Philadelphia 76ers: Top 5 Players to Target in the 2017 Draft
The Philadelphia 76ers have their main franchise cornerstones in place. That being said, if the Philadelphia 76ers can get their hands on a point guard in the upcoming draft, they’ll be more than happy.
In this top five I will not include Lonzo Ball (UCLA) or Frank Ntilikina (France) because they are a bit too unselfish and too passive to play alongside Ben Simmons. I will also not include any big men because at this moment the 76ers have Embiid, Okafor, Noel, Saric, Ilyasova and Holmes (maybe even Simmons) occupying the 4 and 5. Finally, I will not include any draft-and-stash players but I do acknowledge the fact that it could be a route the Sixers go down.
Markelle Fultz
Markelle Fultz would instantly fill a need at point guard. The UW guard can space the floor very well, he’s currently shooting 48.1 percent from three. He can also score efficiently in transition or dish it to the open man. Fultz has high basketball IQ, he knows when to drive, shoot or pass. He is also adequate at dishing the ball, as he is averaging 6.6 assists per game. Furthermore, the guard’s rebounding also goes under the radar, he’s one of the best rebounder guards in college with 6.7 rebounds per game.
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Fultz is a big point guard, standing 6-5, 195lbs. He is also very athletic, this is best illustrated in his fast break dunks. He has also had a handful of Lebron-esque chasedown blocks, further showing his immense athleticism. This blend of size and athleticism gives Fultz potential to be an effective defender at the next level. On top of this, Fultz is a very nifty scorer in the lane, he’s very tricky to stop as defender don’t know what he may do.
The 6-5 guard is the only real NBA talent currently at Washington, he is given the green light to run and lead the subpar offence. Overall, there are no real glaring weaknesses in Fultz’s game, he’s one of the most complete players in the draft.
Dennis Smith Jr.
Dennis Smith Jr. is another player that fills the Sixers need of a point guard. Smith may perhaps be the most athletic player in this draft, he glides past defender with ease when running at full speed. This athleticism leads to easy buckets at the rim, whether that be a flashy dunk or a tough lay up. His incredible athleticism gives Smith the chance to excel and be a nuisance on the defensive side of the ball. Similarly to Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr. will have the chance to lead NC State, as aside from Omer Yurtseven there isn’t much NBA talent on their team.
That said, Smith has struggled this year, only shooting 26 percent from three. If he can’t space the floor he may struggle scoring for the Sixers since the paint may be cluttered with our array of big men. Also, while in college, Smith injured his knee, so far he looks as if he’s recovered fully but it may be a risk considering how many careers have been ruined by these types of injuries.
Josh Jackson
Drafting Josh Jackson would only make sense if Ben Simmons plays point guard. Jackson is another player in the discussion for the most athletic player in this star studded draft. The small forward from Kansas is very talented defensively because of his elite athleticism. He also has a great feel for the game, he rarely rushes anything. Jackson is a tremendous finisher at the rim, it’s what his games is mainly built around. When Jackson’s confidence is high he can shoot well from the field but it’s just not consistent enough.
Sometimes, however, his shot selection can be erratic, leading to low shooting percentages. Jackson is only shooting 27 percent from three this season, that is a low number for a wing. Teams would hope Jackson could emulate Kawhi Leonard, who only shot 25 percent from three in college for San Diego State. Last year Leonard shot 44 percent from three, showing teams the players can always learn to shoot.
Jackson also struggles from the charity stripe, he is only shooting 56 percent from there. That is also a very concerning figure. Finally, Jackson is as old as some juniors, he will be 20 in January. This may play a factor in where he will get drafted.
Jonathan Isaac
The Philadelphia 76ers may only draft Jonathan Isaac if, again, Ben Simmons plays point guard. But, Isaac can space the floor, unlike Josh Jackson. Isaac is currently shooting an impressive 44.4 percent from three for FSU this year. Isaac’s eye catching length and untapped potential is the main reason as to why he’s projected as a top 5 pick this year. The skinny Seminole is a 6-10, very smooth small forward with a 7-1 wingspan. He only weighs 205 pounds, which, similar to the Los Angeles Laker’s Brandon Ingram, is too slim for a small forward.
Isaac’s lack of strength leads to efficiency problem when finishing in the paint. He is also still very raw offensively, there’s a lot of polishing up to do to be an effective NBA player. The team who drafts him must be patient, Sixers fans are experts when it comes to having patience. It may take a few years for Isaac to develop physically, he will struggle early on because of his lack of weight, again, similar to Brandon Ingram.
Malik Monk
Malik Monk is an undersized shooting guard, standing only 6-3. If Simmons were to play point guard, Monk would fit perfectly into the shooting guard slot. His floor spacing ability is second to none, 39 percent from three. His highlight reel athleticism will help the 76ers on the fast break. Monk also brings some intensity on the defensive side of the ball. Monk is the type of player that can heat up and score in bunches, something the Sixers would love to have next to Simmons.
When relied upon leading the offence Monk can struggle, he is currently averaging 2.4 assists per game whilst turning over the ball twice a game. This proves that Monk cannot be relied upon to lead the offense. Despite this, Monk may be coming into the NBA at the right time where positions mean nothing. 6-11 point guards like Giannis Antetokounmpo and 6-7 power forwards like Draymond Green. Size doesn’t seem to matter no more, perfect for a player like Monk to excel in.
Overall, I believe the Sixers will draft a point guard if the chance presents itself. Thankfully, this upcoming draft class is loaded with potential franchise players at point guard. Now is the time for the Philadelphia 76ers to sort out that position.
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