When LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, the entire dynamic of the rotation changed. With a star-studded starting lineup of Jaylen Brown, V.J. Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, James, and Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia's needs along the wings called for a new type of supporting cast.
Though there is competition for playing time, Justin Edwards may be the big winner of this roster overhaul as one of the few supporting wings who offer both size and shooting.
Edwards has struggled to carve out consistent playing time through his first two seasons under head coach Nick Nurse. With a team option for the 2027-28 season, it thus would appear as though the 2026-27 campaign will be a make-or-break kind of year for his future.
Thankfully for Edwards, the 76ers' supporting cast is primarily made up of non-shooters and smaller guards, with the only wings with size having as many questions to answer as he does.
For instance: Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona should get steady minutes at the 4 and 5, but neither shoot threes with volume or efficiency. Caleb Love, Labaron Philon Jr., and Anfernee Simons offer intriguing skill at guard, but all three are 6'3".
That leaves Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at 6'5" and Rayan Rupert at 6'7" as Edwards' only real competition for minutes as a backup wing. He should have a realistic shot against or alongside both.
76ers' need for depth along the wings bodes well for Justin Edwards
Caldwell-Pope is a two-time NBA champion who won a title with James. That makes him the early favorite for minutes as the top backup wing, but he's shot 34.2 and 31.6 percent from beyond the arc over the past two seasons. He hasn't played with a playmaker like James or Maxey, but the question still exists in regard to how well the 33-year-old can shoot at this stage of his career.
Rupert, meanwhile, is a career 32.2 percent three-point shooter. Much like Caldwell-Pope, that pales in comparison to what Edwards has provided through two seasons.
Edwards is currently a career 36.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc, with marks of 1.3 conversions per game and 2.3 per 36 minutes. He shot 37.2 percent from distance in 2025-26 despite ranking in the 30th percentile in three-point shot quality, per Basketball Index.
In a rotation that will force opposing defenses to swarm the surplus of stars in playmaking positions, Edwards' shot quality should improve and his efficiency should follow suit in 2026-27. When all else fails, he'll also have a generational playmaker in James getting him clean looks.
Furthermore, Edwards ranked in the 79th percentile in off-ball gravity, per Basketball Index. In other words: Opponents are aware of his jumper and adjust accordingly. For a 76ers team that has an abundance of downhill scorers and an elite post player, that should earn Edwards minutes.
Edwards will need to improve his defensive consistency to truly lock a role down, but given Philadelphia's lack of ideal size and shooting along the wings, he has a chance to finally carve out a consistent role.
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