Philadelphia 76ers: Top 10 Prospects to Watch, 3rd Edition
With the end of the non-conference schedule nearing it’s end, it’s time reevaluate the top 10 lottery prospects the Philadelphia 76ers should be looking at.
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
It’s that time again. With non-conference play ending in the coming week, it’s time to analyze where the Philadelphia 76ers‘ draft stock should stand. In a loaded 2017 class, the NBA Draft figures to provide a real jolt of talent this upcoming season.
With the potential for two lottery picks, Philadelphia finds themselves anxiously watching the Lakers’ record. Perhaps the majority of the attention, however, should be more focused towards the prospects themselves.
In the ever-shifting dynamics of the NBA Draft, placement doesn’t always hold the same meaning. The 7th pick last year was a relatively low end compensation. This year, the 7th pick could yield legitimate superstar potential.
In what is the best draft class since 2003 in some circles, this could be the year that caps off the Sixers’ historical accumulation of talent via “the Process.”
The criteria
Ranking draft prospects is never really an exact science. While stats and certain attributes certainly go a long way in analyzing them, the eye test always plays an integral role in the end results.
How upper level talent fairs against other upper level talent can be among the most telling notions as to how a player will exceed at the next level. Making the transition to the NBA is all about possessing skills that will translate against a heightened degree of competition — and thus, that’s the main component.
Upside, however, also plays a massive role. Even in strong years like this, the NBA Draft can be considered a game of proverbial darts. There are no overarching guarantees and thus gambling on a prospect who has the highest ceiling — rather than the highest floor — is a reasonable avenue to take.
Standings
While these standings are loosely tied to my most recent big board, the ever-changing landscape of college basketball — as well as some of the bigger games that have taken place — shifted those rankings.
These top 10 are based around where the prospects stand in my rankings as of right now, as well as their theorized fit with the Sixers’ rotation. Other opinions are drawn from 3 extracirricular sources, as I tapped the rankings from Jeremy Woo (SI.com), Jonathan Givony (DraftExpress.com), and Sam Vecenie (Yahoo/SportingNews.com), all experts in the NBA Draft field.
That should give you a relative understanding of where each prospect stands in the national media’s perspective. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 prospects for the Sixers:
Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
De'Aaron Fox
PG, Kentucky
Kentucky continues to impress with their freshman-heavy rotation, and Fox has continued to play a major role in that. With quickness off the bounce that isn’t really matched in this draft class, Fox’s uncanny athleticism and ability to penetrate the defense make him exceptionally difficult to cover when he’s handling the ball.
The concern with Fox still lies with his jumper. He’s a relatively iffy shooter from deep, and hasn’t really done much to instill confidence in that regard. He can, however, knock down pull-up jumpers from midrange, and creates ample space in doing so due to his quickness alone.
Outside of those shooting woes, however, Fox’s ceiling seems incredibly high. His explosiveness allows him to dominate in transition, as well as finish above the rim with ease. He’s difficult for anyone — regardless of how athletic they are — to stay in front of, and is continuing to add strength to boot.
He’s also a gifted defender, and someone with the size — 6-5 — needed to cover either guard spot at the next level.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are in desperate need of guard depth, and that’s where Fox steps in. While his lack of floor spacing is kind of a non-starter for some Philly fans, his penetration ability and excellent two-way upside should counteract that.
Even alongside another playmaker like Simmons, Fox’s slashing ability and defensive intensity would find him a sizable niche. He’s the primary ball handler with Kentucky, but has found avenues of production playing off the ball alongside Isaiah Briscoe at times as well. Him and Simmons could feasibly share the load in a similar manner.
T.J. McConnell survives on effort alone, and Fox provides a level of athleticism and John Wall-esque playmaking that would instantly outshine him. In addition to that, the likes of Sergio Rodriguez and Jerryd Bayless are far from long-term options on the outside. He’s a young, high octane two-way guard who could give Brett Brown and company a sizable boost from day one.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 9. Anunoby
Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
O.G. Anunoby
SF, Indiana
Anunoby is an elite defender. It’s that simple. With ridiculously strong legs and a well-built frame, the 6-8 forward as all the tools needed to excel as a two-way player in the NBA. He burst onto the scene during last season’s tournament, and is continuing to show signs of somebody who could become a really nice player at the next level.
