76ers: Which Backcourt Players Changed Stock in 2023 Preseason?
Finally, the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2023-2024 NBA season is here.
But before we get into another regular season run for the Sixers, we’ll put the finishing touches on examining how the preseason played out for each and every player.
Earlier, we looked at the Sixers’ frontcourt players and put them on stock watch. Here, we’ll do the same for the guys in the backcourt.
Stock Up, Stock Down
Sixers guard Patrick Beverley facing the Boston Celtics during the preseason.
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Patrick Beverley
After several seasons of getting linked to the Sixers as a potential trade candidate, Beverley finally landed in the City of Brotherly Love, where his fearlessness and enforcer-like attitude is sure to go over well with the fans of Philadelphia.
Over the last few seasons, Beverley struggled to stick with one team. Following a four-year run with the Los Angeles Clippers, he spent a season in Minnesota, 45 games back in LA with the Lakers, and did a 22-game stint with the Chicago Bulls. After averaging seven points in 15 minutes during the preseason, Beverley should crack the Sixers’ rotation. He might be in the later part of his career, but Beverley still brings value to the table.
Verdict: Stock Up
Danny Green attempting a layup during his second preseason outing with the Sixers this year.
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Danny Green
Danny Green was one of the Sixers’ biggest question marks heading into the new season. His first stint with the Sixers concluded with him tearing his ACL during a playoff elimination game. When he returned to the court halfway through the following season, he lasted three games with the Memphis Grizzlies before moving on to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played for eight regular-season games and four playoff matchups.
Green’s contract with the Sixers was a prove-you-still-got-it deal. Does he have some gas left in the tank? I believe his preseason proved he still holds value both on the court and in the locker room. He moved well, got disruptive on defense, and knocked down 46 percent of his threes during the preseason. I’m not sure Green will be an everyday rotation player, but he could be an important reserve piece throughout the year.
Verdict: Stock Up
James Harden getting up shots before a game last season.
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James Harden
How can we judge a guy who didn’t play in a single preseason game? Well, Harden’s on a different scale. In this case, we’ll evaluate whether Harden’s trade stock went up or down, considering he’s requested a change of scenery numerous times throughout the offseason.
It’s been a roller coaster of a situation. Harden went from calling out a key member of the Sixers’ front office and holding out from the start of training camp to showing up and playing ball as if all was well. While Harden reminded the Sixers and the public that he still wanted to be traded, The Beard was taking an approach that was foreign, considering his previous standoff techniques. Then Harden stopped showing face due to personal reasons during the final week of the preseason. I’m not sure a fully-participating Harden, with one or two preseason games to show for, would’ve helped convince the Clippers to up their offer, but the way everything played out in the end surely caused Harden’s value to dip once again.
Verdict: Stock Down
Danuel House Jr. during the Sixers' preseason opener against the Celtics.
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Danuel House Jr.
The veteran reserve’s first season in Philadelphia can be described as disappointing. When the Sixers landed House via free agency, he was viewed as an athletic wing who would boost the bench — especially when playoff time rolled around. The Sixers went as far as losing a second-round pick for House, as they were hit with a tampering charge by the league.
In 56 games last year, House averaged five points. He struggled from deep, averaging just 34 percent of his threes on two attempts per game. In an 11-game playoff run for the Sixers, House made just seven appearances, as he fell out of the rotation in the games that mattered the most. Therefore, the 2023 preseason was an important stretch for House, who had to prove his value to Nick Nurse. In two games, House averaged one point. He was successful on just 17 percent of his shots from the field and couldn’t hit any threes.
Verdict: Stock Down
Furkan Korkmaz facing the Brooklyn Nets at the end of last season.
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Furkan Korkmaz
Although Furkan Korkmaz has been with the 76ers since 2017, he finds himself scratching and clawing for another chance to land a spot in the team’s rotation. From his sophomore effort up until the 2021-2022 season, Korkmaz averaged 20 minutes on the court. Last year, he appeared in 37 games, averaging fewer than ten minutes for the first time since his 14-game run as a rookie.
