Ranking the Sixers’ reserves — 3. Georges Niang
The Sixers have to be pleased with their return on investment so far, with Georges Niang primed to far exceed the value of his two-year, $6.7 million contract. The veteran forward has been in a minor slump of late, but he’s an elite spot-up shooter with far more ancillary skill than anyone could have justifiably anticipated. He’s a linchpin for the Sixers’ second unit.
Niang’s 11.7 points per game is second among the reserves, trailing only Shake Milton (who has played fewer games, and who has been elevated to the starting five due to injury on multiple occasions). He’s hitting 39.3 percent of his triples, making whip-smart decisions as a passer, and providing the kind of connective tissue offensively that Mike Scott never could.
The Sixers have also gone to Niang as a small-ball five on more than one occasion. The success of those units varies and is extremely matchup-dependent, but come the postseason, it’s not hard to imagine Niang phasing Drummond out of the rotation if the Sixers are faced with a perimeter-oriented team (Brooklyn or Chicago, for example).
While he is most naturally cast as a power forward, Niang has provided real positional flexibility out of the second unit. He’s playing in all sorts of lineup combinations, and his skill set melts seamlessly into just about every one. His toughness and expertly crafted fan service don’t hurt either. He’s already a fan favorite. Jump on the bandwagon (or the minivan) while you still can.