He’s still rounding out his game offensively, but Anunoby is simply at a different level when it comes to defensive upside. His strength should allow him to switch onto either forward position effectively at the next level, while his gritty, instintual nature is reminiscent of Kawhi Leonard in some ways. He’s the same type of physical freak that the former Defensive Player of the Year is, and has skill level needed to evolve into that type of two-way star.
Although he’s still figuring it out offensively in some ways, Anunoby has shown plenty of strides in that respect. He’s shooting a respectable 35 percent from deep this season, and is a dangerous cutter given his strength and explosiveness at the rim. He has shown some nice touch as a passer on some occasions as well, and continues to develop nicely as his feel for the game develops — after he got a late start with the game in high school.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is in dire need of depth on the wing, and Anunoby helps massively in that category. He’s an elite defender to place alongside Embiid’s interior presence, and somebody capable of guarding the opposition’s best player regardless of position — an role that is only loosely given to Robert Covington in desperate situations at this point.
Offensively, his improved shooting makes him someone who could easily work off of Simmons as both a slasher and a spot-up scorer. He won’t make big dents in the box score on the offensive end early on, but has the tools needed to carve out a sustainable niche nonetheless.
Given Philadelphia’s incredible lack of talent at the two and three spots, Anunoby would be welcome relief on the perimeter. Anytime you have the chance to land a generational defender, there’s reason to consider it — even if it’s in the top half of the lottery.
Expert’s Opinion — Sam Vecenie, Sporting News/Yahoo
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 8. Ntilikina
Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Frank Ntilikina
PG, Strasbourg
Despite playing out of position with Strasbourg this season, Ntilikina continues to establish himself as the best foreign prospect in 2017’s class. At 6-5, he’s a rangy playmaker with excellent explosiveness off the bounce and court vision that should allow him to run an NBA offense from day one.
Ntilikina’s confidence in shooting the ball is his most pressing concern coming in. Although playing on the wing has helped him get up some more shots this season, he still hasn’t shined as somebody capable of willingly scoring at a high clip yet. His forte will remain handling the ball and orchestrating the flow of the offense, with some off-ball shooting likely to be his primary form of scoring early on.
With that said, the Frenchman is still capable of getting to the rim and finishing. He’s among the draft’s more underrated athletes, and has the sly dribbling skills and shifty ball handling needed to work his way into the interior and carve out space. He’s one of the smartest players you’ll find according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, and is still a relatively young 18-year-old.
In addition to his offensive promise, he’s an excellent defender, providing the size and athleticism needed to cover both guard spots.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
While Ben Simmons appears prepared to take on primary point guard duties, Ntilikina could fit in nicely as a secondary creator offensively. He has the shooting touch needed to play off the ball, and has the type of premier feel for the game that could aid in taking the load off of the 6-10 Simmons in some scenarios.
His off-ball play this season could benefit him quite a bit if he were shifted into the Sixers’ rotation as well. He’s more comfortable than he was coming into the season as a swingman, and Philadelphia could theoretically rely on his as a multipositional cog depending on the lineup they thrown onto the court.
Ntilikina’s promise as both a playmaker and a two-way 3-and-D man leaves his ceiling fairly high in the Sixers’ uniform. He could take some time to iron out just where he fits into an NBA offense, but that’s something Philadelphia can easily afford him. He’s a high-end guard prospect, and that’s something the Sixers need moving forward.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 7. Jackson
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Jackson
SF, Kansas
Almost universally, Jackson would be placed higher than this as a consensus. However, with a few noticeable flaws and a highly talented crop, I’m cautioning my approach to Jackson as a prospect — especially in regards to the Sixers. With that said, he’s a thrilling athletic prospect with elite two-way upside in the mold of a more skilled Andrew Wiggins.
