Sixers NBA Draft Mega-Preview
The Sixers-focused preview you need.
Adam Aaronson, whose legal name is Sixers Adam (@SixersAdam on Twitter), covers the Sixers for The Rights To Ricky Sanchez. He has been legally banned from covering the team in person, and when that ban was set to be lifted, Covid-19 struck. He believes cantaloupe is the best food in existence, and is brought to you by the Official Realtor of The Process, Adam Ksebe.
Rumors are swirling around the NBA, and you know what that means: we are less than a week away from the NBA Draft. The Sixers own five picks, including the 21st overall selection and two of the first six second-round picks.
To evaluate their options, I seeked out the opinions of some of the best NBA Draft experts I know.
Let’s meet the participants!
Zach Milner is an NBA Draft Consultant who writes for The Stepien. You can follow Zach on Twitter here.
Max Carlin and Ben Pfeifer are hosts of the Prep2Pro NBA Draft Podcast, my favorite non-Ricky listen during quarantine. Definitely check out their podcast feed, but also their live show on Wednesday night during the draft! They will be giving live analysis to picks on Twitch, and, sources say, will have a certain teenage Sixers writer on during the early-2os to broadcast his live reaction to the Sixers’ selection. You can follow Max on Twitter here and Ben here.
Jake Rosen (a fellow college freshman!) writes about the NBA Draft for JakeinthePaint.com. You can follow Jake on Twitter here.
Question #1: The Sixers’ most pressing need is creation from ball-handlers. At #21 overall, who is the realistic name you like the most to help the Sixers remedy this issue?
Zach Milner: Charleston point guard Grant Riller. I’m not entirely sure how realistic it is for Riller to be picked here (I’d definitely draft him here if it were up to me), but Riller is one of the most talented offensive players in this class and he’s such a perfect fit for Philly. As stated in the question, Riller is someone who can self-create, but can also create for others. I was at Riller’s pro day yesterday (Nov 11) and really liked what I saw all-around. He showed his impressive handles (probably has one of the best handles in the class), and his ability to shoot off-the-dribble as well as spot up. Additionally, he put his athleticism / vertical explosion on display with some explosive dunks.
His creation for others has taken a big step forward over the last two years and his scoring gravity also allows him to make simple passes when the defense is focused on him. A concern that some may have is whether or not the scoring gravity will translate, especially after he didn’t consistently play against high-major competition. Overall, Riller is a really good athlete and an advanced scorer who can score from all 3 levels. Even though we are talking about creation on the ball, he can also spot up off-the-ball to knock down 3s on the perimeter, and attack off the catch with his quick first step and elite finishing. He might need to become a little better or engaged as an off-ball mover when the ball isn’t in his hands, but he has shown flashes of attacking off-the-catch and made a couple of shots coming off screens as well.
For those who want to learn even more about Riller, I wrote an in-depth piece making “The Case For Grant Riller” back in March stating that he should be looked at as a lottery level prospect.
Someone else that I like - and who is probably more realistic as a pick - is San Diego State point guard Malachi Flynn. I think Flynn is the best pick and roll player in this class and he’s an above average passer and shooter. Flynn should be able to play next to Ben Simmons, but also be the primary ball-handler with the bench when Simmons is off the floor. He’s a smaller guard, but Philly has good enough size to the point where they should be able to make up for his size (or lack thereof). The good news is that Flynn is tough and physical as a defender even at his size. He has his limitations, but he’ll compete on that end at the very least.