It was clear Korkmaz wasn’t favored by former coach Doc Rivers. This offseason offered Korkmaz a fresh start for Nurse, but health concerns throughout the preseason held him back. A lower-body injury kept Korkmaz off the floor for several practices and multiple games. When he finally debuted this year, it came in the preseason finale. The good news is that Korkmaz knocked down one of his two threes, which is his bread and butter. The bad news is, guys he’s competing for a spot against players who managed to showcase a lot more.
Verdict: Stock Down
Tyrese Maxey during the Sixers' preseason opener in Boston.
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Tyrese Maxey
At last, Tyrese Maxey has entered “preseason doesn’t matter for him” territory. We still don’t know what Maxey’s ceiling truly is, considering he’s gotten better each and every year since sliding down to pick No. 21 in the 2020 NBA Draft. We know Maxey can score — and we know he can shoot.
The only thing worth paying attention to from the young guard was his ability to make plays on offense, considering he might have to step up and play point guard in the absence of James Harden. It’s a small sample size for sure, but Maxey averaged six assists per outing in four preseason games, which is a step up from his four assists per game last season. Averaging more assists on a similar turnover percentage is a plus for Maxey’s playmaking development. There’s a lot of basketball to be played and a lot to prove, but Maxey looks the same in some areas (which is great) and better in his weaker spots (also great).
Verdict: Stock Up
Sixers guard De'Anthony Melton attacking the Nets in transition.
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De’Anthony Melton
For a guy that has five seasons under his belt, including three playoff appearances, De’Anthony Melton should only have to use preseason as a runaround to get into shape. Instead, he looked like one of the Sixers’ most improved players coming out of the offseason. In his debut effort with the Sixers, Melton started in 58 of 77 games, averaging ten points, three assists, and four rebounds while draining 39 percent of his threes. Melton shined on the defensive end as well — especially around the perimeter.
During the preseason, Melton put everything on display. He looked like a man on a mission, flying around on both ends of the floor, being a disruptor on defense, and scoring at will. In three games, he averaged 18 points. Attempting eight threes per game, Melton was red-hot, going 44 percent from deep on high-volume. Also, coming off a season where he averaged a career-high 1.6 steals per game, Melton snagged seven steals in the preseason, drawing an average of 2.3 per game. It’s unclear how much a back injury plagued Melton last season, but the healthiest version of the guard looks like somebody who’s on pace to potentially have a career year with a new contract on the line.
Verdict: Stock Up
Sixers reserve Kelly Oubre throwing a dunk down against the Celtics.
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Kelly Oubre
The narrative surrounding Kelly Oubre when he signed with the Sixers was that he doesn’t play a winning style of basketball. It’s easy to assume that, considering he’s made the playoffs just twice in his career, with his last postseason appearance dating back to 2018. I can’t say the preseason will change that narrative about Oubre, but I can say he flashed some promise.
With more of a reserve role, a step in a different direction from his run with Charlotte last year, Oubre averaged a solid 14 points in four games. Considering he averaged over 20 points with the Hornets throughout the regular season, his ability to put up numbers wasn’t something anybody questioned. Instead, the Sixers needed to see efficiency. In a couple of outings, Oubre was a flamethrower from deep. All in all, though, he knocked down 32 percent of his threes throughout the preseason. He might not be a Sixth Man of the Year favorite, but Oubre looks to be a guy who should bring value on both ends of the floor off the bench.
Verdict: Stock Up
Jaden Springer guarding Jayson Tatum during the preseason.
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Jaden Springer
And the Most Improved Player award goes to… Jaden Springer. The bar was obviously low for Springer, considering he spent most of his two-year career playing in the NBA G League rather than suiting up for the Sixers, but expectations were still somewhat high, considering Springer was the team’s latest first-round pick, who appeared in just 18 games prior to his third preseason effort.
Once he managed to shake off some nerves early on, Springer was a confident menace on the defensive end of the floor, being a pest for ball-handlers and even protecting the rim from an All-Star dunker at one point. He might be humble and inexperienced at this level of hoops, but Springer surely didn’t lack confidence in his defense throughout the preseason. Then, offensively, he looked much more improved, producing ten points per game in an average of 20 minutes of action off the bench. Last season, Springer prioritized working on his jump shot, especially from deep. He attempted eight shots from beyond the arc and made all but one of them. Springer wasn’t a rotational guy last year. He might be the one player to win a spot this year.
