4 early lineup changes the Philadelphia 76ers should implement
4. Settle the Tobias Harris backup logjam off the 76ers bench
The 76ers acquired a maelstrom of forwards in the James Harden trade with Batum, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris Sr., and KJ Martin. Those players have roughly the same archetype, and while that is desirable in today’s league, it is quite simply an embarrassment of riches for Nick Nurse and the coaching staff.
With Tobias Harris playing for 36 minutes per outing so far, Philadelphia should capitalize on its depth at the forward position to unburden him a tad in that regard. And with Batum profiling as an ideal short-leash starter, the backup slot remains open at this juncture.
All three players bring varying quirks to the team. Covington offers wide-ranged defensive coverage and the occasional three-pointer. Morris brings tertiary scoring and spot-up shooting. Martin presents athleticism and youth. Oh, and by the way, Danuel House Jr. is still on the roster.
Nurse could very well move forward with an instinctive approach based on matchups on who gets the available minutes, though it would be more optimal for the team to have a more concrete rotation to clarify roles early on and make it easy for the front office to determine who can be moved later.