This season, the Philadelphia 76ers can balance rest and winning.
In a vacuum, losing Jimmy Butler and adding Al Horford is a net loss. Even in context, there’s no denying Butler’s talent and usefulness as a halfcourt shot creator. But one area where Horford exponentially boosts the Philadelphia 76ers is load management.
After overworking Embiid early last season, the Sixers (and the big man) are committed to a more measured approach in 2019-20. That means rest days and limited minutes — a similar plan to the one that kept Kawhi Leonard fueled until the end in Toronto.
Last season, when the Sixers rested Embiid it meant borderline implosion. The backup center rotation was a haphazard collection of has-beens who no longer provide NBA value. Greg Monroe and Amir Johnson were aged-out vets, while Jonah Bolden simply wasn’t ready for real NBA playing time.
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Now Brown has a new option. The Sixers will stagger Embiid and Horford, allowing both to play reasonable minutes and keeping at least one on the floor whenever possible. Unlike backups of the past, Horford is an All-Defense center who can defend the interior as well as the exterior.
With Horford, the Sixers will be able to maintain defensive integrity when Embiid sits. That affords Brown a lot more leniency with rotations, especially in the regular season. Being able to consistently win minutes without Embiid is huge.
On rest days, the Sixers can slide Horford comfortably to the five and maintain a four All-Star group. In his absence, Kyle O’Quinn and Mike Scott are serviceable reserves who can manage heavy lifting in short bursts. The inverse is true as well — Embiid can cover for Horford when the veteran takes a break.
Working in unison, with a smartly constructed plan, the Sixers can use Embiid and Horford to benefit each other. Not only should the pairing thrive together, but their ability to thrive apart will (knock on wood) keep both healthy for a potential postseason run.
In a sense, frontcourt depth has the Sixers’ most underrated issue in years past. While I have personally advocated for using resources elsewhere, it’s clear Philadelphia needs to have a strong, sustainable contingency plan beyond Embiid. The Sixers need to save Embiid in the regular season so he can blossom in the postseason.
Horford — and to a lesser extent O’Quinn — are giving the Sixers that contingency plan. In the 2019 playoffs, Embiid was running on fumes. He looked sluggish, battled nagging injuries and couldn’t maintain his stamina. Even in a weakened state, he was far and away the Sixers’ most impactful player.
If the Sixers can unleash a healthy, 100 percent Embiid on the postseason, Philadelphia’s title odds rise exponentially. Horford aids the Sixers’ cause more than he gets credit for. He’s not just a great add for his versatility and basketball I.Q. He’s a great add for the lineup flexibility it offers Brett Brown.