The last three weeks have felt like three months. With everything that’s happened, there isn’t much need for a long preamble.
Let’s get right into your questions.
This is a fun world to live in for a moment. If everything goes as you’re describing, this is a team that can compete for a high seed in the East. They don’t even need Joel Embiid to be an MVP or Paul George to be an All-Star. If those guys can just be healthy and mostly effective, this looks like a legitimately deep roster.
A starting five
of Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Jr., George and Embiid is about as good as it gets in the NBA if all five guys are actually healthy. Then you’re bringing Jared McCain, VJ Edgecombe, Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford and (hopefully as the primary backup) Adem Bona off the bench. That’s not even mentioning guys like Johni Broome, Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow.
And then vets like Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond can stay buried on the bench.
What a wonderful world this would be.
Alas ...
This scenario is much more realistic and is the world I’ve basically been living in. Hope for the health of Embiid and George, but don’t count on it in the slightest.
The starting five would be an interesting debate. Without George, do you use that as an opportunity to experiment with three-guard lineups? Do you give Edwards or Watford a shot to crack the starting five at the four? Is Drummond still here? Even if he is, shouldn’t Bona get the nod?
My best guess is Nick Nurse would start a traditional-ish lineup. Maxey, Grimes and Oubre would still start. The last two spots are debatable. If it were me, I’m giving the center minutes to Bona and seeing if he sinks or swims. Lean into getting younger and more dynamic and see if Bona can be an effective big with your bounty of guards. The four spot is tricky. You’d likely need shooting in this scenario, so I’d probably go Edwards at the four. You’re going to get crushed on the glass, but there are few lineups you can use where that won’t be the case.
Then you’d still have an intriguing and dynamic bench with McCain, Edgecombe, Watford, Broome, Walker and Barlow.
How good is that team? I believe they’d be better than most think — mostly because the East kind of stinks.
The Cavaliers and Knicks will be the frontrunners. The Magic and Hawks made all-in moves and could push for higher seeds. The Bucks still have Giannis Antetokounmpo, so they’ll be a factor. The Pistons had a resurgent season and perhaps have a legitimate MVP in Cade Cunningham. Beyond those top six teams, things get murky.
The Raptors have a decent blend of talent, but there are fair questions about their fit. The Heat are weird, but who knows what type of devil magic Pat Riley will cook up. The Pacers and Celtics will likely take huge steps back because of injuries to their stars. After that, you have the Bulls, Nets, Hornets and Wizards — teams that have little to no interest in winning games next season.
I think if Embiid and George don’t play a single game, the Sixers are probably a top-10 team if everyone else is healthy. There’s just too much talent. Will they win a play-in game or two and make the playoffs? Who knows? But I think they’re much closer to a 10-seed than tanking hard enough to keep their pick (again).
An aside — they should be a lot of fun to watch if we don’t allow Embiid and George injury updates to loom over everything!
My simple answer is no. They’re all so young and talented. Give them a shot to play together. Let’s see how three-guard lineups work. Let’s make sure Grimes and Edgecombe can’t guard up consistently before deciding that’s the case.
Now, if a trade opened up for a legitimate long-term answer at the five or on the wing, that’s a different story. I’m not interested in replacing Embiid and/or George for this season. But I would love to find a player that offers a long-term solution.
What’s tricky is that Grimes would probably be the player you’re most willing to move. Wherever his salary lands, you should be able to match it with an interesting player in the $15-20 million range. Plus, he’s the oldest of the group at 25. The problem is you can’t trade Grimes until Jan. 15 because of his new deal.
I’m not denying the Sixers have a logjam at guard. I just don’t view it as a bad thing necessarily. But if an opportunity presents itself to trade for a better-fitting player at a position of need, I’m open to it.
Spicy!
I can’t lie, I would enjoy this simply for the chaos. Sure, there are elements of Simmons’ game that genuinely fit this team. They could use his passing and rebounding, for sure. The problem is he hasn’t been healthy since he left and no other aspects of his game have improved. If he fully bought into being a backup combo big, maybe it could work, but I believe there are better options.
A name I’m a little surprised is still out there is Trey Lyles. Lyles is a solid combo big who’s been an effective bench piece for the Kings over the last three-plus seasons. He would replace a lot of things you’re missing with Guerschon Yabusele departing. He can stretch the floor, sets good screens, is a decent rebounder and passer, and overall, he’s just a solid connective piece. He’ll turn 30 in November, so he doesn’t fit the young and dynamic bucket, but he’s a veteran who will play (he’s played at least 63 games in eight of his 10 NBA seasons) and won’t make mistakes.
Precious Achiuwa and Chris Boucher are also out there as combo bigs and both have experience playing for Nick Nurse in Toronto. I’m not as high on their fits here, but they’d make some sense.
All this to say, I think there are better options than Simmons, though I don’t hate the idea as much as others.
It’s an interesting idea. In addition to being a great shot blocker, Bona has pretty intriguing skills as a switchable big with decent lateral quickness and the length to make life difficult on the perimeter.
Defensively, I can definitely see it. Bona could serve as a roamer wreaking havoc while Embiid protects the rim. Offense is where the issues would arise. Bona could hang out in the dunker spot, ready to catch lobs and attack the offensive glass. Maybe Nurse can dust off the old snug pick-and-roll with Embiid running it and Bona being the screener. But the pairing could sort of negate what both guys do well offensively.
If Embiid can actually take the court, I’d be interested to see it. Nurse came here known for experimentation and thinking outside the box. Let’s get weird.
I could write a whole article (book?) about this.
I do think the age of social media and how ugly NBA/Rings discourse has become are factors. I also think many still view Embiid as the guy who had more tweets than NBA games played. And look, he hasn’t always done himself favors. I’m not here to absolve Embiid of all of his actions.
My continued thought is that Embiid will be one of those athletes who will be appreciated much more once he retires. At some point, the Sixers will rebuild. Chances are none of the young players currently in the fold will reach his lofty status. Edgecombe has lots of ingredients that could make him special, but it’s impossible to forecast that with a 20-year-old.
The only way Embiid will win the fans you’re referring to over is by being healthy and winning a championship.
Don’t see it exactly this way, but agree with a lot of what you’re saying.
As I’ve said, Embiid is not absolved of all blame here. He does get caught up in the narratives and people calling him lazy, etc. That’s led him to trying to play through stuff he should’ve never played through. And as the article portrayed, there were a few people advocating for him, telling him that he doesn’t owe it to anyone and to prioritize his health. He still chose to play.
With that said, the Sixers basically let him down from the minute he got here. Putting an intern in charge of his rehab and then several members of the medical team turning on him — during a period of time where he’d just lost his brother — when he tried to express fears over his foot not healing properly is a bad look. Bryan Colangelo’s tenure likely didn’t help Embiid build much trust with the organization.
Without knowing everything about everything, I’d say both sides deserve plenty of blame for Embiid’s current situation. As for the extension, I think both sides had little recourse. The Sixers couldn’t risk him returning to MVP form and Embiid souring on the organization and possibly asking out the next season. Embiid is comfortable in Philadelphia and wanted to secure another bag as quickly as possible.
I’ve seen people say the article signified the beginning of the end for Embiid and the Sixers. I’m not sure those people understand Embiid’s contract or how the CBA works. Both sides have no choice now but to move on and try to make it all work.
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