The Sixer Sense
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Nik Stauskas’ days are numbered in Philadelphia

By Christopher Kline

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 25: Nik Stauskas #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 25, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 25: Nik Stauskas #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 25, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the roster rapidly improving, Nik Stauskas‘ role with the Philadelphia 76ers is quickly dissipating.

Nik Stauskas’ time with the Philadelphia 76ers has been interesting. Once a highly-touted lottery pick, the former Kings draftee has struggled to find his footing at the professional level. He got off to a rough start in Sacramento, and has come across many of the same struggles during his time in Philly.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

Last season was arguably Stauskas’ most important to date. With Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Gerald Henderson and Jerryd Bayless joining the rotation, there was more room than ever for him to lose his job.

Things got a bit more complicated after that. Stauskas began the season on a tear, shooting 44.8 percent from deep during the month of November. He eventually worked his way into the starting rotation as a result, and looked like he was finally turning the corner — both mentally and physically — in a league that had drained him in the past.

After November, however, that production dropped off. Stauskas shot 28.8 percent from deep during December, marking the beginning of what would devolve into yet another inconsistent campaign. As his shooting wavered, his production as a whole dipped. He showed quality instincts and a willingness to defend, but his physical tools simply aren’t enough to keep him effective if his shots aren’t falling.

The 2017-18 season now becomes the turning point in Stauskas’ career. While Henderson is no longer with the team, the team has loaded up with more wing talent than before. J.J. Redick essentially boots Stauskas out of his starting role, while Luwawu-Cabarrot, Bayless and Justin Anderson will all be competing for playing time between the two and three.

Furkan Korkmaz probably won’t get much action early on, but his prowess as a shooter and a secondary playmaker is more than enough to knock Stauskas off his pedestal if the production comes earlier than expected. The 19-year-old Turk has a higher ceiling, with size and athleticism that Stauskas desperately lacks.

If Stauskas doesn’t show any tangible growth, Korkmaz could be the validation behind letting him walk.

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There are things Stauskas can do to earn another contract, but the reasons for keeping him in Philadelphia are running dry nonetheless. His defensive deficiencies are permanent, and on a team that stresses defense as much as Brett Brown’s squad does, keeping a liability who doesn’t perform at an outlier-level offensively wouldn’t be a worthwhile investment.

We saw Stauskas playing some point guard towards the end of last season, and that’s certainly a viable route towards playing time — just not necessarily with the Sixers. Jerryd Bayless is still on contract for another couple of years, while T.J. McConnell can orchestrate an offense at a much higher level.

Stauskas fits the mold of what this team needs alongside Ben Simmons and Dario Saric on the perimeter, as he can fit into the offense off the ball while providing some marginal relief as a ball handler. But Stauskas’ lack of burst hurts him against a lot of better athletes in isolation, which would only become more apparent when he’s tasked with initiating certain possessions.

He’d also get beat at the point of attack relatively often when facing opposing point guards on defense, which makes Brown’s job more difficult when planning different assignments.

The most viable route for Stauskas is to essentially shoot his way to an extension — something he hasn’t been able to do yet in his career. He’ll have more open looks when playing alongside players like Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons, but his consistency feels like more of a mental issue than a lack of ability.

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