With reigning MVP Joel Embiid out for a month, at the very least, the Philadelphia 76ers needed to make moves to keep from losing ground. They did just that at the trade deadline and in the buyout market. While the acquisitions of Buddy Hield, and Cam Payne, and the impending signing of Kyle Lowry won't replace Embiid, the goal is to keep the team from sliding in the standings in hopes that he will be ready to return for the playoffs.
Adding Hield, Lowry, and Payne should help them in the short term, though their season rests on the knees of their best player. Fortunately, they have first-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey there to help the Sixers weather the storm, and now Hield and Lowry are there to help take pressure off of him as they try to keep pace in a brutal Eastern Conference. With that in mind, let's take a look at the Sixers' up-to-date starting lineup and depth chart.
The Sixers updated their starting lineup and depth chart.
Point guards: Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Cam Payne, and Terquavion Smith
Shooting guards: Buddy Hield, Kelly Oubre Jr., De'Anthony Melton, Ricky Council IV
Small forwards: Tobias Harris and KJ Martin.
Power Forward: Nic Batum, Robert Covington, and Kenny Lofton Jr.
Center: Joel Embiid, Paul Reed, and Mo Bamba
After moving on from Forkan Korkmaz, Patrick Beverly, Jaden Springer, Daniel House Jr., and Marcus Morris, the Sixers rotation looks dramatically different post-trade deadline. Although it would take some time before the new-look Sixers rotation gels, there is hope that they will be better now than they were before the deadline, but that might not be the case.
With just 30 games remaining in their regular season, there is still enough time for that to happen. Be that as it may, it remains to be seen if Embiid will return, how effective he will be when he does or whether his new teammates will fit well around him.