The Sixer Sense
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Projecting Sixers’ rotation after the Ersan Ilyasova signing

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA,PA - MARCH 29: Ersan Ilyasova #7 of the Atlanta Hawks has some fun prior to the game with Dario Saric #9 Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - MARCH 29: Ersan Ilyasova #7 of the Atlanta Hawks has some fun prior to the game with Dario Saric #9 Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With Ersan Ilyasova set to return, what might the Philadelphia 76ers‘ rotation look like.

The fact that veterans on the buyout market are choosing to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers is telling. Not only do they see the Sixers as a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference, but they’re buying into the upside that comes with two of the best young players in the NBA.

Ersan Ilyasova will soon join Marco Belinelli on that list, making his return to Philly after a year-long hiatus. He’ll no longer be the starter, but Ersan’s shooting will be a valuable weapon in the second unit.

Assuming Trevor Booker is released to make room for Ilyasova, the SIxers’ rotation is bound to see a significant shake-up. Brett Brown has trimmed the rotation to nine players since Belinelli’s arrival, while it was Belinelli — not T.J. McConnell — who came off the bench first in Miami.

Ilyasova should get all of Booker’s minutes at power forward, and potentially more. Richaun Holmes is fighting hard to earn minutes, though, and might force Brown to use a 10th player with his recent level of play.

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There’s a lot to sort through and 240 minutes to dole out. Here’s how the rotation might look moving forward:

Starters (159 minutes)

Ben Simmons — 35

J.J. Redick — 30

Robert Covington — 32

Dario Saric — 32

Joel Embiid — 30

Ilyasova could cut into Saric’s minutes at times, but any significant change is doubtful. Saric has upped his level of play significantly this season, shooting at a high clip from deep and emerging as a nifty scorer around the paint. He looks like the Sixers’ third-best player, so expect his role to remain consistent.

Simmons has been the Sixers’ most heavily used player all season, a trend that should continue. On the other hand, Brown should be conservative with Embiid whenever possible. That’s the reason for the disparity in their minutes.

Overall, don’t expect Ilyasova’s arrival to change much in the starting group.

Reserves (81 minutes)

T.J. McConnell — 22

Marco Belinelli — 22

Ersan Ilyasova — 20

Amir Johnson — 17

By the time the playoffs roll around (assuming the Sixers don’t hit a wall), expect Brown to trim the rotation to nine permanently. Holmes has balled out in recent games, but he’s far from perfect and we’ve seen how hesitant Brown is to use him. A couple of off games could push him out of the rotation altogether.

If Holmes does steal minutes, they would likely come at Johnson’s expense. Ilyasova will be the Sixers’ most important big in the second unit moving forward.

Belinelli and McConnell will continue to pace the second unit on the perimeter, with both of them spending significant time next to starters.

Next: Is it time to worry about Robert Covington?

It seems like Jerryd Bayless, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Justin Anderson will see the court sparingly in the coming weeks.

Story inspired by Derek Bodner at The Athletic.