jersey patch sponsor?

Bloom Energy, announced September 28 by the Philadelphia Inquirer as the team's new patch sponsor; terms were not reported.