Ahead of the training camp, the Philadelphia 76ers will have a lot of decisions to make on their end. First off, there are still choices to be made as to the availability of their main gunners who, while looking healthier than before as can be gleaned from recent spills, they could be better-served sitting things out, at least to start the preseason.
But perhaps more importantly, the coaching staff will be saddled by a slew of tough decisions when it comes to hatching a functional and well-rounded rotation. Unlike last season, the 76ers should have more playable options this time around, which will require a lot more careful planning from Nick Nurse and company.
One position where the 76ers still do not have a clear-cut answer as to who whill start is the shooting guard spot. Philly has a handful of options there, starting from incoming sophomore Jared McCain who showed some synergy with Tyrese Maxey last season during his brief stint, to third overall pick VJ Edgecombe, whom the coaching staff could hand a starting role right off the bat to accelerate his development.
Yet despite the presence of those two, the 76ers could ultimately opt to start Quentin Grimes next season, assuming that eventually re-signs with the team, of course.
The 76ers could start Quentin Grimes at shooting guard next season
Grimes, who is technically still not part of the team at this juncture, is guaranteed to end up on the team’s roster come opening night. In fact, he has a great case going for him as the possible starting shooting guard.
The 25-year-old is a better player than both McCain and Edgecombe at this juncture, and he can fill a more dynamic role as he can function with or without the rock. He also has more size, allowing him to fare better early on within Nurse’s switchy tactics on defense.
Given the team’s more urgent need to win as many games as possible, starting Grimes will be more attuned to that goal. McCain is still coming off a major injury and will need to acclimate himself again to the pace of the game, whereas Edgecombe will have more liberty to create if he is in the second unit.
Also of note is the fact that the 76ers could turn him into an even more appealing trade asset if they showcase his skills in a more prominent role.
Hence, while probably the most unpopular option of the three, Quentin Grimes is probably the safest option to start at shooting guard for the 76ers next season.