Kendall Marshall Out For Season Open, Who Starts?

Jan 9, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard

(5) reacts after making a basket during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Kendall Marshall was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason in an effort to beef up its selection of point guards, as well as bring in a player who has a bit more of the leadership qualities necessary for that position.

No doubt, the point guard position is one of the most important ones on the team. While the expectations on this year’s team heavily surround rookie Jahlil Okafor, we have to remember that he’s only 19 years of age, and won’t be turning 20 until mid-December. Myself, and many other fans, would have serious issues trusting Okafor as a leader of this team, no matter how good he is, and will be. His age alone leads me to believe someone else, with a bit more experience and maturity, should be the true leader.

On this roster, you won’t be finding many players that are older than 22, so finding a “veteran presence” will be difficult, if even necessary. Gerald Wallace and Carl Landry both are on the team right now, but it’s not clear if they will be a part of the finished 15 man roster. Between Wallace and Landry, they have over 30 years of NBA experience, but that’s just about all the selection that the Sixers have for a “vet presence.”

Marshall on the other hand is no NBA veteran, but he’s had some success in the NBA. Some don’t realize just how good he could be and has been, if injuries didn’t get the best of his career so far. Cody Daniel from Hoops Habit found and reported some great statistics on how great of a facilitator the point guard is.

At first I wasn’t sure that Marshall had the skills necessary to be the starting point guard, but after his first year was guaranteed in his contract and after looking more at his gameplay with the Lakers in 2014, I’ve come to the conclusion that he was brought in to be the starter for the Sixers.

This is great and all, but Marshall won’t be ready to start for the first few games of the season, at least. So someone else is still competing in training camp to be the (likely temporary) starter for the beginning of the season.

Among most, the debate before Marshall came over the starting point guard was between Tony Wroten and Pierre Jackson. So, naturally, the debate goes back to them with Marshall out of the equation.

The situation was mixed up when Derek Bodner Tweeted some previously unknown information Wednesday evening after a press conference with head coach Brett Brown.

My initial thought at the third in line is Isaiah Canaan.

Next: Pierre Jackson