Offensively, Jackson’s lack of a jumper is his largest concern. He hasn’t polished off his 3-point shot yet, and doesn’t have the most reliable midrange game to fall back on either. He utilizes his size well in terms of gaining position on the floor, it’s simply a matter of capitalizing on the ensuing opportunities as a result.
Despite those concerns, however, Jackson still projects as a really, really good NBA player. He can play above the rim with ease, and is among the more prolific slashers you’ll find at the college level. Jackson also handles the ball well for his size. He boasts a passing touch that has been largely overlooked in some circles, and could carry upside as a playmaker as a result.
Jackson is also another elite defensive prospect on the wing, with great lateral mobility and excellent range of motion.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
Jackson, like Anunoby, would bring a needed boost of wing depth to the rotation. He doesn’t necessarily jive with Simmons all that well given his lack of a perimeter jumper — 25 percent from 3 — but is too talented to look past regardless.
As a passer, Jackson could help take some of the hefty playmaking role off of Simmons early on. He’ll by no means run the offense, but can certainly take the ball up the floor and run a handful of plays on occasion.
Jackson’s defensive upside would be his most beneficial aspect from day one. Outside of Covington, the team lacks consistency on that side of the ball. Jackson’s ability to get into passing lanes and turn defense into up-tempo opportunities in transition is something a youthful Sixers team could feast on.
Jackson, despite a lack of fit, is too talented to not find a role on both ends for Philadelphia. Even in such a loaded guard class, he’s worth looking into.
Expert’s Opinion — Jonathan Givony, DraftExpress
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 6. Smith Jr.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dennis Smith Jr.
PG, N.C. State
Smith has, for the most part, disappointed so far in 2016. As somebody who I had ranked third in my first big board, Smith’s production hasn’t stacked up favorably to the other elite point guards in the class — yet. With that said, the recent debut of Omer Yertseven in the rotation figures to help quite a bit, and his talent level is still incredibly high.
From an explosiveness perspective, it’s hard to match Smith — which is saying something given the level of athleticism at the forefront of this draft class. Smith is extremely quick off the dribble, and boasts great strength for a 6-2 point guard. He finishes through contact with impressive force at the rim, and can play vertically as well as anybody else at the one spot.
While his 3-point shot isn’t the most prolific, he has certainly made it a legitimate part of his arsenal. He’s still putting up over 18 points per contest on 34 percent shooting from deep, and is by no means floundering towards the bottom of the lottery talents.
As his passing accuracy improves, Smith figures to be a highly dynamic point guard at any level. He gets into the teeth of the defense with ease, and has the jerky style of play needed to find space in any scenario.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
Smith’s fit is obvious given the Sixers’ needs on the perimeter. He’s another ball handler to throw into the mix alongside Simmons, and has all the tools necessary to excel both with and without him on the court.
As somebody who thrives with the ball in his hands, Smith’s fit would be interesting with the Simmons dynamic — as it will be with any ‘true’ point guard, per se. With that said, he’s a good enough shooter to find success in that avenue. In addition, he shows no problems finding room as a slasher, and would still be featured plenty in Brett Brown’s offense as the primary initiator.
Smith is far from some secondary piece alongside Simmons as well. If we were analyzing on the scope of last year’s draft, the argument for picking Smith over Simmons would be very real, and very prominent.
The talent level in this year’s class in extremely high, and Smith is an embodiment of that. Expect him to play a massive role if drafted by the Sixers.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 5. Ball
Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Lonzo Ball
PG, UCLA
As I must’ve tweeted out a couple of times (at least) in some form, Lonzo Ball stresses me out. A lot. In terms of guys who are tough to get a read on, Ball ranks at the very top of that list. His inconsistent play style and combination of overwhelming positives and irking negatives have sent him back and forth in my personal rankings as of late.
With that said, there’s no denying the potential. He’s a gifted passer, and holds the title of best facilitator in this class with no objections. At 6-6, Ball sees the floor incredibly well, and has dished out some of the more impressive passes of this college season en route to leading an undefeated UCLA team to second in the country.
