3. Mike Scott
Mike Scott was arguably the most important non-starter on the roster last season. He came up clutch in the playoffs, he was a breath of fresh air in the second unit, and he captured the hearts of an entire fandom. The 2019-20 season has been a far less idyllic experience for Scott.
For pretty much the entire season, Scott has been in desperate need of a reset. His shots haven’t fallen, his toughness hasn’t translated on defense, and he has struggled to maintain his grasp on a rotation spot. If a three-month break is going to benefit anyone, it’s the guy whose season has, up to this point, been massively disappointing.
There’s a real chance this pandemic has provided Scott with his desperately needed reset. A chance to step back, clear his head, and focus on returning a better player. Scott has the tools to contribute to a playoff run when he’s hitting shots and his competitive streak is on display. Hopefully three months is enough time to restore his energy reserves.
The Sixers have more depth than they did last season, and Scott will no longer sneak into small-ball five minutes due to the presence of Al Horford. Even so, after struggling all season, it’s difficult to imagine anyone who needed this break more for non-injury reasons. Maybe we get a revitalized Scott in Orlando.