The Philadelphia 76ers are going to mount a strong bid for the championship next season, but their title hopes are pinned on their ability to make the most of the blitzkrieg of talent they have on board. That being said. if they want to follow a proven formula that has already led to actual titles in the past, they might have to make a huge sacrifice and bring VJ Edgecombe off the bench in favor of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The formula being discussed is one that involves KCP being installed as part of the starting lineup. The veteran wing has previously been the starting shooting guard for the Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023, when both teams won a championship. That is one familiar path the 76ers could actually take this coming season.
The 76ers might want to consider starting two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope over VJ Edgecombe
The 33-year-old veteran was a key part of those title-winning teams. While his numbers do not pop off, his consistency as a spot-up shooter and reliability as a perimeter stopped have made him a valuable role player for those squads. That is the kind of package the 76ers can expect to get from their new three-and-D vet.
Well, is that worth benching Edgecombe for? If one sees it as role realignment, then the short answer is yes. While many refuse to admit it, it will be way easier for the coaching staff to balance out the rotation if they relegate the incoming sophomore to second-unit duty as the team's nominal sixth man.
Between Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James, the 76ers already have four all-world scorers who can be their primary option on any given night. Those four are locks to start for the team, and given how ball-dominant each of them can be, it is better to surround them with a low-usage player in the starting unit and allow Edgecombe to get his touches when playing with the bench squad.
Caldwell-Pope has ample experience playing as a complementary piece, and another good nugget with his game is the fact that he has such stable hands. He is not afraid to take important shots during crunch time, and he rarely commits mistakes with the rock.
Of course, Edgecombe will still be closing games for the most part under this proposed arrangement, but just to open games, it might make more sense for the coaching staff to start KCP. As wild of a proposition as that might sound, it is simply a proven and heady way to balance out the rotation.
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