NBA Power Rankings 2: Jordan Poole leads breakout candidates

Once upon a time, the Philadelphia 76ers were known as the team with the focus on youth, delving into the depths of NBA tanking. The fruit of that tanking forms the core of their current roster, but also the pain of their current struggle. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, drafted in back-to-back years; one has been chosen to build this team around, and the other is almost certainly no longer a part of this team’s future.

Even with their success in the win column the past few years, the 76ers have been able to keep a steady stream of young talent coming in. Shake Milton and Tyrese Maxey are both intriguing options in the backcourt, with Maxey potentially a tough two-way point guard who could start this season. Matisse Thybulle is already one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and his offensive game could continue to trend upwards. All three will get some amount of playing time this year.

Breakout Player: Paul Reed. Somehow Reed, one of college basketball’s best defensive players and a forward capable of creating his own offense, fell to the 58th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He went to the G League Bubble and was the best player there. On a team packed with frontcourt players he couldn’t carve out very many minutes last season, but with Simmons out of the equation, he should get his chance this season. He could absolutely become the long-term starter next to Joel Embiid, and hopefully, he gets to prove that this season.