The Philadelphia 76ers still have some roster questions to figure out as they move forward into the latter part of the offseason. The Sixers have made a few moves in an effort to grow the roster and add more depth, but Quentin Grimes is still a free agent. He is likely to return, but what happens with him will decide what happens with the rotation.
Assuming Grimes returns, now is the time to project the starting lineup. The three certainties will be that Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George will be in the lineup when opening night rolls around–health permitting.
With the way the roster sits, and factoring in the likely return of Grimes, the starting lineup probably looks something like this:
Tyrese MaxeyJared McCainQuentin GrimesPaul GeorgeJoel Embiid
One can make the case for both rookie VJ Edgecombe and veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. to have a spot in the starting lineup, but this one makes the most sense. When considering the offensive brilliance that Maxey, Embiid, and George bring to the table, the Sixers need legitimate shooters around them. Maxey, of course, can knock down a 3 from all angles, while McCain proved himself as a 3-point shooter in his brief rookie season, and Grimes shot 37.3% from deep in 28 games with the Sixers after he trade acquisition from the Dallas Mavericks.
There is a chance that Edgecombe eventually moves into the starting lineup in his rookie season, but for now, he needs to come off the bench until he can shore up his 3-point shooting. That was an area he struggled in while playing in two summer league games. Oubre, meanwhile, will still serve a role in Philadelphia due to his scoring ability along with his rebounding and movement off the ball.