Max Carlin: The obvious answers are Riller and Flynn. Riller is one of the best on-ball creators in the class, an absolute maestro as a guard slasher. His first step alone is enough to blow by, but he adds to that serious craft through advanced footwork and change of pace, strength (that he’s skilled in leveraging to create and maintain advantages), and diverse finishes with both hands. Riller’s accomplished in creating space for off-the-dribble jumpers, boasting a potent stepback and an ability to rise quickly over contests. Riller’s weak spot as a creator is in playmaking, though he’s far from bad in that respect. He’s not a brilliant manipulator of defenses in the mold of Killian Hayes or LaMelo Ball, but his scoring gravity is so immense that he has evolved into a strong reactive passer, capable of making reads the defense concedes to stop Riller himself. Flynn, meanwhile, was the best pick-and-roll player in college basketball last year. He can score from all three levels out of the action, with deep pull-up range, one of the class’s best runners, and a craft finishing package with all the essentials for a small guard. Though Flynn does not match Riller’s rim pressure, lacking the overwhelming explosion of the Charleston product, he offers a far more developed off-ball game that could appeal to a Sixers team still looking to run a great deal of halfcourt action through Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Flynn is one of the better off-ball relocators in the class, an active mover who is comfortable shooting off the move, rendering him perfect for a team looking for a guard who brings off-the-dribble creation while expecting him to coexist alongside other on-ball options.
I’ll also throw out Arizona guard Nico Mannion as an option offering similar appeal to Flynn. I find Mannion to be an even better off-ball player, as I consider him to be the single best off-ball relocator in the class; he just has a preternatural feel for maneuvering the court off the ball to generate good looks. Where Mannion really stands above Flynn and Riller both, though, is his passing. Mannion is a manipulative and highly functional passer with exquisite vision. Unfortunately, he is not close to the on-ball self-creator Flynn and Riller are, so that does mitigate the impact of his playmaking some, but some of Mannion’s best moments at Arizona came in situations where he was playmaking in an off-ball role with the benefit of attacking off advantages he did not have to create himself. Mannion’s lacking on-ball scoring punch would drop him below Flynn and Riller on a Sixers-centric board for me, but if the Sixers are still intent on halfcourt offense that runs through their two stars, he could be an option.
Ben Pfeifer: This comes down to Riller and Flynn, but I’ll go with Flynn because I’m not sure Riller lands this high. The quick Riller pitch is this: Philly desperately needs shot creation in the half court. Riller satiates that need with his unparalleled first step, guard finishing and space creation on his jumpers. The defense (especially for his age — at 23, he’s 10 years older than Adam!) (note from Adam as I edit this: screw you, Ben.) and decision making raise alarm, but the Sixers have the infrastructure to insulate Riller in both regards.
Flynn feels like a more realistic target and he adds a similar spark. Though not the pure scorer Riller is, Flynn far outpaces him as passer, shooter and pick and roll orchestrator. The Sixers have long lacked a half-court pick and roll maestro and Flynn provides pick and roll offense unseen since the days of TJ McConnell. He splits, spins and saunters around screens like a seasoned vet, spraying every pick and roll pass in the book. The slashing and finishing won’t translate, but his wicked runner game and general craft will serve him well. That’s not to mention his elite shooting in all three prongs (spot up, pull up, off movement) allowing him to exist and carve out value off of Joel Embiid post ups and Ben Simmons slashes. Like Riller, Philly can afford the value the 6’1 Flynn bleeds on defense (though his defense on and off-ball is good, but there’s a limit to how good it can be with his sheer size) because of their towering, versatile defensive pieces. I’ll add a special shoutout to Cole Anthony and Kira Lewis, two guards who should be the pick if either manages to slip to 21.
