The Philadelphia 76ers reloaded heavily this offseason. Aside from adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, the front office also brought in a valuable role player in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. What not a lot of people are talking about is the direct effect of signing KCP, which is putting Justin Edwards in a difficult spot ahead of next season. Now, the incoming third-year wing is facing a make-or-break campaign all of a sudden.
With the team now having one of the most formidable lineups in the league, there is no more reason to exercise more patience with some of their younger commodities who are struggling. Edwards falls squarely into that category, especially in light of the way he played and eventually fell out of favor with the coaching staff last season. With the addition of KCP, he has no other choice but to show that he is more than just a third-string player.
Justin Edwards will face immense pressure with the 76ers next season
After a remarkable freshman campaign despite going undrafted, the 76ers had high hopes for Edwards in his sophomore year. Unfortunately, he fell short of expectations in all aspects, failing to convince the coaches to keep giving him a consistent role in the rotation. It did not take long before he found himself in the doghouse this past season.
Caldwell-Pope, a two-time NBA champion and a respected veteran, brings him with ample experience as a role player for a team with championship aspirations. He has long been one of the most stable three-and-D pieces in the NBA. That has to be quite threatening for Edwards, especially since he is coming off a down year himself.
Right from the get-go, it is likely that Nick Nurse and his staff will go with KCP as their primary backup wing. However, there is definitely still room for Edwards to be a part of the regular rotation as long as he can turn in a strong training camp and preseason stint, but it's an uphill battle.
Three-point shooting and defense will be the two things the 76ers will primarily ask from both Edwards and Caldwell-Pope next season. Given the latter's veteran experience, he is the safer bet to tick those boxes off. However, Edwards has more upside to him, so he has to take advantage of that by being just as effective as his more aged counterpart.
If Justin Edwards cannot perform when his number gets called next season, suffice it to say that his 76ers stint will end sooner rather than later. Philly is under a stern win-now mandate, meaning that the team can no longer afford to wait for him to make a breakthrough. He is in the danger zone.
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