The Philadelphia 76ers went 4-0 in the preseason, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting new season. Joel Embiid only made two appearances, but he looks every bit his normal self. Meanwhile, there were plenty of encouraging signs from both James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. And that’s without even breaching the new and improved supporting cast.
Of all the Embiid-era teams, this is the best opening night roster. Never have the Sixers felt closer to title contention, except maybe in 2019 when we were all convinced Al Horford and Josh Richardson would crystallize the greatest defense of all time. Unlike 2019, however, the Sixers actually coalesce on paper. The talent and the fit are both strong from top to bottom.
While some preseason wins were more convincing than others (and, in the grand scheme of things, going 4-0 in the preseason doesn’t count for much), plenty of positives (and a few concerns) surfaced. With Tuesday’s regular season opener fast approaching, let’s grade every preseason performer who’s still on the team.
Sixers preseason grades: Starting five
In two preseason appearances, Joel Embiid looked perfectly fine. He didn’t bring his A-game (which is probably smart in the preseason), but we saw enough. Embiid remains one of the most dominant scorers the game has ever seen. His size, mobility, and skill level is unmatched. He will be more active defensively when the games count. As for the James Harden partnership, there’s still room to grow. It’s not completely organic right now, but there’s every reason to believe two of our generation’s most talented players will figure it out.
James Harden looks mostly the same as last season. He showed more burst getting downhill, but looked nowhere near his MVP form of years past (not all that shocking when one considers the mileage on his body). He also incorporated the mid-range jumper in a serious way, with mixed results. It’s a good shot to have in his back pocket, but I’m not convinced it should become a full-on staple of his game. Like Embiid, Harden probably wasn’t flooring the gas pedal. We should get a better sense of where he stands physically once the regular season begins.
For three of four games, Tyrese Maxey was far and away the best player on the court. He looks even better than last season. He’s taking more 3s with more confidence and he’s starting to show signs of life as a facilitator. The braver Maxey gets with the ball — the more he’s willing to assert himself in the offense, looking for his own shot and seeking out playmaking opportunities — the more deadly Philly’s offense will be.
Tobias Harris didn’t put up gaudy numbers, but there were plenty of positive indicators for the season ahead. First and foremost is his confidence behind the 3-point line. Harris is firing away like never before, continuing the progress he made after Harden’s arrival last season. If the Sixers get this quick-trigger, snappy-and-precise version of Harris, it will be quite hard to contain them offensively.
P.J. Tucker didn’t score a lot of points, but that’s not how you judge his value on the court. Tucker is the glue holding Philly’s starting five together. His defensive communication and hustle leaps off the screen. Plus he’s guarding the opposing team’s best player every night: Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Gordon Hayward. That kind of versatility helps a lot. He’s doing all the small things to help win basketball games, and that should only become more apparent in the regular season.
Sixers preseason grades: Second unit
De’Anthony Melton got a couple spot starts and performed admirably. It’s clear his defense will play a central role in Doc Rivers’ rotation. Melton is the Sixers’ best guard defender with a passable offensive repertoire. He is your sixth man. That being said, the Sixers leaned heavily on Melton’s ball-handling in certain lineups and often paid the price. Melton is turnover-prone and largely ineffective as a play initiator. He’s best thought of and used as a 3-and-D wing who occasionally slashes to the rim and uses his athleticism to finish inside.
The Mini-Van is back for another trip around the block. Georges Niang looks primed to play a significant role in the second unit once again. He is extremely valuable to the Sixers’ offense because of his completely unabashed confidence behind the 3-point line. The Sixers will have to plan in advance for Niang’s postseason disappearance, but he’s one heck of a regular season boon.
Danuel House Jr. was seriously impressive, which flew entirely too far under the radar — even in dedicated corners of the Philly fanbase. It’s hard not to be enamored with his game. He defends at a high level and plays excellent connective basketball on the offensive end. House spaces the floor for his stars, but he’s also capable of attacking close-outs with his handle and making smart passes on the move. He’s the kind of 3-and-D wing Philly has long dreamt of but seldom possessed.
Paul Reed has locked up at least a share of the backup center minutes from the look of things. He was Embiid’s primary reliever in three of four games, and he did little to dissuade Doc Rivers and the coaching staff in that span. Reed’s beautifully chaotic presence on defense is a wonder to behold. He is a genuinely talented disruptor, providing the kind of hustle and spunk the Sixers desperately need more of. He also shows some wildly intriguing flashes on offense, even if they’re somewhat few and far between at the moment.
Montrezl Harrell is too good to keep on the shelf. Philly will have to play him, even if Reed is the backup center of the future. If we’re to believe Doc Rivers, the Sixers will oscillate between Reed and Harrell based on matchups. They might even play together, or at least in the same game, from time to time. Whatever the case may be, it’s hard not to be impressed by Harrell’s tornado-like energy in the preseason. He played the most physical and determined basketball of any Sixer. Next to Harden, he should feast on easy looks at the rim all season.
Shake Milton appears to have the inside track for the “10th” rotation spot (for now, it’s probably best to view Reed and Harrell as different sides of the same coin — both are splitting the backup center spot). He earned it in the playoffs and looked ready to go in preseason action. He still needs to shoot more 3s, but Philly benefits a lot from Milton’s ability to put the ball on the floor and create from scratch.
Sixers preseason grades: Bench warmers
Matisse Thybulle is out of the rotation. At least it seems that way after four preseason games. That’s both disappointing and illuminating. Even so, Thybulle made the most of his minutes when he did see the floor. He racked up deflections like usual, but more importantly, he took a lot of 3s. His rate of success varied game to game, but he looks more comfortable firing away from deep. That’s an important first step toward becoming a player the Sixers can rely on.
Furkan Korkmaz might be back to his old self after last season’s slump. And, right now, he might be the best point guard on the roster after Harden and Maxey. He’s not good enough to receive consistent playing time, but Korkmaz is a potentially explosive 12th or 13th-string player who can produce in multiple areas offensively when called upon.
Jaden Springer made the team over Isaiah Joe, which is going to set certain corners of the fandom against him. Patience is hard and the Sixers are trying to win games right now, but Springer is still the youngest player on the team. Give him time. The flashes on defense are tantalizing. He needs to figure out how to play offense eventually, but the Sixers drafted him for his unique athletic profile and defensive upside. His stock is well in tact.
Charlie Brown Jr. is back for his second go-around in Philly. He played sparsely last season and spent most of the year in Delaware. Expect a similar outcome this season. He’s a real athlete and even a good defender, but he’s nowhere near good enough offensively right now. Until he can reliably knock down 3s, Brown will struggle to break through at the NBA level.
It’s hard not to be impressed by Julian Champagnie’s preseason performance, especially after so many people wrote him off following Summer League. The undrafted rookie out of St. John’s fits the profile of a good NBA role player: at 6-foot-8, he can guard multiple positions and hit 3s. He will need to be more consistent with the latter, but his confidence is striking. He might have the stuff needed to carve out a future in the league.