Rookies hold the keys to Philadelphia 76ers contending in 2024-25

The Philadelphia 76ers have built a team that's meant to compete for a championship as soon as the 2024-25 season. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are an All-Star duo with experience as teammates, Paul George is the perfect third star as a two-way player with off-ball value, and Caleb Martin could be the missing piece among the role players.

As the 76ers push toward their best chance to win a championship in several decades, however, it's the first-year players who may ultimately decide their fate.

Philadelphia has invested heavily in creating depth at virtually every position. George, Embiid, and Maxey are backed up by the likes of Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Kyle Lowry, and KJ Martin, while Eric Gordon and Kelly Oubre Jr. project to play considerable minutes along the perimeter.

For as intriguing as that pool of supporting talent may be, it's not quite enough to cancel out the need for the impact of incoming rookies Jared McCain and Adem Bona.

Gordon, Jackson, and Lowry are all at least 34 years of age, while Drummond is 31 and hasn't played postseason basketball since 2021-22—when he averaged 15.0 minutes per game. Guerschon Yabusele could be an impact player, but he hasn't received NBA minutes since 2018-19.

With this in mind, it's within the realm of possibility that Father Time and recent career developments could render the depth in Philadelphia insignificant—leaving Bona and McCain to fill the gaps.

76ers need Adem Bona, Jared McCain to turn in strong rookie seasons

McCain offers positional versatility as a sharpshooting guard who can create better than his assist numbers imply. If the 34-and-over crowd of guards struggle in 2024-25, then the opportunity for the former Duke Blue Devils star to step up during his first NBA season should present itself.

It's a viable possibility that would fit Daryl Morey's updated strategy of looking for a sharpshooting guard to play alongside Maxey—a role Philadelphia hoped Buddy Hield would fill in2023-24.

McCain flashed the potential to thrive in a backup guard role in college, averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.4 three-point field goals made per game. He did so while maintaining elite efficiency, posting a slash line of .462/.414/.885.

Tailor-made for a sixth man role, McCain could be a backup at either guard spot with a brand of elite shooting and shifty offense that fits Philadelphia's ideology.

The bigger question mark among the two is Bona, who remains more of an upside player at this point in time. Drummond remains one of the best rebounders in the NBA, but his impact on winning has been called into question in recent seasons.

Throw in the constant question of Embiid's health, and the general lack of bigs on Philadelphia's roster, and there's a strong possibility that Bona will see significant playing time as a rookie.

Bona measured at just 6'8.25" at the NBA Draft Combine, but checked in with a strong 243.2-pound frame and an absurd 7'3.75" wingspan. He turned even more heads with a 40.0" max vertical leap. Throw in his intriguing defensive instincts, and the 2023-24 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year could crack the rotation and ultimately play his way into considerable minutes.

It's a daunting task for a rookie to contribute to a team with championship aspirations, but both Bona and McCain could play prominent roles during the 2024-25 season.