A Way-too-early prediction of the Sixers’ 2023-24 starting lineup
Shooting Guard
De’Anthony Melton has alternated with Tyrese Maxey starting as the shooting guard at various points throughout this season. Melton has been the Sixers’ best defender and that could not come during a better season when Matisse Thybulle, the previous best defender on the team, was shipped off to the Portland Trailblazers at the trade deadline.
Melton has a legitimate case for NBA first-team All-Defense this season, and will likely be the league steals leader as well. The Sixers traded for Melton on draft night last summer and it has proven to be one of the most important acquisitions, up there with Harden re-signing.
When the Sixers acquired Melton from the Memphis Grizzlies, he had two years left on a 4-year, $35 million contract. That means the Sixers will have him already under contract for next season. Expecting Melton to be in the starting lineup when next season starts is not hard to imagine considering his contributions thus far.
Point Guard
The starting point guard for the 2023-24 season may surprise some people, but I expect it to be…Tyrese Maxey. The speculation about James Harden wanting to return to the Houston Rockets this off-season has been too robust to ignore. For some reason, it feels as though the pull to Houston is too strong and Harden will return to the city he played the majority of his career in and cash in a big bag.
If Harden leaves, then it makes sense that Maxey would step into the starting point guard role and honestly I expect that he is ready to. This season has been a breakout year for the 22-year-old former Kentucky Wildcat. As mentioned above, he has split the year starting in the backcourt alongside Harden and is averaging a career-high 20.4 points per game. Maxey looks like a superstar in the making and is contributing to the track record of Kentucky guard’s success in the NBA.
This Philadelphia 76ers team is built to win now and Maxey having to step up as the second-best player and quarterback of the offense is a tall ask, but he can do it. Not only does he get to the hoop at will on the offensive end, but he has stepped up on the defensive end as well. As I said before, Melton was acquired to add a defensive presence to the starting lineup, however, the main core of Embiid, Tucker, Harris, and Harden allows fewer points per possession when Maxey is playing compared to Melton.
A lot has to be sorted out between now and October 2023, but as things stand currently the way-too-early starting lineup prediction will not be overhauled too much if at all. Now it’s time to enjoy this Sixers playoff run!
