Projecting the Sixers' 2024-25 starting lineup

The Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up to contend for an NBA championship that would be their first since 1983 with Julius Erving and Moses Malone.

The Sixers acquired star forward Paul George on a four-year maximum contract in free agency, locking down another position in their starting five. However, two spots remain unfilled for certain: the shooting guard and power forward.

Tyrese Maxey will operate as the point guard, George will likely play small forward, and Joel Embiid will lockdown the center spot. Here's a look at who could fill the final two positions:

Shooting guard

Barring the acquisition of an additional guard this offseason, veteran Eric Gordon and rookie Jared McCain will battle it out for the starting job. Gordon holds the upper hand by a wide margin with 16 years in the league, averaging 11 points on 44.3% shooting last season with the Phoenix Suns. He can also stretch the floor well, knocking down 37.8% of his shots from 3-point range on an average of 5.8 attempts in 2024.

There's always the possibility McCain overtakes Gordon for the spot by the time the playoffs come around.

Power forward

Undoubtedly the biggest mystery of the lineup is power forward after losing veteran Tobias Harris in free agency. Kelly Oubre Jr., who was re-signed on a two-year deal, seems like the best available choice. However, at 6-foot-7 with a mediocre defensive skillset, it could cause serious issues against bigger teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves. Alternatively, George stands at 6-foot-8 and is familiar with the position, but it's not the ideal solution.

The best possible outcome for Philadelphia is signing or trading for established talent such as Caleb Martin, Miles Bridges, or Dorian Finney-Smith. By adding one of these forwards, it allows Oubre to back up George at small forward while big man Paul Reed and the new acquisition split time alongside them.