The Sixers will soon begin one of their most anticipated seasons in decades. With LeBron James now in Philadelphia, roles across the team must change, not for the sake of LeBron, but to give the Sixers their best chance to win a championship.

Adding a player who has spent more than two decades dictating how an offense operates inevitably requires sacrifice from those around him, and two Sixers in particular may have to give up more than others.

VJ Edgecombe

Few rookies in recent memory made as immediate an impact on winning as VJ Edgecombe did for the Sixers last year. Typically, a player like Edgecombe would see his opportunities continue to grow in Year 2, but with Jaylen Brown and LeBron James now on the team, his role is actually lesser than it was last year.

Instead of being the second option on nights without Joel Embiid and Paul George, he will now find himself as a third-option or lower most games and will be tasked with doing the dirty work that does not always show up in the box score.

Edgecombe should view this as a good thing. He does not have to worry about playing for a contract extension next summer because he isn’t eligible to sign one until 2028 anyway. As long as he continues to improve, especially in ancillary areas that already make him great, he should put himself in position for that extension when the time comes.

Edgecombe needs to focus on defense, rebounding, hustle plays, and becoming a knockdown shooter. It’s probably not the role he envisioned after his rookie year, but it’s one he should embrace. Every championship team needs a guy willing to do those things.

Joel Embiid

The sun, moon and stars have revolved around Joel Embiid for a decade in Philadelphia. Through all the ups and downs, the Sixers have been built in his image. The goal is still to win with Embiid, but it is going to look a little different now. No longer will Embiid have to overtax himself just to get on the court and help the Sixers scratch and claw their way to wins. With Jaylen Brown and LeBron now on the team, he has all the breathing room he could ask for to focus on his health and being the best version of himself that he can be.

With a natural passer and pick-and-roll maestro now on the team, Embiid’s role on offense has to materially change. He will still look to dominate from his spot in the mid-post and at the nail, but those possessions are now going to start with LeBron driving the ball instead of the typical entry pass into a face-up opportunity.

Just as James Harden mastered the short-roll pocket pass to Embiid during their time together, LeBron will be the one deciding whether that’s the best play or whether he should continue driving the ball to the rim, which he can do at a level Harden could not when he was here.

The Sixers also have more options on the wings than they did during the Harden era, which could mean even fewer touches for Embiid with LeBron running the show. He should embrace this sort of egalitarian approach because, at this stage, all that matters is winning a championship.

MORE: 2 Sixers who will benefit the most alongside LeBron James

Keywords

Philadelphia 76ers,

Sixers,

LeBron James,

Joel Embiid,

VJ Edgecombe,

NBA