Sixers Poach New President of Basketball Operations From Eastern Rival

The Philadelphia 76ers have named a replacement for the fired Daryl Morey, poaching from an Eastern Conference rival. Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey has been hired as the new president of basketball operations for the Sixers.

Just in: Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey has agreed to become the new President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. Gansey -- who rose the ranks within the Cavaliers front office since joining in 2011-12 -- now lands the top… pic.twitter.com/QXwblvV1pf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 29, 2026

Morey was fired after holding the job for six years, following their sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks in the second round of this spring's playoffs.

No word yet on the future of Philly head coach Nick Nurse, or assistant general manager Jameer Nelson. The latter has been speculated as a promotion candidate for the new GM job. But Gansey will make that determination.

The irony of this move to hire another executive who just saw their season end at the hands of the Knicks was not lost on New York's social media team:

Sixers to old president: “You got swept by the Knicks you’re fired”

Sixers to new president: “You got swept by the Knicks you’re hired” https://t.co/2RIqe3adoG
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 29, 2026

Gansey, 43, has been in the Cavs’ front office since 2012. He won the D League’s Basketball Executive of the Year in 2017, and was promoted to AGM, and then the full GM in 2021. He has overseen the construction of the core of the current Cavaliers team that features stars Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

In Philly, he'll now have to figure out how to navigate taking the Sixers to the next level, with the onerous contracts of oft-injured veterans Joel Embiid and Paul George on the books, while maximizing their exciting young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.