Philadelphia 76ers Building the 2016 Bench

With the Philadelphia 76ers officially eliminated from the playoff, there is more basketball to play. But what is the motivation? There are limited roster spots to go around next season, and that means competition for those spots begins now

It is a disappointing season, even by the standards of the Philadelphia 76ers. Once on a run that allowed hopes for nearly 30 wins, the team has regressed to the point where repeating 18 wins from last season may be overly optimistic.  In fact, the team is on a losing streak that may compete with the dismal opening losing streak to the season.   The hopes that began to thaw when the team emerged from the Christmas holidays with nearly .500 ball has frozen over again, robbing Philadelphia fans of the opportunity to get excited as the season draws to a close.

But while the play on the basketball court has robbed the feeling from the hearts of virtually every Philadelphia 76ers fan, there is a reserve power source to this team. It’s time to switch to the hope that comes from the mind. Knowledge that the Philadelphia 76ers will only get better in the off-season. Why? Well the team will have a healthy Joel Embiid returning to the active lineup. He has been the team’s keystone in waiting for two years. His two year rehab has been the focus of the teams decline, but his return will be the trigger for the rebuild to get underway.

Alongside Embiid will be the arrival of Euroleague star Dario Saric. Saric has committed to return to the NBA in the 2016-2017 season, and will be welcomed with open arms. His play as a forward epitomizes what both head coach Brett Brown and assistant head coach Mike D’Antoni are looking for in a big man. He can shoot, defend, and pass accurately to anywhere on the basketball court.

It’s that combination of Embiid and Saric which will change the make up of the team in 2016 significantly, as well as relieving the pressure for the team to hit on each of their possible four first round draft picks.  Of the pair, both are projected starters on  the 2016-2017 roster. With the arrival of two bigs, the team will find it necessary to decide between offensive powerhouse Jahlil Okafor, and his teammate and defensive power house Nerlens Noel, as the starting center.   Three starters and one reserve.

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The team is still working out the bugs in the back court.  While the team currently gives the nod to point guard Ish Smith and shooting guard Nik Stauskas, neither has cemented a starting role going forward.  And with the recent trade talks leaking after the trade deadline expired, it seems as though the team will continue to shop for a point guard upgrade during this off-season.   With the team enjoying in a worst case scenario no less  than one 2016 top five draft pick and two other first round draft picks, there will certainly be plenty of opportunity for the team to fill the back court with promising candidates.  Even if the team spends a draft pick or two in a trade, you can bet the focus of those trades will be the back court. So with all starting roles likely accounted for, the remainder of this season will be players trying to earn their spot on the team next year.  Six spots are accounted for.  Nine remain.

Next: Who Makes the 2016 Roster?

Who Makes the 2016 Roster?

But the bench role of T.J. McConnell feels safe.  He was an undrafted point guard who has taken every opportunity to grow and learn during his short time with the Philadelphia 76ers.  Even if the team has other plans for an eventual starter, his improving play could net the team a bounty of assets in as short a time as two more seasons.  He is worth hanging onto.

In the same light, power forward Richaun Holmes is quietly earning playing time.  Drafted in the second round, he was not given much hope of getting playing time among the glut of big talent already on the team.  But his play has earned him the right to step onto the basketball court.

"“He just plays with a tremendous bounce. You always can count on his effort. You can always count on the fact that he’s going to have a real bounce and a physical side to how he plays. I think like any first year player, there are times that you step back and sort of wonder what he might have been thinking on a defensive assignment, or even positions offensively what we’re running. It’s normal, it’s natural for a first year rookie. Physically, though, he does stand out. He’s somebody that you can count on to play with that spirit and that bounce.” – head coach Brett Brown discussing Richaun Holmes"

Another player who has earned the right to be discussed on the 2016 roster is Jerami Grant. While his 21.4% shooting from three point range is dismal, it’s improving. He has shot better that 50% in his last seven games from long range, and he continues to work hard. Meanwhile his defense is staunch.

"“He just loves the game, he’s well-raised, went through a hell of a high school, [has an NBA] family tree… And then you look at his body, and then you look at his work ethic… and it all adds up into a very interesting prospect. He’s one of these guys, for me, that makes me want to hug Sam [Hinkie], because he nailed it.” – Brett Brown discussing Jerami Grant"

While we know the challenge of the center position, we are sitting on a wonderful problem. As center, Jahlil Okafor brings offense in a way few have before him. His game is developing an arsenal rapidly, and with each game he discovers a new spin, fake, pop, or fade that opens up the hoop for a score. At a tender age of 20, and in his first NBA season, this young man has incredible upside. But while he brings offense, his counterpart brings defense. Center Nerlens Noel is a rim protector, a player whose athleticism is surprising. His blocks at 1.5/game combine with a steals stat of 1.7/game.

And so, one will take a starting role,while the other plays reserve in 2016.

The final “should make the squad” in 2016 is Robert Covington.  When he shines, he shines brightly for the team.  He is versatile.  He can play all the way up to the power forward position in a small ball lineup, all the way down to shooting guard.   He is third on the team in rebounds, third in scoring, second in steals, and sixth in three point percentage.  But he also leads the team this season in inconsistancy and in foul trouble.  His average of 3.4 personal fouls a game are a combination of his aggressive defensive style, but also an indication of his mental lapses. There was a thirteen game stretch in mid season where Covington all but disappeared from the box score stats. But there are nights where he carries the team as well. He is one of the true “two way” projects lauded by head coach Brett Brown.

