Ranking every player on the 76ers roster ahead of 2023 playoffs

The Philadelphia 76ers are 49-26, the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference will less than two weeks left in the regular season. As the standings begin to crystalize, fans will naturally turn their attention toward the playoffs. With so much uncertainty hanging over the future, this could be the Sixers’ last, best chance to win the championship with Joel Embiid.

Daryl Morey has built the deepest team of the Embiid era, complete with depth at every position and enough star power to compete with the league’s best teams. The roster isn’t without flaws, of course, but it’s hard not to proceed with some level of optimism. A healthy Sixers team is capable of beating anybody.

The 17-man roster is set in stone at this point. We ranked every player on the roster before the season, but much has changed in the intervening months. It’s time to revisit the talent Morey has collected and rank every player with the postseason in mind.

Ranking every player on the Philadelphia 76ers roster

Mac McClung has yet to register NBA minutes with the Sixers. He gained widespread notoriety with his impressive performance in the Dunk Contest, but it remains to be seen if his springy athleticism and shot-making will ever translate at the highest level. His lack of size defensively is a significant hurdle he will have to overcome.

Another Sixer who hasn’t actually played for the Sixers. It’s not hard to criticize Philly for its lack of investment and development in two-way players over the years, with Paul Reed being the notable exception. King has NBA size and athleticism on the wing, and he has logged a few productive stretches with Detroit and Sacramento in the past.

Jaden Springer led the G-League in steals per game. His defensive playmaking was the primary appeal on draft night in 2021 and he continues to flash immense potential on that side of the ball. The question now is can the 20-year-old progress enough offensively to earn minutes with the big-league squad?

Montrezl Harrell is out of the rotation after spending the first two-thirds of the season as Embiid’s primary backup. Unfortunately, it’s hard to play center in today’s NBA if you can’t switch or protect the rim. Harrell still provides occasional value as a rim-runner and hard-boiled competitor, but he’s probably Philadelphia’s worst present option at the 5 spot.

The Sixers added Dewayne Dedmon on the buyout market, which generated some controversy given the team’s recent track record with past-prime bigs and the roster moves that created the open roster spot used to sign Dedmon. He’s a big body in the paint who can theoretically space the floor and provide some measure of flexibility on offense, but the early returns have been uninspiring.

Furkan Korkmaz has now survived two open trade requests in Philly. He’s the longest-tenured Sixer not named Joel Embiid, but he won’t get much playing time down the stretch here. Big guards who can shoot and occasionally playmake tend to retain value in the NBA, but Korkmaz’s inconsistency from deep and struggles on the defensive end keep him glued to the bench.