Tacko Fall is heading back to the NBA. The 7-foot-6 center has signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, giving him a shot to earn a roster spot when training camp opens in New Jersey later this month.It’s a modest move on paper, but it lands during arguably the busiest offseason in franchise history, one that already brought in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. And if Fall sticks around past camp, sharing a locker room with James would be one of the more unexpected subplots of his NBA return.
Philadelphia 76ers sign Tacko Fall and two other stars
Tacko Fall, 30, hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season with Cleveland. Across parts of three seasons with the Celtics and Cavaliers, he appeared in 37 games and averaged 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 6.2 minutes. Since then, he’s played overseas, most recently with the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association, and he spent last season with the New Zealand Breakers, averaging 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks over 18 games.He isn’t arriving alone. Guard Jameer Nelson Jr. and forward Saint Thomas also signed Exhibit 10 contracts, with terms undisclosed. The team confirmed the moves directly: “We have signed Tacko Fall, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Saint Thomas,” the Sixers posted on X.Nelson, 25, averaged 18.9 points and 3.4 assists last season with the G League’s Stockton Kings. He’s the son of longtime NBA guard Jameer Nelson, who now serves as the Sixers’ executive vice president of basketball operations. Thomas, 23, spent last season with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, putting up 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds a game before appearing in four Summer League contests for the Sixers this year.
Why Philadelphia made the move
None of the three is likely to make a real dent in the rotation, and making the roster at all is far from guaranteed. Philadelphia enters camp with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Brown and James all on the roster, and questions about outside shooting, defensive versatility and health, particularly around Embiid and a 41-year-old James, haven’t gone away. Head coach Nick Nurse will be the one tasked with making the fit work. The Sixers open their regular season on October 20 against the Knicks.
LeBron James is serious about a Philadelphia 76ers championship
James is entering his 24th NBA season, his first with the Sixers after eight years with the Lakers that included a championship in 2020. He’s said the chance to compete for another title, not money, is what pulled him to Philadelphia.On August 31, he posted an Instagram story of himself shirtless and sweating through a workout, writing “It’s just WORK!!” before flashing a goofy grin at the camera. It’s a familiar move for James, who’s built a career partly on showing his offseason grind, and the clip spread quickly online.He’s already logging time with new teammates. Brown described a recent session in Los Angeles with James and Maxey under trainer Chris Johnson during a Twitch stream: “I’ve been working, building chemistry with the guys.” He added that the energy and talent in the room were obvious, though he was careful not to get ahead of himself about what it all means once the season starts.