He’s also stroking threes at a high rate off the catch — despite a painfully funky release — and has found ways to score in transition as well. My main concern stems from his lack of penetration at times. He doesn’t score well off the bounce, and tends to stay towards the perimeter at times rather than attacking the interior, especially against elite defenders.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
This is perhaps the most odd fit of any point guard. While his size and passing skills bring excellent versatility, just how well he’d mesh with Simmons and company is up in the air. His facilitation skills are his proverbial bread and butter, and that could limit Simmons given his lack of scoring — or vice versa.
Nonethless, he’s simply a special talent. Ball is a generational floor general in some respects, and has enough upside elsewhere to warrant the Sixers taking a very serious look at him. Even with his awkward stroke, Ball shoots a high percentage from deep — 45 percent — and has the size and explosiveness needed to develop a scoring game off the bounce.
I wouldn’t expect much scoring out of Ball early on, which is somewhat of a non-starter from a Sixers’ point of view. Regardless, however, he’s too talented not to take a look at. It’s really that simple.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 4. Monk
Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Malik Monk
SG, Kentucky
I’ve been riding Monk high ever since the offseason, and now everyone seems to finally be catching on. After a 47-point showcase against North Carolina, Monk’s hot shooting hand has garnered national attention on a whole new level.
As somewhat of an undersized two-guard, there are some concerns, mostly defensively, that hold Monk back a bit. He’s a gritty defender and a gifted athletic presence, but could be relegated to guarding point guards at the next level — at least early on.
With that said, the offensive upside is unquestionable. He’s a smooth athlete in transition, and possesses the ability to get to the rim and play above it with impressive ease. That, however, isn’t what has sparked his dominant stretch thus far. Monk has shot lights out from deep, and is looking more and more like an instant go-to option at the next level.
Monk is hitting 42% of his 3-point attempts on upwards of 8 tries per contest, and proving himself to be college basketball’s most prolific threat from deep. He has a compact release with excellent footwork on the outside, and is easily among the better offensive prospects in this class.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
This is probably the best fit so far. Monk is capable of handling playmaking on some occasions, and can be easily relied on as a hefty perimeter scorer working off of Simmons and Embiid. He’s the type of instant shooting spark that the Sixers don’t yet have, and could find a strong niche from day one.
Philadelphia doesn’t have much guard depth in general, and Monk’s athletic upside and overall scoring prowess helps fill a lot of that void. He’s both a floor spacer and somebody who can function as a go-to scorer on the outside, and that’s something they need to balance out Embiid’s interior scoring.
Defensively, Monk makes a lot of sense as well. With Simmons as the primary ball handler, Monk’s limitations become far less restrictive. He’d be able to easily guard point guards on the other end without being without compromising defensive effectiveness elsewhere.
He simply fits with what the Sixers are trying to build in a very complementary manner.
Expert’s Opinion — Sam Vecenie, Sporting News/Yahoo
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 3. Isaac
Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Isaac
SF, Florida State
If Kristaps Porzingis was the unicorn of the 2015 Draft (thanks Kevin Durant), then it’s certainly fair to dub Isaac 2017’s unicorn. He’s listed at 6-11, but the simple eye test makes him appear like he’s an inch or two taller. Oh, yeah, he also plays small forward.
Isaac is a freakishly rangy athlete on the perimeter. His height and length allow him to get off shots from almost any angle, and his ball handling allows him to create opportunities you seldom see for players his height. He’s shooting 42 percent from 3-point range, and showing increasingly more versatility as the season progresses.
In addition to his scoring potential, Isaac has shown he’s an adept passer as well. He won’t run the offense, but his ability to see the floor from the exterior and make the right play with the can’t be understated.
His one concern at this point is his frame. He’s painfully thin,but has shown that he can add some muscle this season. He’s also polishing his game off much quicker than anticipated, thus the move up the boards here.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
Talk about versatility. Isaac could let the Sixers throw four 6-10-plus players onto the court without clogging up the painted area, with the likes of Simmons, Saric, and Isaac all being capable perimeter pieces. Not to mention, Embiid can shoot as well.
