How Sixers roster shapes up heading into training camp

WITH THE Eagles' devastating loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, no doubt most Philly sports fans are turning their attention to the start of training camp for the 76ers.

OK, that is obviously sarcasm, but coach Brett Brown will assemble a group of 20 players and take them down to Richard Stockton University beginning Sept. 29 to prepare for his third season at the helm.

The offseason was another eventful one, topped with Joel Embiid's second foot surgery, which will cost him another season. The Sixers also drafted Duke's Jahlil Okafor with the third overall pick and traded for Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry and Gerald Wallace.

There are still many questions, lots of young potential to be developed and, most likely, many more losses to be had. But this probably is the most stable roster Brown has had heading into a season (knowing veterans were going to be moved in his first year), with a player in Okafor who could be a formidable low-post presence, and an ever-improving Nerlens Noel. Who will get those guys the ball is still the biggest question with this team, as well as the play of Stauskas, who struggled his first season in Sacramento.

Let's break down the position players coming into camp. Not counting Embiid, 19 players are with the team. There probably will be a move or two before camp begins, but here's a look:

* Point guard: Tony Wroten, Isaiah Canaan, Pierre Jackson, Scottie Wilbekin, Kendall Marshall.

Wroten is coming off a torn ACL that he suffered in January. So is Marshall. Wroten can play both guard positions, more likely fitting in better at the "two." Canaan is the best shooter of the group, while Wilbekin is super streaky in that area. Jackson is still getting back to 100 percent after tearing his Achilles' during the Orlando Summer League in 2014. He is really explosive and exciting when healthy.

Nerlens Noel's play really improved at the offensive end last season, when pass-first Ish Smith manned the point. Of this group, Brown might look to the best passer, both on the break and in the halfcourt, to be his starter as getting the ball to Okafor, and Noel will be key.

* Shooting guard: Nik Stauskas, Hollis Thompson, Jean-Pierre Tokoto.

Though he averaged only 4.4 points a game last season with the Kings, Stauskas is expected to do a lot for this offense. Devoid of shooters since Brown's arrival, the Sixers, with Stauskas and Robert Covington, might get outside marksmanship that is vital for opening up the inside for the big men.

In his final 22 games last season, Stauskas made 24 of his 57 three-pointers (42 percent), when his playing time became more consistent. He is also capable of taking the ball into the lane and is a pretty strong finisher.

After an impressive rookie season in which he shot 40.1 percent from three-point range, Thompson matched that percentage last season, while taking 120 more treys. Tokoto showed good athleticism in the summer league in July, but is a suspect outside shooter.

* Small forward: Robert Covington, Jerami Grant, JaKarr Sampson, Gerald Wallace.

This is a pretty strong position for the club. Covington's shooting is NBA-legit, and Grant might be the most improved player on the club this season. He is long, long, long, can defend and is getting better at the offensive end. Those two will give Brown different styles to go with, pending what the team needs on a given night. Like Grant, Sampson is long, but needs to improve more offensively. How Wallace might fit is a question only time will answer.

* Power forward: Nerlens Noel, Richaun Holmes, Carl Landry, Christian Wood.

Noel struggled at the end of last season when Brown moved him away from center to get him ready to play with Joel Embiid this season. His partner down low, of course, will now be Jahil Okafor. Defensively, this shouldn't be a problem for Noel, as he's athletic enough to step away from the basket on the defensive end. He will have to do a better job of rebounding, though, from this spot.

Holmes impressed in the Utah Summer League, but shattered an elbow in a gruesome fall. He should be ready to go for training camp and will be competing to stay on the roster. Landry probably will be a nice, veteran presence, while Wood, though very athletic, seems to be a longshot to make the club.

* Center: Jahlil Okafor, Furkan Aldemir, Guillermo Hernangomez.

Okafor will be the focal point for the season, and he did nothing in the summer leagues to deter that. His low-post moves are NBA-ready, with terrific feet and a real feel for where defenders are. Where he might struggle is that he's an under-the-rim player. His variety of moves will get him to the basket, but he rarely throws down dunks at the finish. If teams are doubling, he could get a lot of shots blocked.

Aldemir is a really, really good rebounder, but has an invisible offensive game.

Blog: ph.ly/Sixerville