The Philadelphia 76ers may be staring at a problem most teams would love to have: too much scoring talent and not enough clean minutes to go around.
By the time the 2026-27 season arrives, Philadelphia is projected to have LeBron James and Jaylen Brown alongside an already dangerous core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe. That kind of firepower sounds unstoppable on paper, but it also puts Edgecombe in a tricky spot. His role could shrink, and that’s why the team should seriously consider a move that will make plenty of fans bristle - bringing him off the bench.
That idea may sound jarring for one of last season’s top rookies, but it fits the reality of the roster. James, Brown, Embiid, and Maxey all averaged more than 20 points per game last season, and Philadelphia simply has a packed starting group. If the Sixers want to squeeze the most out of that collection of scorers, Edgecombe might actually be better served as the sixth man, where he would have more freedom to create his own offense and put up numbers without getting crowded out.
There’s also a practical upside beyond Edgecombe’s individual production. Bench scoring was a major issue for Philadelphia last season, and shifting him to the second unit would address that weakness while smoothing out the starting lineup’s shot distribution. The starters would be more balanced, and the bench would finally have a go-to option.
That change would also open the door for the Sixers to start a more complementary piece next to their stars. A low-usage player like Dean Wade would fit that idea, since he wouldn’t need the ball to make an impact. That kind of move would also add size, which could help on the glass and raise the team’s defensive ceiling.
The optics wouldn’t be pretty, and there’s no guarantee Nick Nurse would even be eager to make that call, given his preference for starting his best five players. But the Sixers may have to accept some discomfort if they want to maximize their championship push next season.
Edgecombe’s long-term outlook as a cornerstone doesn’t change. For now, though, a role adjustment deserves real consideration.
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