Mike Gansey ‘never would have envisioned’ landing Jaylen Brown in his first Sixers offseason — and is happy to wait on LeBron James’ decision

LAS VEGAS — When Mike Gansey wakes up each morning, he needs to remind himself what city he is in. Because his first month as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations has been a whirlwind.

He has spent the past week getting an up-close look at first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr., whose crafty handle and scoring gumption already have stood out during NBA Summer League play. Before that, Gansey was in the Bahamas to watch electric second-year guard VJ Edgecombe play for his national team during FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Gansey’s Vegas stay came in the aftermath of the blockbuster trade for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, which jolted the NBA and reignited the Sixers’ fan base.

And, “like the rest of the NBA,” Gansey is awaiting LeBron James’ free agency decision.

“We’d love to have him in Philly,” Gansey told The Inquirer on Tuesday morning from the Sixers’ team hotel. “I think he’d really, really help us and add to our group. But he’s making a big decision here. It’s wild [that] at his age, he’s playing at such a high level. But it’s not surprising.

“I have all the respect in the world for him, and he’s smart as heck. He’s going to figure it out and talk to his family, and we’ll be waiting. Whatever he decides, I know he’s going to make the right decision.”

No matter where James lands, Gansey acknowledged he “never would have envisioned” the way his first Sixers offseason has unfolded.

He arrived from the Cleveland Cavaliers with an understanding that Joel Embiid and Paul George, two former perennial All-Stars who have struggled to stay on the court in recent seasons, had multiple years remaining on max contracts. Gansey was not “actively trying” to trade either player, he said.

After drafting Philon, the Alabama guard who unexpectedly fell to the Sixers at No. 22, Dean Wade was Gansey’s top free agency target as a complementary, defensive-minded starting forward. The Sixers also hoped to add depth, shooting, and more quickness and athleticism.

But after two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat instead of the Boston Celtics — and Boston’s offered return package anchored by Brown became public knowledge — Gansey leaned on a tactic he learned from Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations Koby Altman and owner Dan Gilbert.

Make the call.

“It’s kind of like, ‘Let’s check in with Boston and see if there’s anything there,’” Gansey said. “Maybe there isn’t. But you just make that call, and they don’t say no. … It just kept going on, and they would call us, we would call them.

“You just keep having conversations. Next thing you know, we’re in LA [for free agency], and it was getting close and [feeling like] this might actually happen. …

“That’s why, this business, you can plan all you want and prepare, but you just don’t know. Things happen.”

» READ MORE: VJ Edgecombe was ‘shocked’ by the Jaylen Brown trade, and loves the Sixers’ pursuit of LeBron James

Gansey said Brown felt some initial “shock” that after 10 years in Boston, he had been traded to the rival Sixers. But Gansey believes Brown, who last season finished sixth in MVP voting after averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, will set the tone for the Sixers, who now have legitimate championship aspirations.

“We’re just super lucky to get him, and I know he’s motivated,” Gansey said of Brown. “He’s going to be great for everyone because the young guys want that. He’s been a champion and Finals MVP. I think Joel’s in a great space, and he’s excited [to play with Brown], as well.

“Obviously, we’ve got to see what it looks like. You can’t win a trade in July. Boston got some really good [draft] picks, and you saw Paul. He was a big reason why Philly beat Boston [in the playoffs’ first round]. You’ve got to give up a lot to get [Brown], and I think it’s a good trade for both teams.

“Until we actually have a practice or a game, you just don’t know. You hope it’s going to work out, but it’ll take some time, I’m sure.”

While Gansey acclimated to his new job on the fly, he credited the returning staff — including front-office executives Jameer Nelson and Prosper Karangwa and coach Nick Nurse — for “kind of [holding] it together.” Gansey reiterated that he wants to set a workplace culture in which people enjoy coming to the facility and looks forward to having deeper conversations with staffers later this summer.

“It’s hard to do everything you want to do in a month,” Gansey said. “It’s going to take a year or two years just to kind of put my imprint on stuff. But I just want to build a place where my door is open. Come talk to me. I feel like I’m an open, people person. You can talk to me about anything: personal, professional, basketball stuff. …

“I might be the boss … but I want to be like, ‘No we’re working together. I don’t care about titles. I’m a part of this group, and I want us all to be successful.’”

Once he departs Las Vegas — where he has regularly bumped into former Cavaliers colleagues while staying in the same team hotel — Gansey will see his four children for the first time in about a month. His family still needs to find a house in the Philly area.

And maybe Gansey will finally get some real sleep. It would be warranted, after his first Sixers offseason unfolded in a way he never could have envisioned.

“I just need a break,” Gansey said. “I think we all do, just because it’s been so much. … I don’t think it’s really set in.”