Philadelphia 76ers: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Joel Embiid #21, Jimmy Butler #23, and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during a game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. The 76ers need a new bench

As a result of their two midseason trades, the 76ers were left with little to work with behind their elite starting unit in the postseason. Brett Brown was put in a no-win situation. Either he runs his best players into the ground playing them exorbitant amounts of minutes, or he leaves Philly susceptible to giving up large runs while giving them a breather.

Mike Scott was about the only reliable option off the pine for Philly during the playoffs. He can defend multiple positions with a Philadelphia-like swagger to him and shot a respectable 35.1 percent from deep. Outside of him, nobody really proved worthy enough to warrant another contract this summer.

Assuming the Sixers retain most if not all of its starting five, they won’t have much money to work on fixing a bench that ranked 27th in points per game during the regular season. The most glaring of needs is at the center position, where they could really use a backup to the often compromised Joel Embiid.

Due to the number of go-to scoring options at their disposal, the Sixers don’t need a Lou Williams-type player that can control the offense. Brown can simply stagger the minutes of his best players to make sure an offensive focal point is on the court at all times.

What Philly really needs is guys who can play off the likes of Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons. It needs versatile 3-and-D wings capable of playing 20-plus minutes in a playoff game. The Sixers already have the star power. Now, it’s time to fill in the cracks of what can hopefully be a championship puzzle.