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Sixers training camp is less than two weeks away. Finally, we can start talking about actual things that are happening. Similar to last season, the roster is a bit uncertain headed into camp. 22 players are either solidly on the roster or linked to the team - last year, the team cut Keith Bogans and Jarvis Varnado early in the summer to make room for Malcolm Lee and Drew Gordon. The same might happen this year.
But first, here's what the rumored roster looks like as of now:
| Point Guards | Wings | Bigs | ||
| Kendall Marshall | Hollis Thompson | Robert Covington | Nerlens Noel | Jahlil Okafor |
| Tony Wroten | Nik Stauskas | Jerami Grant | Rich Holmes | Furkan Aldemir |
| Isaiah Canaan | J.P. Tokoto | JaKarr Sampson | Carl Landry | Joel Embiid |
| Pierre Jackson | Jordan McRae | Gerald Wallace | Christian Wood | |
| Scottie Wilbekin | Arsalan Kazemi | |||
| T.J. McConnell | ||||
Key:
Bold italics underlines - injured and expected to miss part or all of training camp
Italicized - expected to sign contract with the team and attend training camp
Underlined - not expected to be with the team at the start of training camp; may be signed at a future date
Takeaways:
1. Yes, there are again 22 players listed. Arsalan Kazemi instagrammed his required tender, making him a likely signee. T.J. McConnell's agent said that T.J. McConnell agreed a six-figure deal with the team, but Derek Bodner reported that he hasn't signed a contract. Will he not be in camp, or is he waiting for someone to be released? Jordan McRae was assumed to be signing the one-year required tender as well, but Michael Kaskey-Blomain reported yesterday that McRae wouldn't be in camp.
So again - even two weeks out, the team members are in flux. The Sixers will need to make two cuts from the above list to meet the NBA's 20-man training camp roster limit. And given some of the names above, Brett Brown's "gypsies" may be back for one more season.
2. Kendall Marshall is my presumed point guard starter, when healthy. He's much better suited to be a starter than Wroten, whose skill set more reflects that of a sixth man. Behind them, you can line them up in any order. As Canaan is the incumbent, I listed him highest among the remaining point guards. But his short-term contract should mean that he's a potential cut by camp's end.
3. Robert Covington is a starter, per Sam Hinkie, which leaves open the other starting spot for some combination of Nik Stauskas, Hollis Thompson, Jerami Grant, and JaKarr Sampson. Odds are the Sixers will opt for a second shooter, stretching the floor more than they otherwise could around Jahlil Okafor. Okafor's development as an NBA player in basically every respect - defensively, his fit with Nerlens Noel, as an efficient post player - is the key for this season. Thompson is likely the best fit right now even if Stauskas is long-term, and given their focus on Okafor, Hollis should get the nod.
4. At least seven players from the above will not be on the 76ers' roster at the beginning of the regular season. My best guess at those players:
- Four guards - split among the group of McRae, Tokoto, Canaan, Jackson, Wilbekin, and McConnell
- Gerald Wallace, as a buyout
- Arsalan Kazemi, for he's not supposed to be here
- Christian Wood, as he's likely been signed to be sent to Delaware as a designated player
5. The Sixers can't update the official roster until releases are sent out announcing signings, but this page is just sad. Did we not trade Willy Hernangomez?