Sixers: Early prediction of the small forward depth chart

Aside from the looming Ben Simmons trade, which should come sooner than later, the Sixers‘ roster is mostly set. A lot can change between now and the start of the season because of that Simmons trade, but for now, we have a pretty good feel for the players currently on the roster.

The small forward position has undergone very little change this offseason. While there were initially concerns about Danny Green signing elsewhere, the Sixers managed to snag him on a team-friendly two-year, $20 million contract, keeping one of the team’s most valuable leaders in the locker room.

Beyond that, no major moves were made at the position. Philadelphia targeted guard and center depth in the NBA Draft, while free agency yielded only two “big” new arrivals — Andre Drummond, a backup center, and Georges Niang, a backup four.

Without further ado, let’s parse through the small forward depth chart to see what we know, and would could change in the near future.

Sixers’ small forward depth chart: Danny Green — STARTER

There’s not much to say about Green that hasn’t already been said. He’s a known commodity, and one of the NBA’s original “3-and-D” wings. The 34-year-old has no doubt lost a step, and he’s not the same on-ball defender he once was, but he still benefits the Sixers on both sides of the ball.

With quick hands and a high basketball I.Q., Green can consistently make impact plays for Philadelphia’s defense. He is best utilized as a secondary or tertiary defender, stationed off ball on less dynamic playmakers, but he thrives in that role. He comes up with deflections, makes timely rotations, and is a great communicator, which helps tie everyone together.

On offense, Green is one of the Sixers’ most prolific 3-point shooters. He doesn’t shoot quite as efficiently as Seth Curry, but on average, he attempts more shots per minute from behind the arc. That volume is a valuable attribute next to Joel Embiid.

Last season, Green averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 28.0 minutes per game. He hit 40.5 percent of 3s (on 6.3 attempts), and delivered timely shots on a regular basis. Even with Father Time looming on the horizon, it’s hard to imagine Green not starting from start to finish in 2021-22.