Jake Rosen: Malachi Flynn is the easy answer here. The San Diego State point guard is one of my favorite prospects in the class, and fills a gaping hole for this current Sixers roster. Flynn won’t win with overwhelming tools, but his change of pace, craftiness and sheer skill allow him to be incredibly impactful as an undersized guard. Offensively, there aren’t many true holes in his game. Flynn is a very competent and versatile shooter, and I like to think that it opens up the rest of his game. As a small guard, Flynn has to provide as much value as possible in every aspect. While off-ball impact might not be a noteworthy area for other guards, Flynn absolutely excels shooting off the catch, often showing versatility off movement. As a handler, defenses must respect him as a pull up shooter, where he showcased competence and confidence all season long. After stretching the defense with his shooting prowess, Flynn lets the entire arsenal loose. I’m not sure how others feel, but I’m very high on both his finishing and playmaking. Again, he is hindered by his size in both aspects, but the draft is all about compensation, and I think he’s good enough to make up for those limitations. Around the rim, Flynn will often go to a plethora of same hand-same leg finishes to throw shot blockers off guard. His comfort with these goofy finishes shows impressive footwork and intelligent processing, both traits that bode very well for his projection against NBA shot-blockers. Flynn might not throw LaMelo Ball whip passes all over the court, but his playmaking is extremely decisive, effective and reliable. Not only is he capable of taking advantage of passing windows the defense gives him, but Malachi can also proactively create them. Defensively, he’s about as good as you can get for a small guard. Flynn is scrappy and smart, and the two aspects feed off each other in help defense, where he is an absolute menace. Despite being 6’1” and 185 pounds, he is legitimately a difference maker as a team defender. The Sixers seriously lack creation off the bounce, and Malchi fills that void, but his scalability also enables him to play alongside Philly’s stars and reliably space the floor. In my opinion, Malachi Flynn to Philly is the most obvious fit in the entire draft, and the new Sixers front office needs to make it happen.
Question #2: The Sixers own two of the first six picks of the second round. At #34 and #36, who is a player you’d like to see the Sixers pursue?
ZM: If either of Riller or Malachi Flynn are still available, they are my top options here (unless TCU guard Desmond Bane falls and in that case, I’d take him over Flynn). Honestly, if they are confident that Riller would fall to one of these picks, I think it’d be smart to go Bane at #21 and grab Riller here, but disregarding those three players, here is a list of players I’d like to see the Sixers pursue: Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe, Creighton guard Ty-Shon Alexander, Michigan State guard Cassius Winston, Houston wing Nate Hinton, Nevada guard Jalen Harris, and Mannion.
I’m sure some of these players will be touched on by the others’, so I’ll just quickly touch on each of them.
Joe is one of the best shooters in this class, and while his percentages weren’t great this year compared to his freshman season, his shooting gravity on the floor is very evident and having that kind of spacing next to Simmons and Embiid would be amazing. He’s capable of shooting off-movement (although could improve here), but he can also shoot off-the-dribble. He put on some muscle between his freshman and sophomore season, but he’s still a little slim. Even though he’s slim, he plays pretty physical on the defensive end and hopefully he can continue to add to his frame.
Winston is a small guard who is an incredible shotmaker and one of the best college players we’ve seen recently. His shooting versatility is insane, but he’ll be a liability on the defensive end. I think that the Sixers are one of the teams that could hide him on defense and get away with it.
Alexander and Hinton are typical 3-D players. Alexander is more capable with the ball in his hands and has more shooting versatility while Hinton has more size to defend wings and is a better rebounder.
Harris is an incredible scorer who can help Philly’s bench if the offense starts to stall. He is a really good athlete and an incredible shotmaker.
Mannion is a guard who can play on and off-the-ball but is a really good mover off-the-ball.
MC: All of the guys I mentioned above would be great options if they last, but my absolute favorite prospect at this spot would have to be Joe. Joe’s reputation as an unconscious gunner overshadows a really well-rounded game. As a team defender, Joe is ambitious, frequently getting himself into trouble with wildly overaggressive positioning. But the general instinct to involve himself in these actions as an off-ball defender is reflective of a very high level of feel. Joe is able to disrupt a great deal off the ball. He’s active with his length and physical to an extent one would not expect given his frame. On the ball, I’m cautiously optimistic. He has great footwork navigating screens and moves very well laterally, but the issue that really pervades his entire game crops up here: strength. It’s very easy to envision Joe having zero chance at fighting through NBA screens, and that is perhaps the least of the strength-related concerns with him. Joe’s 3-point percentage fluctuated wildly between his freshman and sophomore years due in great part to lacking core and lower body strength. He never got to the rim at Arkansas, and I do not attribute that to a complete lack of burst, but likewise to his strength. Any physicality and he’s bumped off his driving line. Without meaningful strength gain, these issues will only get worse in the NBA, which concerns me as to the low-end outcomes for Joe. Nonetheless, it is beyond difficult to find highly intelligent wings with strong movement skills and a potentially nuclear jumper (with some real self-creation ability by way of one the best stepbacks in the class).
