2. Improved depth
Many have pointed to the departure of Belinelli and Ilyasova as one of the Sixers’ foremost concerns. And, to an extent, they’re correct. Both Belinelli and Ilyasova brought tremendous value, especially on the offensive end. Belinelli’s shooting was a driving force in the Sixers’ late-season surge.
Losing them doesn’t necessarily mean the Sixers downgraded their bench, though. Sure there are depth concerns, but those same concerns were present last season. The Sixers have at least addressed the biggest weakness in their second unit.
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Last season, the Sixers’ defense dropped off considerably whenever Embiid (and Covington) sat. That was due to a severe lack of defensive versatility between Belinelli, Ilyasova and McConnell — the three most prominent reserves during the playoffs.
Amir Johnson was an underrated defender, but he was virtually out of the rotation when the Sixers faced Boston in the second round.
Now the Sixers have fixed that, adding Wilson Chandler, more Markelle Fultz, and eventually Zhaire Smith. Shake Milton is another versatile body who deserves a shot at minutes. Simply put, the Sixers have offset the loss of offensive firepower by upgrading the defense significantly.
On top of that, Fultz’s playmaking should provide a big boost to the overall rotation. Even without a jumper, he’s already one of the best young passers in the league. His combination of poise, crafty ball-handling and vision will make him an effective reserve, at the very least.
The Sixers were deprived of secondary ball-handlers last season, a void Fultz can ideally fill. If his shot improves and he can spend legitimate time next to Simmons, the offense takes another sizable leap forward. There’s a ton of upside with the former No. 1 pick.
All of this, and I haven’t mentioned Mike Muscala — a capable stretch big who will see minutes at both the five and four. Once you move past the optics of losing two well-known floor spacers, the Sixers’ are on track to have a much better second unit.