Sixers roundtable: Potential starting five and second unit for 2021-22

Roundtable, Potential starting five and second unit: Lucas Johnson

Starting 5:

• PG: Tyrese Maxey
• SG: Danny Green
• SF: Matisse Thybulle
• PF: Tobias Harris
• C: Joel Embiid

Bench Unit:

• PG: Shake Milton
• SG: Seth Curry
• SF: Furkan Korkmaz
• PF: Georges Niang
• C: Andre Drummond

Beginning with the starting five, Tyrese Maxey has to join the unit due to the fact he’s the only other point guard on the roster. Shake Milton is more of a combo guard and Seth Curry is an undersized shooting guard. Maxey has shown plenty of promise and could surprise a lot of fans this year with pretty impressive play.

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Danny Green keeps his starting five role, he’s still a valuable 3-and-D player in the NBA and is one of the best defenders on this roster. He’s switching to the shooting guard spot because the Philadelphia 76ers need more size on the perimeter with Simmons gone.

With the notion of bringing more size and defense to the starting five, Matisse Thybulle will be taking over Curry’s spot as a starter. Thybulle is one of the best defenders in the NBA and if he can finally figure out his 3-point shot, then the Sixers will be in a good spot.

Both Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid keep their starting and their roles won’t change much. They just will be asked to play make for others a little bit more in Simmons’ absence.

The bench will look much different than last year’s unit. George Niang takes over Mike Scott’s role as a stretch-four and Andre Drummond is an upgrade over Dwight Howard. Shake Milton is a score-first combo guard and Furkan Korkmaz is a floor spacer.

This could be the year of Seth Curry. Curry should be a de facto sixth man for the Sixers. Curry’s 3-point shooting is essential for the 76ers’ success. That being written, don’t be surprised if he scoring stays about the same from last season.

Until Simmons is traded, the Philadelphia 76ers have to prepare with the roster they have. Luckily for the Sixers, they have enough talent to have some flexibility with the starting five.