Cam Payne may be in a tricky spot trying to overcome the presence of both Maxey and Lowry as primary ball-handlers, but he has impressed in his brief Sixers tenure to date. Nurse has spoken at length about wanting to utilize Maxey as an off-ball weapon more, and Payne has enabled him to do that since his arrival in Philadelphia.

If the Sixers want some more size and athleticism rather than ball-handling, KJ Martin could factor into plans. Nurse has raved about Martin’s defense of late — whether it has been at the four or as a small-ball five, he has been able to move his feet well on the perimeter and protect the rim.

Meanwhile, Ricky Council IV has been hugely impressive as well, and while he cannot log minutes at the five, he and Martin have many similarities. Their outstanding athleticism gives him them the upper hand on the glass, and they have both flashed some chops as timely cutters and strong finishers in recent weeks.

The other wild card is Robert Covington, who has been out for quite a while with a knee injury. It remains unclear what Covington’s timeline is, but when healthy he gave the Sixers solid wing minutes, particularly on the defensive end.

If this team can achieve full health, in some order, Maxey, Hield, Batum, Harris, Embiid, Lowry, Melton, Oubre and Reed make up a more than formidable nine-man rotation. And if Nurse elects to go with 10 players, there is no shortage of options.

First off, Harris could be retained in a similar role if the price point is right — in other words, far lower than it has been over the past five years. Batum is rumored to be pondering retirement after this season, but if he chooses to stick around, he would still be a wonderful fit alongside Embiid. Oubre would also have a solid case to be brought back as well, especially if he is willing to accept a bench role as he did this past summer. Martin, as a young player with all of the physical tools you could ask for, would also be a viable candidate.

The wing market in free agency this upcoming summer is not loaded with incredible talent, but it has more than enough solid pieces for the Sixers to choose from. Royce O’Neale would be a great fit as a high-volume three-point shooter who defends his position well and can even handle the ball and pass a little bit. Gary Harris, Lonnie Walker IV and Malik Beasley all bring different skillsets to the table — and may be more guards than wings — but all could be extremely useful, especially if Melton walked as an unrestricted free agent. Derrick Jones Jr. feels like the kind of versatile athlete that Nurse would love to get his hands on. Taurean Prince is a rock-solid wing with good size and defensive ability.