Philadelphia 76ers: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2018-19

3. Wilson Chandler

Sure, Wilson Chandler has been in the NBA for 11 seasons, but he’s still due for one that is career-altering. The good news for Chandler is that he’s now in position to totally flip the script. One of the ways he could make that reality is by ending his playoff hiatus with a team on the rise.

The 76ers traded for Chandler’s $12.8 million expiring contract with the Denver Nuggets during this summer’s free agency period. He hasn’t seen postseason action in six years due to the immense competition in the Western Conference, so he will surely look to make his long-awaited return with a team that recorded 52 wins and the third seed in the East last season.

More from Philadelphia 76ers

• That escalated quickly: How the Harden-Morey situation intensified
• 3 NBA superstars with legacies on the line heading into 2023–24
• Ranking the 4 riskiest boom-or-bust NBA teams in 2023–24
• NBA Rumors: Stalled trade talks may lead to Blazers, 76ers keeping stars
• NBA Trades: This Blazers, Heat, 76ers, and Clippers swap would alter NBA

Chandler could also transform into a highly valuable first or second man off the bench for the Sixers, and a reliable starter whenever necessary during the regular season.

During his time in Denver, he was forced to play a bit out of his expected role because of the lack of depth they held at the wing position.

Robert Covington was placed in a similar quandary last season. The Sixers were both top- and bottom-heavy with guards and bigs, but not so much at the core, which ultimately led to their downfall in the playoffs.

Covington is currently ahead of Chandler at the small forward rotation, but the pair should be able to balance the workload for one another in order to both find success on the floor. Playing on an expiring contract should also give Chandler more of an edge to perform this year.