BP: This draft is weak on second round gems even by second round standards. There just aren’t that many sleepers I’m clamoring for and names I will, like Bane and Michigan State big Xavier Tillman, likely go in the first. My main target — one who I could envision climbing into the first — is Joe, a prospect who I view as a high-floor, low-ceiling gamble, unlike the plug and play rep he seems to have. The main limiter is his frame, as I’m not 100% sold he’d win in a fight against Adam and Max, or an NBA wing defender sizing him up at the point of attack. His lack of strength punctures his entire game — he might be too weak to drive and finish, too weak to defend the point of attack, too weak to extend his range to 30+ feet. But if an NBA team can buff him up, Isaiah Joe has the chance to find a role as a two-way wing with elite shooting+ancillary skills. Those aren’t common, as Sixers fans know. I won’t get into the minutiae of his shot. Ignore the efficiency. Buy the shot. He’s a legitimate space creator and playmaker, with underrated shake and a nifty pocket pass here and there. The defense is excellent, technically sound on ball and rangey and instinctual, if a bit overaggressive (Max affectionately dubs Joe ‘discount Dev’ for a reason). If the chance of Isaiah Joe’s strength improving is higher than Ben Simmons shooting, he’s worth a pick in the 20s, let alone round two.
On the theme of shotmaking, I’ll offer Winston as a second name that could help Philly in a similar vein as Flynn, but not as potent. Harris is another good option, but Jake already wrote about him. The pitch for Winston is similar to that of Flynn, the Spartan is likely a better shooter than Flynn (with more worry about getting the shot off) and a similar pick and roll operator, with more athletic questions. I’m not sure how Winston scores in the NBA due to his grave lack of burst and explosion, but he’ll shoot and he’ll pass. Philly would finally have a guard on the roster who can do both of those things since Markelle Fult….ok, fine, since Michael Carter Wil….ok, I should probably stop endangering myself. Shake Milton. Take it or leave it.
JR: I’ll give two names for this question, Joe and Harris. I’m higher on both players than the mainstream, and think they have valuable skill sets that could immediately help the Sixers, in different ways. The elevator pitch for Joe is simple, he’s an absolute nuclear shooter with beautiful mechanics, seasoned shot versatility, endless range and defensive potential. While the percentages might be a turn off to some, it takes about 10 minutes of game time to see why that number is “low.” Joe understands the concept of gravity, and knows it's generated by volume, not pure percentages. He had the extra-green light under Coach Musselman, and was sure to let it fly once he got a sliver of space. To me, Joe’s NBA success will rise or fall on his ancillary skills. He has consistently flashed basketball intelligence on both ends of the floor, but is occasionally hindered by his extremely slender frame. Joe is a very capable passer, but if he can’t draw help around the rim, how much is it worth? He’s disruptive as a team defender, but if he’s getting bullied by every player on the floor, how impactful can he truly be? If Joe can add muscle and overcome these deficiencies -- which I think he can, to an extent at least -- his floor spacing and shooting gravity would be monstrous for Philly. Harris is less of a sexy pick, but he just gets it done. Listed at 6’5” and 195 pounds, he has a solid frame for an off ball guard/wing. There are questions about his defense and playmaking (although I think he’s a better passer than given credit for) but if one thing is certain, he can put the ball in the basket. I’m intrigued by his fit in Philly because of his ability to score on and off the ball, enabling him to initiate some offense with bench units and play off the stars throughout the course of a game. On the ball, Harris is exceptional at using his physical advantages in the paint to finish looks, it might not always look pretty, but the numbers speak for themselves. He has real equity as a shot-maker as well, showing some impressive space-creation and balance on his pull-up jumpers, where he ranked in the 82nd percentile. Off the ball, he had several impressive flashes as a movement shooter, showcasing the same technique. Lastly, I’m really intrigued by him as a PnR handler. The action allows him to blend every tool in his arsenal into one weapon that defenses simply couldn’t handle. This was when he looked his best as a passer, and the OTD looks also came cleaner. There’s a reasonable path for Harris to provide an offensive creation spark off the bench, and that’s valuable at any point in the 2nd.
