76ers vs. Bucks: Projecting Sixers’ Starting Lineup, Rotation

Who is likely to be in the 76ers' starting lineup for Thursday's opener against the Bucks?

With the preseason well in the rearview, the Philadelphia 76ers look forward to beginning their 2023-2024 NBA season with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.

After making some final tweaks to their roster over the last few days, the Sixers have finalized their squad for the start of the new basketball year.

Projected Starting Five

Throughout the 2023 preseason, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse mentioned that the Sixers possessed six potential starters. While he wouldn’t name names, several players are obvious choices, and the absence of a key member offers an opportunity to another veteran.

• PG: Tyrese Maxey

• SG: De’Anthony Melton

• SF: Tobias Harris

• PF: PJ Tucker

• C: Joel Embiid

The Missing Piece: James Harden did not make the trip to Milwaukee on Wednesday. Although he showed up to the 76ers’ practice facility for Wednesday’s session after spending time away from the team due to “personal reasons,” Harden was urged to stay back in Camden, New Jersey, to ramp up his conditioning for a later debut. 

Reserves In The Rotation

• Kelly Oubre

• Jaden Springer

• Danny Green

• Patrick Beverley

• Paul Reed

It’s game one of an 82-game season. A ten-man rotation might be a bit too much later on down the line, but I can’t see the Sixers operating as if it’s a playoff matchup in Milwaukee. The key three in this lineup could end up being Paul Reed, Kelly Oubre, and Patrick Beverley.

Nurse has taken a liking to Reed this past offseason, and he’s clearly the top option to roll out behind Joel Embiid. As for Kelly Oubre and Beverley, they bring veteran expertise and grittiness to the floor. Oubre had a solid preseason, proving that he can still stand out in a minimized role after his career-year in Charlotte. As for Beverley, he’s the Sixers’ strongest ball-handler out of the group of reserves. 

Danny Green and Jaden Springer are two players who might split minutes early on. While it was assumed Green could be a depth signing, at best, he proved there’s still some gas in the tank during the preseason. 

In the past, experience might’ve left Springer as an odd man out, but he showed too much promise during the preseason not to give him a shot when the stakes are higher. If the Sixers truly want to see what they have in the former first-rounder, throw him to the wolves early in a limited capacity when the games aren’t make-or-break and see how he survives.

Waiting In the Wings

• Mo Bamba

• Danuel House Jr.

• Furkan Korkmaz

• Filip Petrusev

Mo Bamba probably qualifies as the most disappointing addition for the Sixers this season so far. The team didn’t even get through a four-game preseason before Bamba saw his playing time diminish significantly. 

The wings Danuel House and Furkan Korkmaz will be there, ready to step up if needed. Both guys had something to prove going into the preseason. And unfortunately, both dealt with setbacks that affected their chances of proving their value to the new coaching staff. 

Petrusev was a player that boosted his stock during the preseason, but it likely wasn’t enough to get him an opportunity to make his real NBA debut on Thursday night. The Sixers invested some big bucks in Paul Reed, so it would be foolish not to allow him to expand his role. Petrusev will have to wait in the wings for his opportunity to show face. 

Back In Philly

• James Harden*

• Terquavion Smith

• Ricky Council

• Javonte Smart

The Delaware Blue Coats have a G League season to prepare for. The two-way guys were unlikely to gain any minutes in Thursday’s opener, so their time is better off spent at the practice facility, where they have an opportunity to further develop their skill sets.

James Harden has been encouraged by the Sixers not to join them. As the star guard was requested not to travel with the 76ers for the time being after his ten-day absence, Harden was listed as “not with the team” on Philadelphia’s injury report.