76ers sign former UCLA star to give Joel Embiid-led frontcourt a boost

While currently playing in Summer League Adem Bona signed a standard contract with the 76ers guaranteeing that he will be a part of the team’s playoff roster. Had he signed a two-way contract, he would not have been able to be active on the playoff roster and would have been limited in how many NBA games he could play.

Bona’s rookie contract will be for four years and worth around $8 million. During Summer League so far, Bona has been averaging 6.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots. He’s played in both the Utah Summer League and Las Vegas Summer League.

Bona was the No. 41 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He spent two seasons at UCLA and had actually tested the NBA Draft waters in 2023 before deciding to return to college. The 6 feet 8 inch big man has a lot of potential on the defensive end of the floor as well as on the glass.

It’s not clear though what Bona’s role will be next season in terms of the rotation. The 76ers have Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond who are ahead of him on the depth chart at center. Bona will likely see plenty of time in the G League next season with the Delaware Blue Coats.

76ers hoping for championship run

Last season, the 76ers had to fight through the play-in to make the postseason. They ultimately finished as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference after defeating the Miami Heat. They were defeated by the New York Knicks in the first round in six games amid Joel Embiid not being 100 percent.

With Tyrese Maxey’s emergence as a legitimate star and Embiid’s yearly questionable health, it’s not surprising that the 76ers are trying to maximize their title window as best as they can. They signaled that they are all in for a championship when they signed a third star in Paul George in free agency.

In addition to George, the 76ers also signed veterans Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond and Caleb Martin while re-signing key players in Kyle Lowry and KJ Martin. The team also has a capable young player in Ricky Council IV waiting in the wings for a spot in the rotation. First round pick Jared McCain should also be in contention for regular rotation minutes. The team still has a few roster spots open that they’ll likely fill with minimum contracts.