Right now, the Sixers find themselves in yet another dilemma. Outside of Philly getting news that their Rookie of the Year hopeful, Jared McCain, is out indefinitely with a meniscus tear, the Sixers will also be without former MVP, Joel Embiid, as he’s also out indefinitely after suffering a sinus fracture Friday against Indiana. Besides the fact that they’ll be without two of their best players, Embiid’s absence causes severe problems at the center position for a team that’s already undersized. Andre Drummond has been solid for Philly this season, but the minutes without him on the floor have been dreadful. The Sixers won’t be able to duplicate Embiid’s impact on the game, but there are a few guys who could help with Philly’s big man issue while they wait for their star big man to return.
Who Will Help Fix Philly’s Big Man Issue?
1. Adem Bona
Aden Bona has been a player that Philly has looked to at times this season with the constant injuries of Embiid. He’s most likely the player that the Sixers will give backup big minutes to once Bona returns from injury, which currently lists him as day-to-day. He’s given solid production off the bench when asked, averaging 4.o points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.o blocks in four games that saw him eclipse 10+ minutes. He provides a solid rim presence on defense, but he does offer little offensively. He isn’t the ideal backup option, but not the worst either.
2. Bismack Biyombo
Now at 32, Bismack Biyombo‘s best days are far behind him, but the 13-year vet can still provide teams with solid defensive production off the bench. Despite being in the latter stages of his career, Biyambo still makes his presence felt at the rim and off the glass, as last year with Memphis, he averaged 6.4 rebounds and just over a block a game in under 24 minutes a game, for a Grizzlies team that was plagued with injuries. He may provide little to nothing on the offensive end, but he’ll still be a solid backup option.
3. JaVale McGee
The three-time champion, JaVale McGree, is now 36 years old and probably has only a few years left in his career. He may not be the athletic big man who was catching lobs from Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, but he can provide depth for a position that Philly lacks end. He might not see the floor much as a Sixer, but his presence could provide Philly with a security blanket at the five if more injuries occur.
4. Paul Reed
Many fans thought Paul Reed would be the backup center going into the 2024-25 season. That was before the Sixers decided to snatch up the four-time rebounding champ, Andre Drummond, in free agency. But now, with Embiid dealing with injuries, Drummond has assumed the starting center role, leaving a void off the bench. It only makes sense for Philly to bring back the fan favorite.
With Detroit already having Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, the Pistons decided it was best to waive the 25-year-old big. Despite sitting at just 6-foot-9, B-Ball Paul was pretty good off the bench for Philly last season, averaging 7.3 points and 6.0 rebounds on 54% from the field in just under 20 minutes a game. Now, there are reports that Philly would rather wait until after the February 6 trade deadline to pursue the former Sixer. But we could see them look to bring him in way sooner depending on the next stretch of games.
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