Could Mathias Lessort be the Sixers’ most NBA-ready second rounder?
Despite being the latest of three potential draft-and-stash options, Mathias Lessort could be the most NBA-ready talent from the Philadelphia 76ers’ draft haul outside of Markelle Fultz.
Despite gaining some traction early in the pre-draft process, Mathias Lessort fell a bit further than expected on draft night. The Frenchman went of the board 50th, wrapping up the Philadelphia 76ers‘ draft haul with their third international pick in four selections — all of whom were bigs. While Markelle Fultz was the draft’s obviously headliner at number one, the Sixers will now need to sift through their newfound talent in the frontcourt and decide who, and when, certain players will make their ways to the States.
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Lessort could be a unique case for the Sixers. In one of the deepest classes in quite some time, Lessort was arguably a high-second round talent that fell due to the skill level elsewhere on the draft board. He has already said he’s not sure as to whether or not he’ll make an appearance for the Sixers’ Summer League squad, but there’s a legitimate argument to be made in saying that he’s the most NBA-ready option out of the three foreigners taken off the board last Thursday night.
While the other bigs taken before him — Anzejs Pasecniks and Jonah Bolden — likely have higher ceilings on the offensive end, Lessort has the physical tools needed to compete with NBA bigs from day one. He’s on the shorter end of the spectrum at 6-foot-9, but has a strong enough frame to fill in valuable minutes as a third string center behind Richaun Holmes.
In many ways, Lessort’s game is comparable to Holmes’. He’s a high energy rebounder, while his greatest strengths on the offensive end come when he’s running the floor in transition.
It’s difficult to find bigs with Lessort’s combination of strength and foot speed in the latter portions of the draft. He’s capable of banging with top flight athletes on the interior and plowing through contact around the rim, but also boasts light feet and an impressive willingness to get out and sprint in transition.
When watching film on Lessort, a solid chunk of his offensive possessions end in lobs on the fastbreak. He gets out ahead of the defense and is bouncy enough to finish well above the majority of defenders retreating alongside him.
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If he’s placed into a rotation that’s set up to run like Philadelphia’s is, the potential for success is undeniable. Both Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons can put a great deal of pressure on opposing defenses in the open court, and Lessort has all the makings of a reliable finisher on the other end of their passes.
That rim-running translates into the halfcourt setting as well. He’s a strong pick-and-roll threat, setting hard screens and using that strength to finish both above and through contract in the paint. He’s also a dog on the offensive glass, finding good positioning and chasing his own shots with consistency. He goes all-out on both sides of the ball, and that shows in his per-40 numbers — where he tallies 5.7 offensive rebounds.
The 21-year-old has also made some strides as a shooter. While not reliable out to the 3-point line quite yet, his touch from mid-range has improved considerably. He has solid mechanics on his release and it could flourish into a viable asset once he’s paired with an NBA developmental staff.
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Lessort’s impact translates to the defensive end as well, and for many of the same reasons. His strength and ability to get off the floor quickly allows him to protect the paint better than a typical 6-foot-9 forward, while his quick rotations and excellent recovery time allows him to stretch out to the perimeter with some success. He averages 2.3 blocks per 40 minutes in the French league, and has the versatility needed to hold his own against the spacious offenses of the modern NBA.
While much of the focus on draft night tends to be put towards finding a team’s next star, far too many people overlook the benefits of a strong rotational piece in the second round. Lessort has the athleticism and the innate drive needed to play legitimate minutes off the bench from day one, something Brett Brown could need depending on his final lineup iterations.
There’s no guaranteeing that Lessort finds himself in a Sixers jersey next season — or ever — but there’s reason to believe that the front office and coaching staff should, at the very least, put some thought into that possibility. Both Pasecniks and Bolden have routes towards European deals, meaning they can easily spend another season or two overseas in an effort to fill out their frames and polish off their game.
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Lessort’s frame is already ready, and his game — while not as versatile as the bigs picked before him — does have a concrete niche in today’s NBA. If any of the Sixers’ latter picks hit the league this season, don’t be shocked if it’s Lessort gearing up in the red, white and blue.