By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly Staff
With 10 games remaining, the Sixers are once again closer to landing the top pick in the NBA Draft than they are to clinching a playoff spot.
The Sixers' future got a lot brighter over this past season, With Joel Embiid, and Dario Saric finally debuting in the NBA, and elite prospect Ben Simmons joining the fold. The Sixers have also continued to see Brett Brown's ability to develop players, with Nik Stauskas, Robert Covington, T.J. McConnell, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot all showing significant improvement throughout the year.
However, with Joel Embiid's appearances limited and another injury rearing its head, along with a preseason injury to Ben Simmons that would force him to miss his rookie season, the Sixers remained at the bottom of the league for at least one more season.
Despite more setbacks plaguing the franchise, a draft loaded with backcourt talent is on the horizon, and the Sixers could be prepared to make the long awaited leap that "The Process" has promised to fans.
The Sixers have acquired enough assets in the frontcourt throughout "The Process" to produce a starting frontcourt for 3 teams, but they have not been able to acquire a difference making shooter or wing player. This could be the year that the Sixers find their missing piece, and emerge as a true threat in the league.
Dario Saric's outstanding play has cemented him as the team's starting power forward and Joel Embiid owns the starting center position. Ben Simmons is expected to make the move to point guard full time next season, and Richaun Holmes has solidified himself as a valuable rotational player and spot starter with his athletic defense and sound offensive game.
Robert Covington, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Justin Anderson, and Nik Stauskas have all shined at various moments in Brett Brown's rotation. While they are still young, they are all likely no more than bench players on a contending team, granted very valuable bench players. The Sixers need a true starting wing player, and if they can add another player who impacts a game like Embiid, Saric, or Simmons is expected to, then the Sixers will be a force in the league for the next decade.
The Prospects
The names that the Sixers will be in play for include Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox, Dennis Smith, and Jonathan Isaac.
The conversation for first overall revolves around Fultz, Ball, and Jackson. Fultz and Ball are both point guards with length, with Fultz being the better scorer of the two. In his lone year at Washington, Fultz averaged 23.3 points per game versus Ball's 14.7 while playing in the same conference. However, Ball did average more rebounds and assists (6.1 and 7.6 respectively) than Fultz (5.9 and 6.0). Fultz is more efficient playing without the ball, which would make him a better fit if Ben Simmons receives the majority of the ball handling duties, as expected.
Josh Jackson will be a small forward at the next level, and he is a swiss army knife. He brings an extremely versatile offensive game, with an ability to handle the ball, drive, run the floor, play above the rim, and be a slasher. He is also a long and athletic defender. Jackson can just about do it all and his fast paced game would blend incredibly well with Brett Brown. This season at Kansas Jackson has averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
Another exciting prospect at small forward is Duke's Jayson Tatum. Tatum brings some of the same versatility and athleticism that Jackson does, but is not as finished as a defender as Jackson. Tatum has the better scoring touch and he already has an NBA body at 19 years old. Tatum scored 16.8 points per game with 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Malik Monk from Kentucky is maybe the best shooter in the draft. Monk is a player that is a true microwave, with the ability to get hot at any point in the game. Monk is listed as a combo guard, but would thrive as a spot up shooter. He is not limited to the perimeter, however, with the athleticism to drive and attack the rim and the ability to rise up and jam over defenders. Like Saric and Simmons, Monk is also a creative distributor of the ball, especially when driving the lane. His defensive game is underwhelming, but has the necessary skill to be developed into a serviceable defender in the NBA. Monk averaged 20.0 points per game against including an astounding 47 points in a game against national tournament favorite North Carolina.
Monk's teammate De'Aaron Fox is another one of the premier talents in this year's draft. Fox is a true point guard, with a high motor on both ends of the floor, good length, and incredible athleticism and speed. Fox is underdeveloped physically, standing at 6 feet 4 inches but weighing only 171 pounds. The strength in Fox's game is in finding open shooters, and defending. He is excellent as intercepting passes on the defensive end. He does not have a great shot, but knows how to use his athleticism to get to the rim and score. At Kentucky he averaged 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.
Dennis Smith is another exciting point guard with electric athleticism and a complete defensive game. Smith should have no trouble adjusting to the NBA. He actively seeks contact when driving to the rim. Smith has an NBA ready body, and the court vision needed to play point guard in the NBA. he is a scoring point guard, who could also have success playing without the ball in his hands. Smith averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. Smith, like Markelle Fultz, was the lone bright spot of an underwhelming team.
Florida State's Jonathan Isaac is a frighteningly long small forward, standing at 6 feet 11 inches with a 71.3 inch wingspan. Isaac has the ability to run like a wing, but use his size to make life difficult for opponents. Isaac uses tremendous footwork to create his own shot( which is streaky) and lose his defender when cutting to the rim. He needs to add some muscle, but he is already an excellent perimeter defender. His footwork and length make it almost impossible to beat him on the dribble. Isaac contains his assignment to the perimeter at an elite level, and he has the wingspan to challenge almost any shot that an opponent attempts against him. At Florida State, Isaac averaged 12.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
The Lottery
There is no shortage of options for Bryan Colangelo to examine. Colangelo should be able to find a fantastic prospect on the perimeter wherever the Sixers end up picking in the first round.
There is also no shortage outcomes for the Sixers in the upcoming draft regarding their draft position. Currently the Sixers stand fifth in the NBA Lottery rankings. They hold the Los Angeles Lakers (second in the lottery standings) top-three protected first round pick, and the right to swap first round picks with the Sacramento Kings (7th in the lottery standings).
In order for the Sixers to use the pick swap with the Sacramento Kings, the Kings would have to hold a higher pick than the Sixers. This multiplies the Sixers' chances for a high pick in the draft, by having two picks that could be theirs.
According to Tankathon, as of today the Sixers have a 44.1 percent chance of landing in the top three selections of the draft and a 13.1 percent chance of getting the first overall pick between their pick and the Kings' selection.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, the Los Angeles Lakers have a 55.8 percent chance of their pick landing in the top three selections, which would keep the pick with the Lakers for one more season.
This means that the Sixers have a 44.2 percent chance of having two picks in the draft. Because of the ownership of their own pick, and the rights to the Kings pick, the Sixers could land a top three pick and a the Lakers pick.
If the Sixers or the Kings pick jumps into the top three selections, the odds that the Lakers fall out of the top three would be increased. If this was to happen, it would most likely result in the Lakers picking at fourth or fifth overall, giving the Sixers two chances at a truly elite player and the freedom to draft for need over value, which they have not yet had the luxury to do throughout "The Process."
The Sixers are expected to continue to shop Jahlil Okafor at the draft, who has been outplayed by Richaun Holmes following the Nerlens Noel trade, and also hold four second round picks in this year's draft that they could barter for another first round pick.
Which player would you most like to see play for the Sixers?
