The 76ers are walking into next season with a late-game issue most teams would sign up for in a heartbeat: too many players who can take over the final possession.
That’s the strange reality of a projected starting five that could feature five potential All-Stars. Philadelphia should be fine getting games started. The real question is how they finish them, because when crunch time hits, there may not be one obvious answer waiting at the top of the pecking order.
LeBron James changes the conversation immediately. After adding him, the 76ers now have one of the most decorated closers the league has ever seen, and even at 41 years old, he still looms as a major problem for defenses when the game tightens up. What stands out, though, is that he may not even be the first name called in those moments.
Jaylen Brown gives them another proven option. He’s a Finals MVP, and with his three-level shooting and elite mid-range scoring, he looks built for late-game possessions. There should be plenty of chances for him to handle the ball when the outcome is on the line.
Joel Embiid is another route entirely, and one that could be matchup-dependent. In a one-on-one setting, there is no one in the NBA who can match him. Even with his physical decline, his post skill still makes him a dangerous weapon when the game slows down and every bucket matters.
Tyrese Maxey brings a different kind of pressure. Like Brown, he can score from just about anywhere, but his speed adds another layer.
Against teams with weaker defensive backcourts, he could become the cleanest answer in the closing stretch. There’s also a real chance he ends up leading the team in scoring next season.
Then there’s VJ Edgecombe, the least decorated player in the projected starting five but hardly an afterthought. He might be the biggest X-factor on the roster, especially if opponents load up on the more established names and leave him with chances to surprise them.
So yes, Philadelphia may spend the early part of games sorting out who gets the ball when it matters most. But that kind of problem can turn into a nightmare for opponents once the group settles in. With five players capable of being the guy, the 76ers may be harder to predict than anyone else in the league.
In Other News...
Sixers May Be Losing Another Young Piece To The Knicks
The Knicks have added forward Igor Milicic on an Exhibit 10 deal ahead of training camp, giving them another low-cost developmental flier to sort through before the season gets underway. For Sixers fans, the name is a familiar one: Milicic spent time with the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphias G League affiliate, and has spent the past few years bouncing through a college career that stretched across three universities.
Exhibit 10 contracts often function as a bridge into a teams developmental pipeline, and that is the lane New York is opening for Milicic now. It also fits the broader reality for Philadelphia, where the Blue Coats have repeatedly served as a staging ground for young talent that other organizations are willing to take a look at when camp season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Rookie Labaron Philon Already Faces One Tough Rotation Hurdle
Labaron Philon Jr. gave the 76ers enough to like in Summer League, especially on the scoring end, but the early read on the rookie guard is hardly a simple one. Philadelphia has reason to be intrigued by his offensive feel, yet his thin frame stands out in a way that matters for a team trying to compete now, where every rotation spot has to carry weight on both ends.
The cautious part of the evaluation comes from defense, where the coaching staff reportedly wants more proof that Philon can handle the physical demands of the regular season. In a setup like this, upside alone is not usually enough, and a young guard has to show he can stay on the floor without becoming a target. For Philon, the path is clear enough: add strength, tighten the defensive end, and make it harder for the staff to leave him out of the nightly mix. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Final Roster Spot Could Fuel LeBrons Title Push
The 76ers have already reshaped their offseason in a major way, adding Jaylen Brown and bringing in LeBron James on a two-year deal, then further strengthening the rotation with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after his buyout from Memphis. It is the kind of aggressive roster building that signals a clear push to contend right away, with the front office still showing a willingness to keep tinkering even after the headline moves are done.
Maxi Kleber has emerged as a possible candidate for Philadelphias final roster spot, and the fit is easy to see for a team trying to balance star power with usable depth. The decision on that last opening could matter more than it usually does, since the Sixers are not merely filling out the back end of the roster but shaping the supporting cast around a group built to chase a championship run. [Read more 🡒]