Philadelphia 76ers: What the rotation should look like with Jimmy Butler
Bench
The Sixers’ bench gets a tad shallower with Shamet moving into the starting five. A healthy Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala will help, but the Sixers need to make another move or two before the trade deadline. Attacking the buyout market later in the season is another option.
Backup Point Guard — Markelle Fultz
Even with Butler on board, developing Fultz should remain a focal point for Brett Brown. Keeping Fultz in the starting five is unlikely — it doesn’t make much sense on paper — but he should play every minute without Simmons.
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When Embiid sits, the Sixers can still find ways to go small with Simmons at the five and Fultz at the point — an experiment with moderate success prior to the trade. Simmons-Butler-Redick-Shamet-Fultz peaks my interest. Maybe swap one shooter for Chandler, depending on the matchup.
Backup Center — Mike Muscala
Even with questionable depth, Muscala should control most center minutes behind Embiid. Spacing is extra important and Moose’s three-point stroke unlocks space in the frontcourt. He’s a passable defender who can survive switches as well. Johnson should see fewer and fewer minutes as the second unit (ideally) gets healthier.
Forward/Wing minutes — Wilson Chandler
With minimal depth, Chandler should spend time at both the three and four in different lineups. The Sixers are bringing him along slowly after a preseason hamstring injury, but his ability to switch on defense will be integral to the second unit, especially against deeper teams like Boston and Toronto.
Scraps — T.J. McConnell and Amir Johnson
Until another move is made, Brown will need to rely on McConnell and/or Johnson in spurts. Brown has shown extensive trust in T.J. this season, especially late in close games. There will be contests where McConnell edges out Fultz for minutes down the stretch.
End of the bench — Jonah Bolden, Furkan Korkmaz, Zhaire Smith*, Justin Patton*
Right now, neither Bolden nor Korkmaz is ready to contribute on a regular basis. A floor-spacing, switchable big sounds helpful, but Bolden will probably spend more time in the G-League this season. That’s the right course of action.
Korkmaz hasn’t spent time in Delaware yet, but he’s too exploitable on defense to offer extended minutes. The Sixers need shooters, but even a strong night in Memphis isn’t enough to earn consistent playing time.
Smith won’t return until the new year following medical complications related to a food allergy (the Sixers’ rookie syndrome is something else, man). He’s another high-level perimeter defender who might fill a void for the Sixers, but his chance to earn minutes probably comes next season.
Next. Butler's scoring is the final piece to the puzzle. dark
As for Patton, he’s sidelined indefinitely after undergoing foot surgery in September. It’s the second time he’s injured his foot since getting drafted 16th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Wolves declined his third-year option, so we might not see much (if any) of Patton in a Sixers uniform.