Tyrese Maxey is the leading minutes-getter in the league per game, so at face value, it might not seem like the Philadelphia 76ers should not concern themselves too much about giving him a backup who can handle a significant workload. However, the team has a complete dearth of backup point guards right now, which is not ideal notwithstanding the mileage the All-Star has incurred and will continue to incur.
So far, the 76ers have found ways to get by with some unconventional tweaks, but having someone who has real experience playing the position will be crucial. And one name they should look out for in the coming days is Cole Anthony, who appears to be a potential waiver wire entry sooner than later.
The 25-year-old was recently traded by the Bucks to the Suns, but he has not yet joined his new team. In comparison, Amir Coffey, who was traded alongside him, has already suited up for Phoenix. There are also rumblings about the Suns possibly cutting ties with him before he even sniffs the hardwood, so suffice to say that there is a good chance he ends up being in the open market.
The 76ers could look at Cole Anthony as a temporary answer at point guard
Admittedly, Anthony has not had a good campaign this season. The Bucks handed him the least minutes he has averaged in his career, although he definitely did not do himself any favors with his up-and-down play. He has struggled so much with his shot, having drained just 42.4 percent of his shot and 30.6 percent of his triples. He also canned a meager 61.5 percent of his free-throws.
So what is it about him that makes him a viable temporary fix for the 76ers at PG? Well, if there is one thing he does well, it is finding his open teammates. Despite averaging just 15.1 minutes a night, he is tallying 3.5 dimes per outing. That figures translates to 8.3 assists per 36 minutes, which easily led all players in Milwaukee, his previous team.
If he indeed gets waived by the Suns, it probably would not hurt for the 76ers to take a look on him and take a flier on snagging his services for cheap. He can alleviate some of the woes the team has in the playmaking department, and there is definitely room for another backup guard in light of the Jared McCain trade.