All things considered, the Sixers and Sixers fans should be thrilled with the construction of the roster going into next season. Here’s everything we know thus far about what to expect from the 2024-25 Sixers.
Brand New Roster
The Sixers 2024-25 current roster looks like this:
- C: Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, Adem Bona
- PF: Caleb Martin, KJ Martin
- SF: Paul George, Ricky Council IV, Justin Edwards*
- SG: Kelly Oubre Jr., Eric Gordon, Jared McCain, David Jones*
- PG: Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Reggie Jackson, Jeff Dowtin Jr.*
- * = Two-Way contract
When the season gets going, the Sixers will continuously develop meaning they’ll need to have roster flexibility as they contend for a championship. Daryl Morey made it clear they will leave a roster spot open to be able to address needs that arise along the way.
Morey also stated the Sixers will have a plan in place to give Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid the best chance of being healthy going into the playoffs. The newly added depth, something the team has always lacked, will play a massive role in making that possible. But with the team being built primarily through free agency, the roster is leaning toward the older side. This is something they will need to be conscious of throughout the season.
The Paul George Effect
Paul George has only been a Sixer for 3 weeks but he’s wasted no time getting acclimated with his new teammates. In his press conference he spoke about his close relationship with Embiid in addition to having Maxey as a guest on his podcast this week. A post on Kelly Oubre’s instagram shows the two working out together in LA. So yes, the chemistry on this team seems like it will be just fine.
With George’s presence, the Sixers are hoping to take the pressure off Embiid and Maxey in late game situations. He’s going to be the guy they can turn to when they need a bucket from the top of the key. George is determined to help the big fella get through the season healthy, not wanting to put all that pressure on one person to do everything for the team. Taking that heavy demand off Embiid should help keep him healthier — in theory.
But luckily, Morey added depth in the backup center position in case the theory proves false. Andre Drummond and Adem Bona should play a major role in bringing a healthy Embiid to the playoffs.
Nurse’s Plan
Nick Nurse has quite a team to work with next season. So far, he has a few ideas about the schematic approach the Sixers will take with Embiid, George, and Maxey as the big three.
When it comes to inserting George to the lineup, Nurse said he needs to see it play out. George offers a different skill set than the player he replaced in the starting lineup. Contrary to Tobias Harris, he can almost be a secondary point guard and a primary ball handler at times. Nurse knows being able to add a player of George’s caliber correctly determines the ceiling for a team and it’s going to take some trial and error.
Additionally, Nurse acknowledged the importance of keeping key veterans healthy going into the playoffs. He mentioned how they are preparing to use every minute of training camp to get this new team ready to go.
Fans are going to need to be patient as things might not work perfectly at first. But for now, everyone can be optimistic about the new additions and where the team is heading as fall draws nearer.
PHOTO: Philadelphia 76ers
The post What To Expect From New Look Sixers appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.