Ranking every player on the Sixers’ 2021-22 roster

Ranking every player on the Sixers roster — 5. Danny Green

Danny Green isn’t getting younger, but he remains absolutely essential to Philadelphia’s starting five. Last season, no Sixer took more 3s per game than Green. His shooting volume, combined with a high basketball I.Q., worked wonders for an offense that looked sluggish and off-kilter before his arrival. Several factors contributed to the Sixers’ ascent to the No. 1 seed, but Green was probably more important than he gets credit for.

In addition to hitting 40.5 percent of his 3s, Green provided stable defense and a tangible locker room presence. He’s clearly someone the team leaned on for leadership, taking the wisdom of three championship runs and disseminating it to a relatively young contender.

While it’s easy to cherrypick defensive lapses to illustrate Green’s deteriorating athleticism, he was a solid defender last season. He’s no longer quick enough to contain ball-handlers at the point of attack, but he remains an elite pickpocket with untouchable off-ball instincts. His communication skills allow him to elevate the entire group, even if he’s not picking up the individual highlights.

Green should remain entrenched in the starting five this season, even at 34 years old. He’s too valuable offensive and defensively to suggest otherwise, even with Ben Simmons’ looming absence. Green was the No. 4 player on this list last season, were it not for (spoiler) Seth Curry’s postseason renaissance, there’s a good chance Green would have ranked No. 4 this season.

That said, there has been some speculation about Matisse Thybulle supplanting Green for defensive purposes. While Green is indeed a strong defender, the Sixers will need to fill Simmons’ void on the ball. Green cannot survive as the Sixers’ primary wing/guard defender, which he is by default without Simmons in the lineup.

There are other creative solutions that keep Green in the starting five, but either way, it will be fascinating to see how Green’s role changes if the Simmons holdout continues. Doc Rivers will need to get creative too. In the end, Green is too rock solid not to contribute positively.