Typically, the Philadelphia 76ers deal with problems so strange that other sports franchises could never conceive of them. So the team dealing with a good problem — how to incorporate Jared McCain into a crowded backcourt — is a nice change of pace.
With McCain's return to the lineup likely coming this week, head coach Nick Nurse has a challenge in front of him. Tyrese Maxey is the star, rookie VJ Edgecombe has been on a tear to start his career, and Quentin Grimes has been everything you could ask for and more off the bench.
Where does McCain fit into that equation? What will his role look like as the fourth small guard in the backcourt? Will he come off the bench before Grimes? How much will he play with Maxey, and how much will he share the court with Edgecombe? With four guards under 6-foot-4 who all deserve minutes, the backcourt now feels crowded. But that's far from the worst problem to have. And trust me, the Sixers historically have been dealt the worst problems to have.
The on-court responsibilities might be tough to manage for Nurse. Luckily, the minutes distribution will not be. Right now, Maxey (42.5), Edgecombe (39.0), and Grimes (31.8) are all playing huge minutes. None of those numbers are sustainable, and McCain's return will take a huge load off each of them.
McCain will alleviate the crazy playing time of the other guards
Say Maxey's minutes are lowered to 34 per night, Edgecombe's to 30, and Grimes to around 25. There's about 25 minutes for McCain right there! That seems like a sweet spot for him as he works his way back from a serious injury. Eventually, if McCain plays like he did last season, he'll need a bigger role. But there are plenty of minutes for him to grab from the other guards, who are currently all workhorses for the Sixers.
It's also important to remember that McCain is effectively still a rookie. He's played 23 NBA games in his life. They were a pretty awesome 23 games, but expecting him to enter the lineup and immediately produce like a star may be setting up for disappointment. Hence, having depth at the guard position is a great safety net. If McCain needs some time to get his sea legs, three capable guys can cover for him until he gets back to the joyful, high-scoring ball of energy he was last season.
Clunky as it may be at the beginning, Nick Nurse having to figure out how to play four talented guards has more positives than it does negatives.