Sixers Notes: Point Guards, McConnell, B. Brown

Although they’ll be missing No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons to start the season, the Sixers are still a team worth keeping an eye on this fall. Former top pick Joel Embiid is set to finally make his NBA regular-season debut, as is top international prospect Dario Saric. The club also remains on the lookout for a potential trade involving Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel, though that may happen closer to the deadline.

Here’s the latest out of Philadelphia as the Sixers prepare for the regular season:

• Asked today about the Sixers’ point guard situation with Jerryd Bayless sidelined, head coach Brett Brown said the team is “obviously looking at the market place.” Does that mean Philadelphia is exploring possible trades or signings to add depth at the position? Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer examines that question.
• As long as Bayless remains out of action and the Sixers don’t make any notable additions, T.J. McConnell appears to be the favorite to start at the point when the season gets underway, Pompey writes in a separate piece. McConnell doesn’t have a guaranteed salary, but his spot in the rotation makes him a near-lock to earn a spot on Philadelphia’s 15-man roster.
• With a new management group in place in Philadelphia, there has been speculation that 2016/17 could be a make-or-break year for the club’s head coach. However, in an interview with Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk, Brown said he feels “so aligned with Jerry and Bryan [Colangelo] and what we’re trying to achieve.” Brown, who has three years remaining on his contract, added that he and the Colangelos are “on the same page,” and that the franchise is heading in a positive direction.