Over the years, the Philadelphia 76ers have not had a stable power forward to pair next to Joel Embiid. From Dario Saric to Al Horford to PJ Tucker, the team has seen a revolving door of front court partners for the superstar come and go, making the critical spot a question that recurs each and every year. This season is no exception.
Last season, the 76ers seemed to have finally found an ideal starting power forward in Guerschon Yabusele, who ended up being their most consistent player all year long. The Frenchman, after all, injected energy, versatility, and much-needed basketball IQ to the squad without sacrificing any ground on the defensive end of the floor thanks to his hustle and knack for intangibles.
But as everyone knows, Yabusele is now gone. The 76ers front office made the haphazard decision not to pursue him in free agency, albeit constructively, that they lowballed him so much that the burly forward opted to head elsewhere. To make matters worse, he ended up with the Knicks — who are not perhaps Philly’s main rival in the upcoming campaign.
The 76ers, however, are not without options to replace the Frenchman. In fact, one unprecedented new face should be seriously considered by the coaching staff to man the starting power forward position.
76ers should seriously consider starting Trendon Watford next season
Trendon Watford is one of the new players on the 76ers roster for next season. After Yabusele’s unceremonious exit, the front office quickly scooped him up for cheap in the open market, with this signing easily projected to be one of the best bargain bin deals in the league.
A natural tweener, Watford is someone who can handle the brute force needed to latch onto bigger players while having the required mobility to fit into more dynamic, switch-heavy schemes on defense. He can play both forward positions and even slide into the nominal center spot in spurts as part of smaller lineup configurations.
Having said that, his fit on offense is even more enthusing. Despite averaging just 20.8 minutes for the Nets last season, Watford ended up registering 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, flashing his all-around skill set that should bode well for Philly’s star-heavy makeup.
Watford is also a respectable threat from the perimeter as a career 35 percent three-point shooter. And while last season was an aberration when it comes to his scoring efficiency, he is a career 52 percent shooter from the field. His secondary playmaking also cannot go unnoticed.
All in all, those are traits the 76ers should want from their starting power forward. He’s a little banged up now, but he should be ready to go soon. Now, we will wait if Nick Nurse and the coaching staff are bold enough to make this sensible change.