With James Signing, Gansey's First Sixers Summer Straight From A Dream

With James signing, Gansey's first Sixers summer straight from a dream  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Mike Gansey did not exactly adopt the slow and steady approach to roster building in his first summer leading an NBA team’s basketball operations.

With his first trade, Gansey acquired All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown from the Celtics. Once the free agent action slowed, the Sixers had a single open roster spot. Gansey used it on one of the best players in the sport’s history. 

The news broke Friday that LeBron James is joining the Sixers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option in the second season. 

Just like with Brown, it will be a while before anyone fully grasps that James is a Sixer. He was an All-Star before rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. existed. At 41 years old, he decided to take his talents to Philadelphia and try to win his fifth NBA championship. 

Gansey is two years older than James and came second to him in Mr. Basketball Ohio voting about two and a half decades ago. There’s a tremendous photo from that era with Gansey next to James, arm on his shoulder.

Six or so weeks ago, Gansey held his introductory Sixers press conference. He didn’t speak like an ultra-polished executive who’d faced the media a million times before. His family listened from the first row, Sixers brass from the second. 

Gansey declined to detail much about his plans. He seemed perhaps most confident when discussing his time in the Cavaliers’ front office. 

“I was there 15 years,” Gansey said. “Worked my way up, intern to GM. I give (president of basketball operations) Koby Altman a lot of credit … and the Gilbert family. They let me do my thing. I had a ton of responsibilities. I think nowadays, when people can be a G League GM, that’s a huge stepping stone in their career. I was able to do that and it helped me when I became assistant GM, and then all the way to GM. 

“I did all the day-to-day. I was talking to players, to agents, collaborating with the head coach. … And then obviously dealing with ownership. So I haven’t been the No. 1 guy, but I’ve been right there with Koby and Koby put a lot on my plate. I was very fortunate to be able to work as much as I did. He gave me a ton of responsibility.”

Asked why he felt he’d been chosen as Daryl Morey’s replacement, Gansey wasn’t in his comfort zone. 

“Man, I don’t like talking about myself,” he said. “I just feel that I can lead. I can lead a group of people.

“There’s going to be alignment throughout the building. I’m going to be very collaborative with the head coach. Me and (Nick Nurse) are going to be attached at the hip. … We’ve got really good players. We’ve got some young players and we’ve got some vets that can really play. I’m just excited to get this thing started, get to know everyone in the building, and just get going.”

Tasked with the top job for the first time, Gansey’s added two superstars. He’s also made several sensible depth moves, including drafting Philon with the No. 22 overall pick and signing Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons in free agency. 

James will attract an absurd amount of attention, as he always does. He’s the sort of athlete who transcends sports and invites the circus to town. Anything related to James and the Sixers will be spotlighted, dissected and fiercely debated. As long as James is in the lineup and the Sixers are rolling, Xfinity Mobile Arena will be packed and passionate.

Though he’s unequivocally past his prime, James hasn’t been making All-Star Game after All-Star Game just because of his name. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in his final season with the Lakers. James drilled a heap of well-contested, clutch jumpers in Los Angeles’ Dec. 7 win last year over the Sixers and posted 29 points on 12-for-17 shooting, seven rebounds and six assists. All indications are that James has plenty left in the tank.

He deliberated over many options before landing on the Sixers. Gansey was obviously far from the only factor that mattered to James. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has long admired Tyrese Maxey’s all-world work ethic, positive personality and ever-growing game. He knows Joel Embiid is a former MVP who often looked dominant last season when healthy. James will understand where the Sixers might be flawed and have a clear image of how a title-winning season could transpire. 

He’ll talk about it all, the world will react, and opening night will eventually arrive in October. 

After Gansey’s star-centric, almost unbelievable summer, James will be wearing a Sixers uniform.