The Philadelphia 76ers have undoubtedly undergone major change this offseason, with the arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown instantly transforming them into title favorites. However, that also means that the team is likely to line up with a starkly different starting five in the coming season.
VJ Edgecombe enjoyed a fruitful first year at the franchise, finishing third in the Rookie of the Year race after averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game across 35 minutes of playing time per game. He started each of the 75 regular-season games he appeared in, and also started 11 games in the playoffs.
However, starts might become much rarer in the coming season, despite Edgecombe starting both of the 76ers' preseason games so far.
VJ Edgecombe may be better off leading Philadelphia’s bench unit
There are multiple reasons why it might be a good idea for Edgecombe to lead Philadelphia’s bench. Not only does that possibility, on paper, give the 76ers more balance with Dean Wade likely to slot in if Edgecombe indeed starts from the bench, but it may also give the 21-year-old a genuine opportunity to win the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Starting Wade alongside the likes of Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid may give the team a versatile defender and three-point shooter who can play off the 76ers’ ball handlers. Edgecombe had a tremendous first year with the organization and was the third option for Philadelphia behind Embiid and Maxey, especially in the event of injuries.
However, that also happened with the former Baylor star, who registered a healthy usage rate of 20.1%, a number that will inevitably drop dramatically with the likes of Brown and LeBron sharing the ball alongside Maxey and Embiid.
In such a scenario, the 76ers run the risk of having too many ball-dominant players on the court at the same time, and Wade is likely to be the answer. The former Cleveland Cavaliers star has shot from the three-point range at over 36% across his career (per Basketball Reference) and is a versatile defender who can allow Philadelphia’s other stars to thrive.
Article Continues BelowThere is no doubt that the presence of such high-caliber players will help Edgecombe, who will not only have impressive mentors but will also experience playing on a championship-caliber roster for the first time in his career. The fact that the opportunity has come in just his second season means Rich Paul is likely correct in his assessment that Edgecombe’s game will only thrive due to the presence of Brown and James.
The soon-to-be sophomore is likely to get a larger chunk of the ball if he comes off the bench, and will be freer to actually focus on his strengths: shooting and playmaking. Instead, Wade can easily slot in as the starter at least in the regular season. Further, Edgecombe himself is likely to be willing to make any sacrifice to actually help Philadelphia emerge as a legitimate title threat, especially considering he still has a huge future to look ahead to.
Of course, the 76ers have multiple stars who are likely to miss games, especially during the regular season, which may as well mean that Edgecombe is asked to start more often than not. However, when all their offensively gifted stars are fit and firing, Edgecombe is likely to benefit from leading the bench unit, which will help him add further dimensions to his game.
Therefore, while he may end up starting fewer games than the 75 he did last season, it could still prove to be a win-win for both the team and the player.