The Philadelphia 76ers have one of the most talented guards in the league. Between All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, two promising young defensive weapons in rookie VJ Edgecombe and sophomore Jared McCain, and 25-year-old Quentin Grimes sticking around with the team this season, there’s no doubt that production in the backcourt should be the least of their problems.
However, that fearsome backcourt rotation won’t be at full strength to start the season. McCain will be out for about another month due to a thumb injury, but if he returns, the 76ers will have an advantage when it comes to guard play on a near-nightly basis. All of these players have different skills, giving the coaching staff plenty of leg room to make the scoring attack more dynamic and less predictable.
That said, what they have besides those four players is downright sickening. Their third stringers in the backcourt are Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry, who are 37 and 39 years old, respectively. The front office promised to bring these veterans back for another round this season, but with each passing day, their addition only becomes more puzzling.
That’s even more true considering that the player they let go to solidify their spot, Jared Butler, has shot the lights out for his new ball club this preseason.
The 76ers ruined their chances with Jared Butler
Butler is currently on a non-guaranteed deal with Phoenix, but since the Suns still have a few open roster spots on their regular roster, he might be able to sneak into their opening night lineupespecially considering his most recent performance.
During the Suns’ preseason finale, Butler shined in the absence of Devin Booker, the former 76ers guard who finished the night with 35 big points, seven rebounds and nine assists while draining five of his nine three-point attempts. It was a perfect way for him to finish his audition piece in Phoenix.
But for 76ers fans, it’s hard to watch this and not be even more disappointed with the front office’s decision to simply let him go despite a solid mini-stint with the team last season. Butler has always been a good under-the-radar playmaker who can finish around the basket, and since the team needed a player of that ilk, he could have made an impact here.
Oh well, the damage has been done. And for now, there’s nothing we can do but see if their decision pays off. But at this point, suffice it to say that the 76ers certainly made the wrong choice.
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