To keep Joel Embiid as fresh as possible during the regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers focused on strengthening their backup center options this offseason. They succeeded in doing so by signing Andre Drummond in free agency and drafting Adem Bona, who surprisingly fell to them in the second round.
Despite these additions, concerns remain about Embiid’s injury history, leading many to suggest the 76ers sign another big man for additional depth. While they haven’t done so yet, they recently targeted a free agent big man as insurance.
However, that option is no longer available after a recent development.
76ers Miss Out on Free Agent Target as He Heads to Europe
Earlier this month, the 76ers were reportedly interested in free agent big man Killian Tillie. The 26-year-old, undrafted in 2020, began his NBA career as a backup in Memphis but was eventually waived due to back injuries that sidelined him for significant periods.
Tillie last played in the NBA in 2022 and was aiming for a comeback, with both the 76ers and Warriors expressing interest. However, that now seems unlikely as he has signed a one-year deal with Unicaja Malaga in Spain.
While missing out on Tillie isn’t a major setback for the 76ers, he could have provided useful depth as an emergency option off the bench. Philadelphia needs all the help it can get to bolster its center rotation and ease the burden on the 2023 MVP.
The hope is that Embiid can finally stay healthy for a full season. Additionally, the 76ers will rely heavily on Drummond to live up to his reputation as a top-tier backup center. A quick development from Bona would also be a bonus, especially as a fill-in when Embiid inevitably misses time.
