The Philadelphia 76ers have had a solid start to the regular season with a record of 2-1. Despite the club missing Ben Simmons, Shake Milton, and Grant Riller for differing health reasons, the playmaking has been passible with Tyrese Maxey and Furkan Korkmaz being the primary point guards.
Until the team’s full point guard depth returns, the argument could be made that they need additional point guard depth. It’s a fair argument to be made, but it seems unlikely at this point guard.
The good news for the club is that it appears that Milton is close to making his return, per Justin Grasso of Sports Illistrated. Whenever he does return from his sprained ankle, the Sixers should try him at the starting point guard position.
Milton should start for the Philadelphia 76ers at point guard when he’s healthy.
This isn’t to say that Milton’s a better player than Maxey, he’s clearly not. However, with playmakers like Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, and Joel Embiid in the starting five, having Maxey coming off the bench would be better for the 76ers.
Milton’s a combo guard, but he’s a solid enough playmaker to where he can be a complimentary assist man with the rest of the starting five. Maxey can stabilize the second unit and finish games because he’s clearly better than Milton at running an offense.
Maxey should still be playing 28 to 30 minutes a night even if the Sixers start Milton. Allowing Maxey to come off the bench will allow him to be the guy in that second unit, a role he’s proven to thrive in.
Milton should start for the Philadelphia 76ers once he’s healthy, but he shouldn’t be eating much into Maxey’s minutes, nor should he finish games over the second year point guard either.