The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to face significant hurdles in retaining Guerschon Yabusele as the French forward prepares to enter unrestricted free agency.
According to a report from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer on The Stein Line, Philadelphia’s financial flexibility is tightening with Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon all projected to pick up their player options for the 2025–26 season.
Yabusele, 29, emerged as a key rotation player in his first year with the Sixers, averaging 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 50.1% from the field and 38.0% from beyond the arc.
He started 43 games and appeared in 70 total contests, making a strong case for a raise after signing a one-year, $2 million deal last summer.
Despite a disappointing 24–58 campaign that left Philadelphia 13th in the East, Yabusele was one of the few bright spots during the franchise’s worst season since 2017.
The former first-round pick is “100 percent” committed to staying in the NBA and plans to capitalize on his first opportunity as a free agent.
“This summer is going to have a lot of movement on every team,” Yabusele said. “To be able to be part of that is just amazing.”
With the Sixers’ roster decisions looming and limited cap room available, league executives expect multiple teams to pursue Yabusele, whose combination of size, floor spacing, and defensive switchability fits several modern systems.
The frontcourt logjam in Philadelphia may also complicate any potential reunion, particularly if Drummond remains under contract and 2024 second-rounder Adem Bona earns minutes.
Yabusele said his time in Philadelphia gave him a new perspective compared to his earlier stint in Boston, where he struggled for playing time behind veterans.
“When I was in Boston, I was really just young, and I wanted just to play,” he said. “But now I try to pick the right situation for me.”
While Philadelphia retains Yabusele’s Early Bird Rights, allowing the team to exceed the cap to re-sign him, the cost could outweigh what the front office is willing to spend given other priorities.
