Consider this a trial run. Throughout the rest of the offseason I’ll have a few blog posts discussing each player on the active roster. This entry is about the new guys, as you can tell by its title. I’ll have something on the returning players in September. 

Six Sixers played for different teams last year. LeBron James and Jaylen Brown (it still feels surreal to type) are the obvious ones. They’re the reason for excitement. We know them. 

The other four present more of a mystery box. Each will contribute. Mostly as reserves, but an occasional start or even a full-time role given the injury and age questions of Joel Embiid and LeBron is within reach. 

The focus on the Sixers bench is mostly at the center spot. Understandably so. It may define the season. But outside of that spot, I haven’t felt this good about a Sixers bench since I don’t know when. 

Especially when you consider that one of James and Brown will be on the floor at all times. 

Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry took up roster spots last season. Johni Broome, too. Cam Payne needed to be signed from overseas to give a jolt. They’re in a much better spot this year. I’ll touch on Justin Edwards, Dominick Barlow, and Jabari Walker next time, but the Sixers benefit greatly by shifting their roles and responsibilities down a peg. Nick Nurse must be thrilled. 

Alright, the new guys.

Anfernee Simons

Marc Stein had reported the Mavericks showed interest in Simons as the tempering period began. I never considered him as an option. Things changed with the Brown trade. And also Jameer Nelson gave Anfernee’s parents a call to seal the deal. Retractors will point to his height and the fact that he is a defensive liability. That is fair. It’s hard to envision a postseason lineup where Simons and Tyrese Maxey excel as backcourt pairing for an extended stretch. But Simons gets buckets. He’ll play alongside VJ Edgecombe. He’ll play alongside Brown. He’ll work off of Embiid. His elite shot making will be essential. 

Simons made at least four threes in 14 games last year, all with the Celtics, which is almost 30 percent of games he played in Boston. New Heat members Klay Thompson made at least four triples in 40 percent of his games off the bench, while Tim Hardaway Jr. did so in 35 percent of his games. (This Heat team could be quite good). Reed Sheppard was just above 30 percent. The other guys to make at least four threes in 14 or more games are Isaiah Joe and Naz Reid, both of which reach those numbers around 20 percent of the time. Impressively, Grayson Allen reached four threes in half of his 24 games off the bench.

LeBron James

I could write a blog post a day for the next three years, and I still wouldn’t run out of LeBron stats. I’ll settle for a fun one in honor of his return to the Eastern Conference.

From 2004 until 2018, LeBron James played 10,049 minutes and scored 6911 points in the postseason. The Sixers totaled 10,850 minutes, scoring 4135 points during that span. In fact, LeBron scored more postseason points than 13 franchises. He did not make the playoffs until 2006. 

Jaylen Brown

Advanced numbers haven’t always liked Brown’s game. This most recent season, however, he finished with his highest PER at 22. Five players this decade finished a season with at least 2000 points, 475 rebounds, and 350 assists: Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, and Brown. 

Brown’s season featured the fewest win shares and lowest true-shooting percentage. He took the most shots in basketball last year. He also made the most field goals, too. How Brown approaches this season will be telling. The Sixers need a wing that will make difficult shots. But how he fits when they don’t need that will be the question. 

Dean Wade

It was quickly overshadowed, but Wade was the first move Mike Gansey made as the tampering period began this summer. I remember doing the dishes while the ESPN notification buzzed on my Garmin. That feels almost too on the nose. His importance cannot be overstated. Before LeBron joined, he was projected to start at power forward. He’ll be essential as a connector in multiple lineups. He doesn’t need the ball. He defends multiple positions. And he shoots it well enough from three. 

He also never turns the ball over. Last year he finished with 16 turnovers in 1318 minutes played. 

To put that into perspective, only Steve Novak and Matt Bonner have had seasons with 16 or fewer turnovers while logging at least 1300 minutes in NBA history. 

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

He struggled last year in Memphis. Surgery to his right pinky finger sidelined him for the second half of the season. His year in Orlando could have gone better, too. But Caldwell-Pope is an ideal off the bench player to help swing games. 

Since Caldwell-Pope entered the league, he’s one of five players to make at least 1500 threes while generating at least 1000 steals. Stephen Curry (he has made a lot more threes), James Harden, Paul George, and LeBron James are the others. 

Ariel Hukporti

Funny how things work. The Sixers tried like hell to force Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson into foul trouble this past May all so Hukporti would need to play. Now the Sixers need him to be an actual contributor, especially knowing how they will handle Joel Embiid this regular season. 

Seven active players have had a game with at least 15 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and a steal while playing fewer than 30 minutes: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Clint Capela, Joel Embiid, Jarrett Allen, Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, and Hukporti. (Hukporti is the lone player to do so in a losing effort). 

He’ll have plenty of opportunities to leave his mark on this season.

Feel swell, friends!