Given the Sixers’ recent history, it feels strange to type — to even consider — this next sentence. The depth chart at center is fine. While Joel Embiid‘s impending 2-3 week absence has triggered understandable panic in the fandom, the biggest concerns frankly lie outside his immediate replacements.
Tony Bradley and Dwight Howard cannot and will not replicate Embiid’s presence on either side of the ball. Of course, there’s a seismic decrease in productivity and impact at the center position without Embiid patrolling the middle. Even so, there is no need for some swift action on Daryl Morey’s part. For the first time in a while, the Sixers can sit somewhat comfortably with the current group of centers.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a Joel Embiid-sized hole, but plugging it goes far beyond his position on the court.
The Sixers will need to look elsewhere — namely Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons — to make up the ground lost offensively. Neither will dominate the game like Embiid can, but Harris is in the middle of an All-Star worthy campaign and Ben Simmons is playing the most aggressive offense of his career. It’s only natural that the burden fall on Philadelphia’s other stars more than it does on the reserves.
It is inevitable that Bradley, Howard, and any other soul who fills in at center will eventually come across unfavorable matchups. Neither of Embiid’s backups are starting-caliber players, but for the projected timeline of his absence, the Sixers can survive. Bradley has lost weight and looks surprisingly apt on both sides of the ball. Howard is playing his best, most energized basketball of the year, providing a true disruptive force on defense and flushing his trademark lobs on offense.
To keep it short, Bradley and Howard are fine.
As far as supplementary talent, the free agent market is sparse. The only players who are still free agents are free agents for a reason. We’re halfway through the season, so it’s unwise to expect a hidden gem to unearth itself if said gem is not already part of the team.
In the most recent episode of The Sixer Sense Podcast, we discussed names like DeMarcus Cousins, Jordan Bell, and Ian Mahinmi. While all three of perfectly adequate last-string centers, none are clear (or even likely) upgrades over the two centers currently playing in Embiid’s stead.
If Doc Rivers and the Sixers were to crave a more explorative option — something with a bit more spice and flavor to it — I might suggest investing in the Paul Reed experience. He just put up MVP-type numbers in the G-League while leading the Blue Coats to the championship game. According to Shams Charania at The Athletic, Reed is now in line for a standard NBA contract.
There’s a lot to like about the second-round pick on paper. He’s a switchable 6-foot-9 center who can hit spot-up 3s and run the floor. In smaller reserve units built around Ben Simmons, that is pretty much the ideal archetype. He’s young and unpolished, but frankly, unleashing Reed is a much more interesting alternative to, say, kicking the tires on thrice-injured DeMarcus Cousins.
Any way you slice it — whether you are content with Bradley/Howard, or you want to explore a third option — the solution seemingly lies on the current roster. The trade deadline is approaching, and of course Morey should actively look for talent upgrades at any position. If Nemanja Bjelica or P.J. Tucker is brought on to fill small-ball five minutes, great. That’s a good move. For now, however, there’s no real need for panic with the current group.