Question #3: Let’s break up the Sixers questions with one about this draft class as a whole. For readers who may not have watched much non-NBA basketball, who is one enjoyable prospect you recommend binge-watching on YouTube before the draft?
ZM: I’ll change things up and say Seton Hall guard Myles Powell. While there are other players I’d pick before Powell from Philly’s perspective, I picked him because he’s been a fun player to watch over the last few years. If you are trying to binge-watch a player that Philly has a better chance of picking, I’d recommend watching any of the other players I mentioned in previous questions, but if you just want to enjoy some highlights of someone having some incredible scoring games then Myles Powell is a fun watch. There are games where he’ll just pull up from 5-10 feet behind the 3-point line and knock it down.
MC: I’ll go with FC Barcelona guard / wing Leandro Bolmaro. So much of his appeal rests upon flair, an utterly obnoxious and audacious approach to the game of basketball. As a handler, he’s going to drop you. In transition, he’s going to spin a full-court dime between streaking defenders. Defending individually, he’s going to deny the catch until his opponent is simply baited into shoving him -- and when they do, he’s going to flop spectacularly. There’s a confidence and creativity that touches every aspect of Bolmaro’s game, making viewing a true shit-eating-grin type of experience.
BP: Picture this: It’s a sticky summer evening in Philly. The Sixers just traded Ben Simmons for Russell Westbrook (another note from Adam editing: Ben, you are banned from the Rights to Ricky Sanchez Podcast). You sprint to the basement and dust off your crazy uncle’s time machine, frantically pressing every button in sight, yearning to go back to the glory days (with the third pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select Jahlil Okaf….) (ANOTHER NOTE: BEN, SHUT UP.). It doesn’t work. You can’t go back. To cure your ever-growing sense of existential dread, you flip open your computer, go to Youtube dot com, ignore the recommended videos touring Adam Aaronson’s glassmaking and flip on a Florida State game.
There he is. Flying around the court with reckless yet calculated abandon, he ends offensive possessions before they start. Throwing the ball near him is as good an idea of paying a certain headband-wearing forward over Jimmy Butler — it doesn’t work out (note from Adam: I give up.). He’s shooting pull-ups now too. Once a low-usage artist, he’s rising over defenders and splashing in their eyes. Devin Vassell can’t mend a broken soul, but he can be a stitch or two. You close your laptop. The sun peeks over the horizon. It’s a new day, day two of agony. In a month, you’ll watch the Sixers turn the ball over 77 times in three quarters. But for now, the sweet sight of Devin Vassell rotations and digs and stunts clear the mind. It’s a fleeting sense of peace in our post apocalyptic nightmare. It’s all we’ve got.
JR: This is when I really wish Jared Butler had stayed in the draft, but for now, we’ll just have to go with Grant Riller. The College Of Charleston guard has been putting on scoring clinics in the CAA for four years, thanks to his wicked first step, insane variety of space creation methods and elite finishing. If you’re looking to dive into a few prospects through YouTube highlight scouting, I can’t think of a better place to start than Grant Riller. On these mixes, you’ll see some buckets that look incredibly effortless. While the CAA as a conference is far from equipt to guard an NBA scoring prospect of Riller’s caliber, it shouldn’t completely take away his pedigree as a prospect. Any way you want a bucket, Riller can give it to you. Over the years, he has significantly taken strides as a three point shooter, improving his case as a true three level scorer. Improved mechanics and confidence have likely led the upward swing in this regard, and his rising percentages off the catch allow him to stay valuable off the ball, which is very important for his archetype. Riller’s passing isn’t manipulative by any means, but he has gotten so much better at leveraging his scoring gravity to create easy passing windows that he’s capable of executing. His first step basically makes the primary defender non-existent, and Riller’s body control, strength and touch around the rim make him an otherworldly guard finisher. Defenses are aware of this and are prone to early and aggressive rotations because of it, making Riller’s life as a playmaker smoother sailing. I fully expect the rim pressure and shot-making to be there from day one, which will ease the pressure on every other aspect. My biggest concern is certainly his defense, where effort and engagement seemes optional. However, those won’t show up on the YouTube mix, just enjoy the show.