Isaac provides that aforementioned wing depth, but in a unique manner — to say the absolute least. He’d bring both spacing and a potential go-to option long term. His frame could make him more of a long term project, but that’s a worthwhile endeavor given his raw upside, even in a loaded class like this one.
Isaac has a rare combination of size and skill, and one that could allow Brett Brown to mold his rotations in an entirely new manner. He’s the type of risky pick that Bryan Colangelo might shy away from, but one that should be embraced wholeheartedly as a real option at any spot in the lottery.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 2. Tatum
Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jayson Tatum
SF, Duke
Tatum has quickly emerged as somebody who is well in the race for the top overall prospect. After missing the first several games of the season due to injury, Tatum has returned with impressive showings thus far. His polish as an in-between scorer and variety of go-to moves on offense projects extremely well at the next level, and could make him one of the more NBA-ready prospects on the board.
Where Tatum shines most is offensively. He utilizes a plethora of excellent moves in isolation to create space on his jumpers, and possesses footwork that is far more advanced than your typical 18-year-old forward. Whether it’s in post-up scenarios or facing the basket, his ability to find nooks in the defense and hit shots is exceptionally impressive.
He also boasts a 40 percent clip from beyond the arc, and enough skill as a passer to avoid it becoming a liability like some projected coming out of high school. In addition to that, defensive concerns that plagued his pre-college analysis greatly diminished. His length and athleticism, in combination with strong effort, has made him a respectable perimeter defender for the Blue Devils thus far.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
Tatum files under that additional wing depth category once again, but does so in a way none of the other swingman before him do. From day one, Tatum holds real go-to scoring potential and is somebody the Sixers could, in theory, rely on offensively.
He’s a strong enough shooter to work off of Simmons, and has made the Carmelo Anthony/Paul Pierce comparisons seem incredibly well-founded with his scoring prowess thus far. He possesses an innate sense of space on the court and is extremely apt in finding his spots on the floor and knocking down shots.
He gives the Sixers their Joel Embiid counter punch on the exterior, and carries a rather lofty upside as — potentially — their best player moving forward alongside Embiid.
Expert’s Opinion — Sam Vecenie, Sporting News/Yahoo
Big Board Rankings:
Next: 1. Fultz
Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Markelle Fultz
PG, Washington
Fultz reigns atop these rankings once again, as the Washington product continues to show an exceptionally well-rounded game. Despite the Huskies’ struggkles, Fultz is establishing himself as one of college ball’s most prolific scorers, while emerging as an elite playmaker as well.
Offensively, Fultz is truly the ultimate package at the one spot. He has excellent size at 6-5, and possesses a level and athleticism and craftiness that allows him to carve his way through the defense with ease. He makes great reads with the ball in his hands, and has the most advanced understanding of how to operate an offense outside of Lonzo Ball.
Fultz is the best guard prospect in recent years, and there’s very slim competition for that title at this point. He backs up his passing with a smooth outside shot — 50 percent from deep — and the ability to operate with exceptional success in transition.
He’s capable of covering both guard spots defensively as well, leaving a very pleasing floor and an overwhelmingly high ceiling.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
The fit is pretty clear here. Fultz gives the Sixers another upper echelon playmaker alongside Simmons, and somebody who would instantly be handedthe ball to run the offense alongside him. His perimeter shooting would allow him to spot-up off of Simmons when needed, while his perimeter presence could open up even more room for the likes of Embiid on the interior.
Fultz, despite Simmons’ promise, would be the best prospect on this team — assuming Embiid is an established force. His ability to break down the defense and run an offense is something Brett Brown has never had before, and an asset that brings quite a bit of versatility to Philadelphia’s young roster.
Whether it was as a go-to scorer on the perimeter or a primary passer, Fultz would find a myraid of ways to contribute as a true cornerstone moving forward. It’s rare that a class so talented rolls around, but Fultz has established himself in rare air.
He feels like the undisputed top prospect at this stage in the season. That’s not going to change, barring some unforeseen occurrence.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
Next: Sixers' Hopes Go Beyond the 2017 NBA Draft
Big Board Rankings:
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