76ers projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Philadelphia 76ers starting small forward: Tobias Harris

At long last, Tobias Harris enters the final year of his infamous five-year, $180 million contract. The Sixers will probably explore the trade market, but Harris remains extremely useful and not worthy of a simple salary dump — especially if the Sixers are planning for an immediate future without Harden.

Harris has plenty of maddening traits, but ultimately he’s an extremely efficient and consistent scorer who can get you 20 points any night. He’s a career 38.9 percent 3-point shooter and his volume has increased in recent years, with Harris showing a willingness to embrace a more refined role in the orbit of Embiid and Harden.

Listed at 6-foot-8, Harris’ refined offensive role has also brought renewed commitment to the defensive end. He’s prone to boneheaded mistakes, but Harris competes hard at the point of attack and he’s versatile enough to reliably guard two through four. He was frequently tasked with guarding the likes of Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown once the playoffs arrived. He probably doesn’t get enough credit for his workmanlike approach to high-difficulty matchups.

The Sixers need Harris to continue embracing spot-up 3s, with or without Harden. The 31-year-old is at his worst when he tries to create on a regular basis. He doesn’t have enough peripheral vision on drives to the rim and he has a tendency to look off teammates in untimely spots. He can beat closeouts and he’s strong enough to absorb contact for finishes inside, but ask him to do too much and it stalls the offense completely.

Primary backup small forward: Danuel House Jr.

This was the plan last season, when the Sixers signed Danuel House Jr. to the two-year biannual exception. It didn’t exactly work out, as House struggled mightily early in the season and spent a large chunk of the campaign warming the bench.

He came on strong down the stretch and even earned minutes in the playoffs, but it’s not exactly great that House is the de facto answer here. The Sixers let Jalen McDaniels walk for nothing after giving up real assets to get him at the trade deadline, then also let Georges Niang leave. So it’s House… and not much else.

Other players who could receive minutes at small forward: De’Anthony Melton, Furkan Korkmaz

Side note on Melton: there’s a very strong case to start him next to Harden and Maxey. He’s listed as a guard, but he’s a traditional wing for the Sixers’ purposes and he can defend plenty well in the three spot. If Harden ends up getting traded without another star guard coming back in return, Melton would presumably take over as the starting two-guard.