Question #4: With five draft picks, the Sixers are a prime candidate to make a draft-and-stash pick. If they choose to select an international prospect late in the second round, who is a player you would target?
ZM: Honestly, there have been a lot of international players that have withdrawn from the draft so I’m not a huge fan of the stash this year, but one player that fits is Hapoel Tel Avid guard Yam Madar. I’d probably look into trading a second-rounder for a future pick if possible, though.
MC: Woof. Almost all the interesting stashes withdrew their names. I’m not wildly enthused by any of the international second-round options. I suppose if I had to choose one, Crvena zvezda teammates in Borisa Simanic, an elite-shooting big, and a conceivable NBA wing like Aleksa Radanov, would be my choices. But much more interesting to me is capitalizing on the advent of the “pre-stash.” With the schedule incongruence introduced by COVID, we’ve seen a litany of former NCAA players sign international deals ahead of the NBA draft, effectively stashing themselves prior to the draft. Of those guys, my favorite option is probably Boise State wing Justinian Jessup, who is headed to the NBL to play for the Illawarra Hawks. He’s a smooth-shooting lefty with some ball skills relative to the shooting specialist role. I’d certainly call him an NBA long shot, but he’s the sort of the low-cost shot to take.
BP: Rather quickly, this class’s solid draft-and-stash depth evaporated. With the exits of Arturs Kurucs, Georgios Kalaitzakis, Marko Simonovic and Rokas Jokubaitis (My sweet Rokas. See you next year), teams don’t have many good options. Madar will be a popular one, but he’s not my flavor. French wing Abdoulaye N’Doye is 6’7 with a 7’2 wingspan who passes like a guard. Running offense for Cholet, he’s a crafty playmaker with some floater and foul-drawing craft. Defensively, he envelopes offenses with all of his length, a solid on and off ball defender. He’s 22 with an underdeveloped jumper and frame, raising concern. But a wing / forward with his skills is worth a wait-and-see in the second round.
JR: I’m honestly pretty out on anyone in the “draft and stash” range. I would’ve been intrigued with Jokubaitis as a gamble, or Simonovic as a backup big who could potentially play postseason minutes. Madar is probably Philly’s best bet for a legitimate draft and stash play, but even then, I’m not in love with it. If Bolmaro’s stock drops out of the first round, he easily becomes the best option here. Although that’s looking unlikely, his handle and passing ability would be appealing for the Sixers.
Question #5: Let’s talk about your holistic philosophy when a team like the Sixers, pursuing championship contention and not armed with high picks, enters the draft. How much should they weigh team fit and pro-readiness versus simply the quality of prospect? If a team has one glaring hole, should they take multiple shots with similar players instead of aiming for a more balanced rookie class?
ZM: I think it all just depends on who is available when they are on the clock. You have to be willing to adjust with what is available, but I do think Philly has the chance to go for both team fit and high-upside prospects this year with the amount of picks they have. Even if they decide to get rid of one of their five picks, they could theoretically make a couple of picks based on team fit / ability to contribute early on and they can also make a couple of picks that might need some more time to develop.
To be honest, I think the players that we have mentioned in here fall into both categories (team fit / NBA readiness & good quality prospect). I actually think the Sixers roster will be in a solid spot if they nail this draft because a lot of the players that I like the most are players that actually fit what the Sixers need. There’s a real possibility that Philly can walk away from this draft with Bane, Riller, Joe, and Hinton. You can also sub Flynn in for Bane or Riller as well.
MC: I don’t think it’s possible to answer these questions directly, because team-building is such a dynamic balancing act.
