Edge of tomorrow: Sixers have many needs, but betting on VJ’s next leap may fill several of them

When a team doesn’t get where it wants to go during a season, the ending brings about thoughts of how to move forward. For the Sixers, the needs are somewhat plentiful.

The point guard spot needs addressing, as does a better perimeter defender and outside shooter. A more consistent scorer would go a long way towards helping Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and a player who knows how to hunt down deep rebounds is certainly a must.

It seems like a lot. And after getting swept in the second round by a divisional rival in the New York Knicks, the shopping list probably should be lengthy.

They may, however, already have the answers to some of their needs, so searching through free agents and hoping to strike it rich in the draft may not be such a priority.

When you hear coach Nick Nurse, Sixers players and opposing coaches talk so glowingly about rookie VJ Edgecombe, it’s not a surprise that he just may be the answer to many of their needs, as a summer of hard work and improvement promised by him just may be a huge part of the offseason build.

Edgecombe shined so brightly during his first campaign and handled himself in such a professional and mature manner that a big growth spurt in his game is rightfully expected.

He has a clutch gene that is usually shown later in a career. He is a sponge, listens to all that is thrust upon him and eagerly learns from his older teammates. He hasn’t felt the need to take over a game at points, but has certainly shown the ability to do so if called upon as his career progresses. There really isn’t a flaw. And this offseason for him has his teammates as excited as it does the 20-year-old Edgecombe.

“The work has to be put in. I have to put in the work,” Edgecombe said I” really love my teammates and I really love all the things they say about me, but I’ve got to keep putting in the work, keep getting better, so that whatever they say can come to pass. I’m glad to be here in Philly. It was my first year and it was tough, obviously. Losing just now is tough.

“I’m going to take some time, look back at it in a couple of weeks or so and then just get better,” Edgecombe said. “I’m going to work, I’m gonna work, I’m gonna work, I’m gonna work.”

That’s a lot of work. But if you know Edgecombe, you’ll believe he’ll do it.

“Whatever I’ve got to do to get better,” he continued. “Make life easier for (Maxey) and the rest of my teammates. Take some of the pressure, some of the load offensively off them. And defensively I’m going to keep getting better, keep learning. For the rest of my career I want to guard whoever I have to go guard. I’m just excited to see how this offseason is going to look for me. Next year, I’m going to come back better, stronger, faster, more athletic. Whatever I’ve got to do I’m going to do.”

No one doubts it. Rarely has a player come to Philadelphia in their first season and made the kind of impact Edgecombe did. And as everyone readily proclaims, the best of him is yet to come. It could be why the anticipation of his progression may alter just how much different the roster will look next season.

“He’s the guy. I’m telling you guys, that guy is something different.” said Joel Embiid of Edgecombe. “Year two is going to be better. Year three even better. He has a chance to be something special.”

NBA teams can’t usually be successfully built around smaller backcourt players, unless their name is Steph Curry. Building around Maxey and Edgecombe may or may not be the plan of whoever is running the team next year, but building with them is certainly a terrific foundation moving forward.

“He’s been exceptional, is the word that I use, exceptional,” Maxey said. “I talked about it a lot this season, about his maturity, about all the different things that he brings to the game. He had a hell of a rookie season. Not just a rookie season, he had a hell of a season. A lot of guys in the NBA wish they had a season like him. The sky’s the limit, the future is bright. I know two or three years ago I sat up here with Joel and James (Harden) and they saw something in me. And I guess I’m getting old now because I’m sitting up here with VJ and I’m just happy to be a part of his journey, happy to be someone who can help him.

“And another thing is, I’m just going to push him to be as good as he can be because there’s a lot more left in that tank that we’re going to get out of him. He’s someone who, it’s not going to take much. You ain’t got to push his buttons too much. He works hard and he wants it too much. Even (Sunday), he’s out there on the court and he’s playing his heart out. You can’t ask for anything better than that. The city should just rally behind it and just be excited.”

Maxey certainly is.

“Him being here, and him working on some of the things that he just talked about is going to really help me as well,” said Maxey. “I think next year when I do some things off the ball it doesn’t have to be in front of the defense all the time. When you’re in front of the defense all the time it gives them the opportunity to trap me a lot, gives them the opportunity for the whole team to kind of load up. I feel like that’s what really good players and great players can do. They can be on the ball and make plays on the ball, but they can also be off the ball and contribute that way.

“Those are a couple of the things that I’m going to work on. And like I said, having him, drafting him was huge for myself. He took a lot of pressure off me this season. He’s just only going to get better. Being able to handle the ball, being able to make some plays to give me some relief as far as ‘Here, you bring it up, you create a play and let me go over here.’ Sometimes he’ll create plays for me which didn’t happen often recently.”

The backcourt of the future is set. Other pieces and deficiencies certainly need to be addressed in the offseason. Edgecombe could be the piece that fits many of them.