The 76ers cut four players over the past day, leaving a roster that still owes clarity on three injuries. The regular season opens Tuesday in New York with the record reset to 0-0.
Who just got cut from the roster?
On October 18 the 76ers released four players: Dillon Jones, Cris Carroll, Taye Fields and Nelson. That's the roster settling into its final shape before Tuesday's regular-season opener against the Knicks, after a preseason that finished 1-3, including a 120-125 home loss to Boston on October 16 in which Embiid scored 27 and Maxey added 22.
Is anyone actually healthy for Tuesday?
Six players carry injury tags, and five share the same estimated return date: October 20, the opener itself. Dean Wade (ankle), Adem Bona (foot), Anfernee Simons (hamstring) and Dominick Barlow (back) are all pointed at that date, along with Tacko Fall, which means Tuesday is as much a health test for Nick Nurse as a basketball one.
What's the number that actually matters here?
$213.2M. That's the payroll for 18 contracts, sitting above the tax line of $200.4M, with Joel Embiid ($58.1M), Jaylen Brown ($57.1M) and Tyrese Maxey ($40.8M) covering most of it. Spending like a contender is the easy part; this roster still has to prove it belongs in that bracket once Tuesday's game actually counts.
Who's still genuinely hurt?
Three cases have gone untouched. Ariel Hukporti's torn Achilles has kept him Out since October 6, with no update since. Bona's foot problem hasn't changed since September 17. And Fall's contract conversion to the roster on October 17 didn't touch his hip tag from October 1, which remains unresolved heading into the opener.
What's the open question heading into Tuesday?
Embiid, Maxey, Brown and LeBron James all need minutes, shots and health to coexist, after last season's roster finished with a -0.1 scoring differential, 18th in the league. Nick Nurse hasn't said publicly how he splits that math across four scorers, and Tuesday's game in New York is the first real answer anyone gets.
Did the 76ers make the playoffs last season?
They finished 45-37 last season and made the postseason, but this season's record resets to 0-0 starting Tuesday.
Is Joel Embiid healthy for the opener?
Embiid was cleared from his rest tag on October 16 and isn't on the current injury list, so he's in line to play Tuesday in New York.
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