A key question for every Philadelphia 76ers player on the roster
The Philadelphia 76ers are ready to convene for training camp on Tuesday when they all head to Colorado State University to begin preparation for the upcoming season. The Sixers are expected to remain contenders in the East despite the ongoing James Harden saga.
As the new season approaches, now is the time to begin previewing the 2023-24 season and begin getting ready for the adventure that is Sixers basketball.
With camp approaching, it is time to begin talking basketball. Here is a key question for the players on the roster with guaranteed deals:
Joel Embiid: Will he remain healthy in the playoffs?
Embiid is one of the top players in the league. He is coming off an MVP season that saw him average 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds while taking a big step forward on both ends of the floor. Unfortunately, injuries once again derailed his playoff run as he suffered a right knee sprain. New coach Nick Nurse wants him to play more games in the regular season. The question then becomes whether he will be able to remain healthy for the postseason.
James Harden: Will he attend team activities?
This is the million-dollar question. Harden, obviously, wants out. He has made that very clear. There is a school of thought that The Beard will just hold out and wait until he is finally moved in whatever deal the Sixers can find. However, if he doesn’t show up and misses 30 days, the Sixers have the right to block him from entering free agency per a clause in the CBA. This will be one interesting situation.
Tyrese Maxey: Can he take steps forward as a playmaker?
Maxey is already proven as a terrific scorer in this league, but when considering the Harden situation, he is going to have to improve as a playmaker. He has to be able to average somewhere around 5.5 or 6.0 assists a game in order to make up for the eventual loss of Harden. Of course, if the Sixers succeed in getting Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers, then that takes the pressure off of Maxey.
Tobias Harris: Can he continue to be reliable?
Harris will be playing for his next contract as he is on an expiring deal with the team. He has been a constant on the offensive end as far as somebody who can be relied upon to knock down open looks. He shot 50.1% from the floor and 38.9% from deep in the 2022-23 season within the offensive system.
PJ Tucker: Can his body continue to hold up?
Tucker is 38 now and while he takes incredible care of his body, the Sixers will likely limit his minutes and games played to keep him fresh for the playoffs. He is going to continue to be an important piece to this team just by his presence and his ability to motivate his teammates.
De'Anthony Melton: Can he run some offense?
As with Maxey, the Sixers will need Melton to give a bit more in terms of ball-handling and playmaking. Nobody knows what’s going to happen with Harden and if he doesn’t show up, then his responsibilities will fall upon Melton and Maxey. There’s a reason why they call Melton “Mr. Do Something”.
Paul Reed: Can he be more effective on the offensive end?
Reed is expected to play a larger role in the coming season as Nurse and his staff have been working with him on his jumper all summer. The Sixers will be looking for him to do more on offense and have him play next to Embiid in some lineups. The only way that works is if he can shoot the ball from the perimeter.
Patrick Beverley: Can he regain his shooting touch?
Beverley is a career 37.3% shooter from deep, but he shot only 33.5% from long distance in 2022-23. Shooting is like riding a bike. It’s a skill that just doesn’t go away. If he can find it again, then that will be a big help to the Sixers in what they do on the offensive end.
Mo Bamba: Can he play in lineups with Embiid?
Bamba is a career 35.9% shooter from deep. That type of production brings up the question of whether he can play in lineups with the big fella on the offensive end. The Sixers would have some elite rim protection with both Embiid and Bamba on the floor and if Bamba can knock down some 3s, then the possibilities could be endless.
Kelly Oubre Jr.: Can he bring an offensive punch to the bench unit?
Oubre Jr. averaged 20.3 points for the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23 as a starter. In the 2021-22 season, he came off the bench and averaged 15.0 points per game. He should be able to put up some solid numbers in Philadelphia as an offensive threat for the bench unit.
Jaden Springer: Can he show off his offensive game?
This will be an important season for Springer. Entering his third season, the young man out of Tennessee needs to show off something on the offensive end. He has gained his reputation as a defender, but he now needs to show off something on offense in order to earn playing time.
Danny Green: How much does he have left in the tank?
Green was brought in on a non-guaranteed deal and it will be interesting to see how much he has left in the tank at 36. He does bring two important aspects to this team: leadership and shooting. He has a great relationship with Embiid and played for Nurse while with the Toronto Raptors. He also can still knock down an open look from deep.
Danuel House Jr.: Can he find his 3-point shot again?
House Jr. shot 47.2% from the floor overall in 2022-23 which is terrific. However, his 33.6% shooting from deep was below his 36.2% average. He is a terrific athlete who is also a tough defender, but the Sixers will need him to knock down some shots from deep.
Furkan Korkmaz: Can he improve on the defensive end?
As Korkmaz prepares for his seventh season, his defense remains a question mark. He can still knock down the 3-pointer as he shot 39.1% from deep in 2022-23, but to earn playing time under Nurse, he is going to have to take a step forward on the defensive end.
Filip Petrusev: Can his rim protection translate?
Petrusev averaged 2.5 blocks per game in the Las Vegas summer league as he showed off impressive timing and anticipation on the defensive end of the floor. The question now becomes whether he can take that ability and have it translate to the NBA.