Does the short-term contributor elevate your title odds beyond short-term alternatives available via free agency or trade? If he does, is it by more than the long-term contributor will elevate your title odds in 2 or 3 years? For this, I’d say it’s a case-by-case basis in which the only rule is to make the best play. Do whatever will lead to peak title odds in the timeline you’re investing in with the pick (somewhere between 4 and 9 years for a first, more varied for a second). Check out this episode of Prep2Pro in which we ranked prospects based on this concept.
As for fit, I would prioritize it in the sense of finding scheme fits-- don’t draft a big who can’t backpedal but moves well laterally to play in a drop scheme -- and complements to true core players. Stylistic fit matters to me much more than broad positional needs. And the same caveat still applies: if you’re guard-needy, what’s the expected value of a lesser prospect who’s a guard and the alternative wing acquired through other means vs. the alternative guard you can acquire through other means and the superior prospect on the wing?
As for doubling up, I think you go through the processes above, but consider an added factor: at what point does a positional glut start to impede the developmental situation enough for the expected value of the next guard, for example, to fall below that of an “inferior” prospect on the wing? Like I said, it’s a tough balancing act.
BP: For Philly, team fit matters more than most rosters. It’s rare to find a collection of talent with as much goodness and as many holes as Philadelphia’s but here we are (thanks, Elton!). Normally, I’m in favor of eschewing fit as the draft goes on. Take all of the interesting wings and pray. But for the Sixers, shooting and shot creation is a dire enough need to change my thinking, thus my prioritization of players like Flynn and Winston over prospects like Washington wing Jaden McDaniels, Mississippi State wing Robert Woodard, Hinton and Gonzaga wing Killian Tillie, all of whom I prefer to Winston (but not Flynn) in a pure ordinal ranking and play scarcer positions. I’m a believer in the Simmons-Embiid experiment but there’s no doubt it’s missing puzzle pieces, which the Sixers are in a place to address in this draft. For most teams. For most team’s I’d prioritize gambles like Cal State wing Lamine Diane and Xavier wing Naji Marshall over guards like Sam Merrill of Utah State, Harris and Powell, but I’d think the opposite for the Sixers. As a final thought, no philosophy or rule should be ubiquitous. Never be afraid to get crazy.
JR: Philly is in a really tough spot when it comes to this question. They have a championship-caliber roster, with a rotation that’s missing a couple of important pieces. Normally, the objective of getting a playoff rotation player at some point in the 20s or early first isn’t too crazy, but the Sixers’ glaring hole is creation, and that’s the hardest skill to find in the draft. The new front office needs to explore some sort of a middle ground. With a plethora of picks in a rather flat draft of potential role players, it would be irresponsible to not come away with anyone who can help you win a championship in the near future. However, Philly already has a roster full of dependent complementary pieces, and need to find someone who can help shoulder the creation load, while also adding the skills they need to improve as a team. Swinging for the fences on odd potential high-impact prospects like Colorado wing Tyler Bey or DePaul big Paul Reed wouldn’t be ideal due to their low floor and poor fit with the Sixers. But, settling for plug-and-play wings like Alexander and Arizona guard / wing Josh Green doesn’t seem like it’ll move the needle either. Ultimately, I think Philly needs to aim for the crop of “backup guards” in the 20-40 range. I know, I just said they need to take ceiling into account, and then followed up by suggesting that archetype. However, this is a perfect example of how the draft is so contextual. If Flynn or Winston hit their potential as pull-up shooters, that’s incredibly valuable for Philly, and exponentially more important to them than most other teams. What might be just another guard to 29 other organizations, could provide the shooting gravity that the Sixers need to enter the elite tier of contenders. Ben Simmons is not a point guard in the playoffs, and Shake Milton is not the answer. Because of their ultra-specific roster construction, I think Philly needs to seriously weigh fit and need into their picks. The clock is always ticking on organizations with high expectations, and I think attempting to squeeze as much creation as possible out of a high-level shooting primary -- despite their other flaws -- is the way to go.
Major thank you to all of you for giving us your time and expertise!