Starting SG: Josh Richardson
Richardson will occupy an important space next season. While Harris will share the burden of offsetting Jimmy Butler’s departure, Richardson’s point of attack defense and spot-up shooting are invaluable weapons in the backcourt.
At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Richardson will be the Sixers’ go-to defender on opposing point guards. And Richardson has passed that test before. He’s long, quick and uses his hands well, deflecting passes and interrupting dribble sequences.
The Sixers will use Richardson to bottle up dynamic lead guards. With Simmons to combat the opposition’s top wing, there’s a real chance Philadelphia’s perimeter defense lives up to its stout interior presence. Harris is the only real question mark.
In addition to his importance as Philadelphia’s top on-ball defender, Richardson’s shot creation will help balance the offense. He will likely split time with Harris as a result. While not an elite pull-up shooter, Richardson does have a smooth mid-range game. He also averaged a career-high 4.1 assists per game last season.
Richardson’s limited pull-up game shouldn’t distract from his shooting prowess either. He shot 35.7 percent on 6.3 deep attempts per game in 2018-19, thriving as Miami’s top perimeter weapon. That’s a stark change of pace compared to the Miami-bound Butler, who attempted just 2.7 per game in Philadelphia.