4. Trey Burke
This spot is reserved for whoever wins the backup point guard spot. While traditional logic and an understanding of Brett Brown’s tendencies might point to Raul Neto, Trey Burke provides a skill set the Sixers desperately need. I think he wins the job.
A dynamic shooter and shifty ball handler, Burke can provide a spark plug in Ben Simmons absence. He can also share the floor with Simmons — hitting 47 percent of his corner 3s and proving just as dangerous off the catch as he is off the bounce.
While Philadelphia has loaded up on size and defense, it has come at the cost of shot creation. Jimmy Butler‘s departure hurts, as does the loss of J.J. Redick‘s constant movement and shot versatility. Burke can help numb the pain.
The Sixers won’t need Burke to fill a massive void. He can split ball-handling duties as necessary with Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson and Ben Simmons, depending on who he shares the floor with. That will help curb any concerns about inefficiency or shot selection.
Just having someone who can break down defenders, hit pull-up 3s and cover the loose point guard minutes is valuable. The only reason Burke doesn’t fall higher on this list in the postseason. His defensive limitations might force Brown to shorten the rotation — an area in which I’m not too certain Neto is a massive upgrade.