Philadelphia 76ers: 5 storylines to watch upon Disney World return

3. The young wings

There was much fanfare to begin the season as Matisse Thybulle and Furkan Korkmaz made waves in the Sixers rotation. In recent months before the suspension of play, however, it’s fair to say both Thybulle and Korkmaz have slowed down.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, nor is it a major concern. Thybulle is a rookie who was bound to hit some sort of wall. It’s also Korkmaz’s first NBA season playing real minutes. It happens — young players are naturally prone to ebbs and flows.

With that in mind, it is necessary to ponder the immediate future for both Thybulle and Korkmaz. While Brown has been content to ride both as his primary reserves all season, the Sixers will want to compete once the postseason hits. One might consider Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III superior options in that setting, not to mention the recent breakout of Shake Milton.

Thybulle has sturggled to shoot the ball away from home all season. Increased pressure and a natural environment may not help him, and he’s otherwise a serious negative on offense. Even if his defense is top-tier, it’s difficult to project Thybulle’s offensive role in the postseason. Conversely, Korkmaz is the most exploitable defender in the rotation.

The Sixers may need to change up the second unit as the season comes to a close. Expect more minutes for the midseason additions, and fewer minutes for the long-term investments.