2014 NBA Draft: Who is Vasilije Micic?

As many of you know, the Sixers drafted a couple of new rookies in the 2014 NBA Draft. Joel Embiid and Dario Šarić being the most notable, along with KJ McDaniels, Jerami Grant, Jordan McRae and lastly Vasilije Micic. Micic is one of the two international players the Sixers drafted (Šarić being the other) as they are no strangers to drafting international talent. It is unsure if Micic will be joining the Sixers this year or stay overseas but the fact of the matter is that he could play right away for the Sixers. Let me enlighten you about the Serbian pass-first point guard.

"Stats 11.8 ppg on 54.5 percent shooting (27.8 percent from three, 68.4 percent on FTs), 3 rebs/game, 5.8 asts/game, 1.7 stls/game, 3.5 TOs/game while playing 31 mins/game.Strengths Passing Ability Pick and Roll Basketball IQ Offensive VersatilityWeaknesses Defense/Lateral Quickness Perimeter Shooting"

Vasilije Micic is a big point guard — what a surprise choice by Sam Hinkie. He is 6’6”, 202 pounds, which is essentially the same as Greivis Vazquez, who is a free agent this summer. Micic has a 6’7 wingspan and is definitely not the quickest, fastest or highest-jumping point guard there is. What Micic lacks in athleticism, he makes up for with his basketball IQ.Also, Vasilije looks like he could be related to Jonathon Givony of DraftExpress!

Micic operates best playing in the pick and roll. His height and court vision give him an advantage over most point guards. Micic is definitely not the most athletic player there is but he is one of the most patient P-n-r guards out there. He sets up his man and waits for his screen before he executes it. Once he comes off the pick, he typically gives his man and the hedger a freeze dribble. This allows for a momentary pause between the two defenders and for his teammate to either roll to the rim or flare to the sidelines. Vasilije’s long arms and height allows for this freeze dribble to be effective. When Micic operates in the P-n-R, his first thought is to pass. However, he is just as successful scoring the rock. Most of his scoring comes from floaters or getting to the rim and using a variety of pump and head-fakes to get his defender in the air.

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When Micic isn’t running the pick and roll, he is looking to set up others off screens or cuts of his own. Being a big point guard, he likes to facilitate from the post as well. He doesn’t necessarily score from there but he can draw a double team on his smaller opponent and find the open man. Defensively, Micic will have a hard time staying in front of his man in one on one situations. Off-ball, he moves around fine; his length gives him the ability to get in the passing lanes and get some steals (almost two a game). His length helps with the inability to stay in front of his man at times but his lateral quickness is not what the Serbs would call “добро” (good).

Vasilije Micic will be called upon as a backup PG behind Michael Carter-Williams with the Sixers and playing 15-20 minutes a game would benefit Micic in the second lineup. His passing would give the Sixers backup unit a little flair to their game and he wouldn’t be heavily relied upon playing defense. Again, it is unlikely that Micic comes over this year to play but when he does, the Sixers will utilize him because he is a phenomenal talent.