Next: Sitting on the Bubble

Sitting On The Bubble

With the roster filling up fast, and without clear direction of who the Sixers will draft, the remaining players are on the bubble to various degrees. With the front court of Embiid, Saric, Noel, Okafor, and Holmes, the team will likely be fighting to pare down the roster in the front court.  That will mean five players dedicated to two positions.  To cure the glut, the team will likely consider Dario Saric for the small forward role. With the starting roles filled, and with the reserve spots filling up rapidly, the team has filled ten roles.  Just five remain to fill in the 2016 15 man roster.

Despite his steady production , Carl Landry is fighting numbers he cannot control – an open roster spot.  With his 6.8 points per game on just 11.8 minutes, his has been a role of doing everything the team has asked of him.  With a PER of 20.1, tops on the team, and shooting at 57.5% from the floor, he warrants some consideration.  Add to the fact that he is a veteran who has worked well in his first year as a Sixer, and you certainly can make a case for the team to retain him for next season.  ODDS:  50%

Nik Stauskas is a curious situation.  He was coveted by the team enough to request his inclusion in a trade with the Sacramento Kings alongside Carl Landry.  But the team may have cooled on his upside, as he was part of a reported trade package offered for Atlanta Hawks reserve point guard Dennis Schroder.   He is one of Brett Brown’s prodigies, as he has been discussed as a two way player in the same breath as Covington.  For now, the team is looking hard to rework the back court, and develop players who can defend well and shoot even better.  For now, Stauskas sits in a spot the team has fewer better options.   ODDS: 50%

With the commencement of the 2015-2016 season, Isaiah Canaan was hoped to fill the role of point guard for the Sixers. That experiment failed both team and player, as Canaan has since found himself relegated to coming off the bench in hopes of sparking the teams offense. In that new role at shooting guard, he has made serious strides to the good.

He is a niche player, a sixth man who can fill both back court positions in a pinch. Hybrid roles are becoming popular in the NBA, and Canaan is one of NBA’s best. With the undercertainty of the Sixers back court, and the upside of his value both to the Sixers and to other teams in a potential trade, Canaan is likely to remain on the team for now.  ODDS:  60%

Another player with some versatility is Hollis Thompson. He is versatile enough to fill both a shooting guard role as well as the small forward position. He is also the most accurate range shooter, burying treys at a 38.9% clip. ODDS:  40%

Next: More Bubbles, Less Champagne

More Bubbles, Less Champagne

Ish Smith deserves stronger consideration than the team will afford him. He becomes a free agent, and while his numbers were not strong enough to earn him an NBA all-star nomination, he has certainly created a better team immediately upon arriving with the Sixers. It could be argued that his is a compounding benefit, as the improvement of the team mid season is linked, in part, to his performances. His scoring is second on the team, he leads the team in assists, and he is fifth on the team in the rebound department. But he’s had a good season by NBA standards, at least good enough to look for a multi year contract that will net him a much higher salary per year. And it’s there where president and general manager Sam Hinkie seems to balk. His pattern is to load up on inexpensive players, absorb overpaid players from other teams with draft picks as compensation. To craft a meaningful contract for a contributor to this team at mid range production is not something that has happened often under Hinkie. ODDS: 25%

Elton Brand was brought to the Philadelphia 76ers to aid the development of their young bigs. He has had a storied career, and highly lauded. Since the team had the need for veteran leadership as well as a roster opening, he was happy to come onboard the team in a psuedo player consultant role. Some have described his role as that of a mole, someone on the inside of the locker room who routinely reports out the happenings of the team to exectutive Jerry Colangelo. Sensationalism and preposterous. If Colangelo needed a mole to get to the truth of the organization, firings would be mandated.

The luxury of carrying a player-consultant on the roster evaporates. ODDS: 0%

Kendall Marshall is a curious phenomenon on the Philadelphia 76ers. He is praised by the coach, but seldom sees any playing time. In fact, of the last ten games played, he has sat out on 50% of those games, and only seen a token amount of playing time in two other games. He had a strong showing against the Detroit Pistons where he played 22 minutes and scored 12 points. His reward? Sitting out the next three games. To make a team’s roster, you need opportunity to showcase your stuff. Marshall is not getting enough opportunity to impress anyone. ODDS: 5%

Next: Philadelphia 76ers: Showing Improvement From Last Year?

So where does the team fill up the roster? Well, with starters filled and up to four draft picks, it’s likely some of those first round hopefuls will end up on the Sixers bench next season. The team could also sign a productive if not highly productive free agent to round out the roster. And there is always the matter of taking on the player contracts of other team’s players for additional draft picks.  So the team will likely have some unforeseen roster fill before the start of the 2016-2017 season.

As we’ve seen, the Philadelphia 76ers are a storehouse of young players, players who can and do find their way onto the rosters of other NBA teams.  As the team begins to pare the roster as the 2016 new faces arrive, do not be surprised if the team has to part ways with a player who has earned the right to be playing NBA basketball.  The team has already said farewell to six this season, with more to come.  For now, the competition remains open.   Hopefully each player will find the opportunity to showcase their basketball, and remain in top health while doing so.