The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Justin Anderson and his potential at power forward

By Christopher Kline

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Justin Anderson #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 12, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Justin Anderson #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 12, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Philadelphia 76ers forward Justin Anderson has always been categorized as a wing, but the current trends of NBA basketball could mean he’s better suited in the frontcourt.

Justin Anderson will always be remembered as the Philadelphia 76ers‘ haul in a Nerlens Noel trade that disappointed the fan base. He struggled to find his indentiy with the team last season, while his shooting woes have held back what was a potential-laden skill set coming into the 2015 NBA Draft.

Now entering his first full season under Brett Brown’s tutelage  Anderson will be fighting for his spot on the team moving forward. The Sixers have quite a bit of depth on the wing, but not much is solidified beyond Robert Covington and J.J. Redick — which leaves some room for Anderson to make a push next season.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

With that said, that lack of solidity doesn’t mean somebody’s guaranteed a long-term spot. Nik Stauskas hasn’t done enough to warrant another contract, and both Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Furkan Korkmaz still have a couple of years left before they’re polished NBA assets. Anderson could very well fall into Stauskas’ boat — a player who, if inconsistent, is easily replaceable in a market filled with stopgap wings.

As somebody who doesn’t boast the most reliable release on his jumper, there’s a chance that Anderson finds himself out of place on the wing moving forward. He’s too limited offensively for today’s league, and his defensive upside isn’t enough to warrant continual trial and error with somebody who diminishes spacing.

Perhaps the best move for Anderson is to give him some extended run at power forward — where minutes could clear up and his game fits more fluidly in the landscape of today’s NBA.

It’ll be admittedly tough for Anderson to get consistent minutes next season. Even with his early flaws, TLC seems primed to take over duties as the first wing off the bench, while Stauskas (and even Korkmaz) have inherent value with their shooting.

If Anderson were to make the shift to power forward, he’d still be locked behind Ben Simmons and Dario Saric, both of whom will take up extensive chunks of minutes. If Amir Johnson slides to the five and Anderson is able to clear out his spot as the third-string power forward, there’s a good chance that he’ll have some time to flash his potential at that position.

Even with a newly slimmed down frame, Anderson’s strength is arguably his most impressive attribute. He’s built like a truck at 6-foot-6, and is able to use that muscle to body up players far larger than he is. We saw Brown give him some minutes at the four last season, with moderate success. Committing that position change could be what revitalizes a rapidly-stagnating career.

Anderson’s energy is also something that’s worth finding minutes for. If anything, his willingness to grind out each and every play is something that energizes those around him. That hustle also gives him a unique advantage when stationed at the four spot. He’d be quicker than the majority of players he defends, and quick hands on the low block could allow him to compromise the ball security of larger, less-coordinated players who are trying to gain position underneath.

Offensively, Anderson’s most effective tool is his explosiveness. He wouldn’t have the size advantage needed to bully his way around the interior, but he has the quick first step and strength as a finisher needed to get to the rim against most of the fours tasked with guarding him. His shooting, albeit inconsistent, gives him enough leverage out to the perimeter to keep the floor spaced as well.

That also translates into a nice small ball niche, which could work nicely in the second unit. The versatility that comes with a Dario Saric/Justin Anderson frontcourt could be worth testing. He’d also fit nicely along Richaun Holmes and Amir Johnson is more defensively-needy scenarios.

Anderson’s weakness as a shooter is mitigated with a move to power forward, while his athleticism yields a much greater advantage than it does against smaller wings. Having a solid two-way piece with that kind of versatility is a near must in today’s NBA. Anderson, for all his flaws, could give the Sixers a good reason to keep him around if he finds success with such a position change.

Next: Top 30 players in Sixers franchise history

We’ll see if Brett Brown drops any clues come training camp.