The Philadelphia 76ers arguably have the most loaded roster in the league, at least on paper –– so much so that VJ Edgecombe, a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award last season, is the least decorated player in their projected starting five. That being said, the incoming sophomore is on an upward trajectory, and his continued growth will pose some problems for the team, albeit of the desirable variety.
Edgecombe may not be an All-Star (yet), unlike his other teammates, but he is definitely on the track to becoming one. But given that he has the least pedigree, it is easy to pencil him in as the player who will have to sacrifice the most. However, that might not be what he wants ahead of Year 2, and the team might actually prefer dealing with a potential problem on the "how many touches should he get" front.
VJ Edgecombe will be a good headache for the 76ers this upcoming season
Last year's third overall draft pick added a wildcard element to the offense this past season, and he will probably reprise that role for the upcoming campaign. Be that as it may, that will –– and should –– not preclude him from actually getting a bigger slice of the scoring pie, especially in consideration of the fact that he is having the most eventful summer out of anyone on the team right now.
Edgecombe is currently leading Team Bahamas in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and he has been sensational as the head of the snake, averaging 22.5 points, seven rebounds, and 4.5 assists so far in the tourney. His stint with the national team will only bolster his case for a bigger role next season, notwithstanding Philly's armory of All-NBA cogs.
Young players who have stints with their respective national teams in international tournaments typically break out in the following NBA season, and that is certainly a trend that Edgecombe could follow. If that happens, the 76ers coaching staff will have to make some interesting decisions as to lineups and, more importantly, ball distribution.
It might be unorthodox if Edgecombe gets just as many touches as, say, Tyrese Maxey or Jaylen Brown, but the 76ers are already operating with an eye for the future while also doubling down on their win-now edict. There could be instances where the incoming sophomore takes too many shots for the casual fan's liking, but that will eventually prove to be instrumental as the team balances the load of their older stars while empowering their young guns.
Ultimately, this is a problem every team would love to have, and the 76ers are fortunate to potentially face it. VJ Edgecombe is one of the brightest young stars in the game, and even amid the team's overwhelming collection of proven talent, he is not going to just lie low.
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