Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking starting power forwards in 2021 preseason
25. Patrick Williams
During his rookie season, Patrick Williams was the Chicago Bulls starting small forward and all indications point to him being their starting power forward this season with the DeMar DeRozan addition this offseason. Williams has shown he can be a versatile defender and has potential as a solid role player on offense. However, he’s still a raw prospect that needs time to develop.
24. Thaddeus Young
While on the subject of the DeRozan sign-and-trade, Thaddeus Young was one of the players involved in the deal. Young, once a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, is now one of the few veterans on this young San Antonio Spurs team and he’s the type of player that fits into head coach Gregg Popovich’s system. He’s a two-way big man and if the Spurs falter, then contenders should be interested in the veteran.
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23. P.J. Tucker
The Miami Heat snagging P.J. Tucker away from the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency was one of the bigger surprising moves this offseason. He’s an elite 3-and-D player who’s versatile on defense. However, at the age of 36-years-old, it’s hard to know just how much more he has left in the tank.
22. Rui Hachimura
Rui Hachimura is a bright spot for the Washington Wizard’s future. He has unrealized potential on defense and has already shown some impressive growth on the offensive end of the court. If he continues to improve his defense and 3-point shooting, he’s going to be a starter in the NBA for a long time.
21. Evan Mobley
The Cleveland Cavaliers used the third overall pick on big man Evan Mobley. He could have arguably been the top pick in the draft but due to significant depth on the Cavaliers frontcourt, his upside is limited during his rookie year. He has guard like skills and is versatile defensively, but big men usually take a few years to develop so don’t be surprised if he struggles at first.