The Sixer Sense
Fansided

The never-ending frontcourt logjam

By Luke Swiatek

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 30: Joel Embiid #21 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings at the Wells Fargo Center on January 30, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 30: Joel Embiid #21 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings at the Wells Fargo Center on January 30, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 2
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 10: Richaun Holmes #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers heads to the locker room after the game with the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 10: Richaun Holmes #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers heads to the locker room after the game with the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

Possible Solutions

How can the Sixers alleviate this problem? Even with Okafor gone, and no small-ball with Robert Covington or Justin Anderson at the four, a serious logjam exists.

One solution is to sit another big man. Amir Johnson could stay on the bench (unless someone gets injured) and offer veteran leadership in a suit jacket. The starters’ minutes would stay the same, but now Holmes would play 14 minutes a game, and Saric would get 22. That’s not horrible, but I would imagine the Sixers aren’t paying Johnson $11 million to be a glorified assistant coach.

Another option is to send Richaun Holmes to the G-League. However, Holmes has already proven himself as a legitimate NBA player despite his youth and draft position. Even Ronnie 2K recognizes Holmes’s skills.

The only other options are to wait for a seemingly inevitable injury, or make a trade. Neither path really seems like a great one to take. To make a long story short, it looks like this problem isn’t going anywhere soon.

Thus, the only real way Simmons and Saric could take the floor together is if Embiid shares the floor with Johnson or Holmes at a different point in the game. Johnson and Holmes both have decent enough jump shots that the paint shouldn’t get too clogged.

However, the latter two are more defensive-minded than Simmons and Saric, and as such I view them as a better fit to play the five. Simmons and Saric’s skill sets overlap, whereas Holmes and Johnson offer a different style of play altogether.

It makes no sense to play some minutes with Simmons or Saric at the 5 and then later have Holmes or Johnson at the four. The Sixers are lucky enough to have versatile players, but everyone has a position they are best at playing.

Next: Breaking down the Sixers' all time NBA 2K squad

In his story, Kline makes a compelling case for how good Ben Simmons and Dario Saric could be together, especially on offense, and I don’t disagree. However, due to how many other good bigs are on the roster, I seriously doubt we’ll get to see them together very often.