Sixers: Ranking every bench player in order of importance

Ranking every Sixers bench player — 4. Andre Drummond

This list is ranking the Sixers’ bench in order of importance, not by who is the best player in a vacuum. Were it the other way around, you could argue for Drummond at No. 1. In this context, however, Drummond’s natural talent inevitably runs up against the limitations of his role. He is the backup center to Joel Embiid, and there is no world in which he ever shares the floor with Embiid. When Embiid is healthy, Drummond is automatically handicapped at 15-18 minutes a night.

There’s something to be said for putting a legitimately talented center behind Embiid. The Sixers’ MVP candidate gets hurt, and he’s liable to miss 10-15 games every season. That said, when Embiid is healthy, the Sixers’ perimeter pieces are much more important than the big behind him. The Sixers need offensive dynamism around Embiid (and Ben Simmons), and Drummond will not contribute in that manner.

Drummond is not a shooter. He can run, jump, and finish inside, using his thick frame to bulldoze smaller defenders in the paint. He’s also an active and impactful defender when he wants to be, disrupting passing lanes and deterring shots at the rim. There’s a lot to like about him in a limited role. Even so, the nature of the game prevents Drummond from moving any higher on this list. Drummond won’t work in every setting, and his value will diminish considerably once the playoffs arrive.

The Sixers need to survive the non-Embiid minutes, and there’s a good chance Drummond can help them do so. This is not meant to diminish his talent, nor dispute the inherent upside of his contract. In the end, though, it’s Joel Embiid’s team. His backup, by default, is less important than those meant to complement him.