Sixers: Richaun Holmes Is the Backup Center of the Future

The Sixers have their long-term backup center, who will come at a bargain price.
Richaun Holmes has gotten the worst out of this front-court logjam. The Sixers big has seen sparse playing time in his two seasons thanks to a mix of injuries and failing to crack the regular rotation.
Holmes’ situation was always in question once the announcement was made that Joel Embiid would make his long awaited debut, while the Sixers still held onto Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor. With such high-profiled names, the 2015 second-rounder seemed like he’d be the odd man out.
The minimal minutes Holmes played in his rookie season showed glimpses of a formidable NBA center. His athleticism allows him to be at the least a serviceable defender, despite seeing struggles rebounding. Offensively, he’s very active off the ball and finds ways to open lanes on a consistent basis.
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He’s a prototype backup center. His high motor allows him to come off the bench and produce at a high level. His skill set also matches the pacey offense Brett Brown wants to run through the second unit as well as the starting lineup.
All this talk about whether the Sixers will deal Noel or Okafor, Holmes’ play has been good enough to warrant both being traded. In his return from the D-League due to Embiid’s knee contusion, Holmes has been a force in the Sixers’ past two victories.
He recorded a season-high 18 points in the win over the Los Angeles Clippers, and also recorded his highest +/-. Holmes’ ability to run in transition helped the offense flow without their star scorer. The next game he followed up with a nine point, eight rebound performance. He had some sloppy moments with the ball that nearly cost the Sixers the win against Milwuakee, but his energy on the boards was pivotal.
So, as Embiid is set to return over the next few games and Okafor expected to rack up more DNPs, what will Holmes’ role be? Will it be another trip to Delaware? Or will Holmes finally crack a flooded rotation?
Either way, the NBA has yet to see the full Holmes-effect. With his contract set two make just over $2 million over two years, Holmes is the most sensible option for a backup center. His timeline fits the team’s timeline, and his skill set is one tailor-made for Brett Brown’s scheme.
Richaun Holmes may not be getting the love now, but when the season comes to an end it won’t be surprising to see Holmes as one of the two centers left in a Sixers uniform.