The Philadelphia 76ers still have their same old problems when it comes to bench scoring so far this season, but what is different compared to their previous campaigns is the fact that they have more playable bodies now beyond their opening group. Unfortunately, that does not appear to include Justin Edwards, as the young forward has barely gotten any playing time through their first five games.
As of this writing, the third-year forward has gotten just 29 seconds of court time in the current campaign. If anything, that is the stance of a team that has already given up on its player. The expectation was that he would compete for a spot in the rotation, but it appears that Nick Nurse and the coaching staff are more than happy to keep him buried on the bench instead.
Well, can you blame them?
The 76ers seem to have fully given up on Justin Edwards this season
The path to getting consistent playing time was always going to be tough for Edwards in view of the additions of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dean Wade. However, the fact that he has not even gotten a full minute of exposure on the court is pretty indicative of the reality he finds himself in –– that he currently has no realistic way to get more time on the hardwood.
That is a great segue into what is probably the main reason behind his freezing on the sidelines. Edwards, who struggled for most of his sophomore campaign last season, also did not have a great showing during the preseason. His shot remained shaky, and to make matters worse, his decision-making has only gotten worse.
The 76ers are operating under a stern championship-or-bust mentality this season, and they simply cannot afford to deploy someone like Edwards, who, despite being in his third year with the same team, is still far from a stabilizing presence when he takes the floor.
As such, this is probably going to be the last season that Edwards spends in Philadelphia assuming that he even finishes the campaign with the team. The 76ers have a team option in his contract for the subsequent season, but that money could be better spent on someone who can be a solid contributor for them.
The franchise had high hopes for Justin Edwards following his rookie year, but since then, his level of play has simply dipped consistently. The 76ers now have a clear missive and unfortunately, their young forward is no longer a good fit for their cause.
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