The Philadelphia 76ers have made a few additions to their roster that adds to their wing depth in order to improve the second group. However, there is also a possible need for a backup center behind Joel Embiid heading into the season.
At the moment, the Sixers have two options in the form of Paul Reed and Charles Bassey. Reed got the backup minutes in the playoffs and he showed some flashes of real potential, but he also had a net rating of minus-1.1 in the postseason.
Therefore, maybe the Sixers should look into another backup option for Embiid. The big fella is going to need his rest and the Sixers will need somebody to rely on to give him a break.
Bleacher Report posted this about Philadelphia’s backup center situation:
P.J. Tucker is an option, but he’s 37 and shouldn’t be taking a beating during the regular season. Paul Reed can fill minutes as an athletic yet undersized 5, but his regular foul trouble should have Philly looking at another option behind Embiid as well.
Hassan Whiteside remains the best of the backup center options on the free-agency market and has played on minimum deals the past two years, a key for a Sixers team inching dangerously closer to the luxury-tax apron when factoring in a new deal for James Harden.
Whiteside averaged 8.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in 65 games off the bench for the Utah Jazz in the 2021-22 season and he would be a reliable option. Philadelphia’s backup center minutes were filled rather easily in the 2021-22 season before they sent Andre Drummond to the Brooklyn Nets in the Harden deal. Now, they have to find a new option behind Embiid.
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