The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Ish Smith Can Dish

By Bret Stuter

Jan 27, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) drives the ball to the basket as Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) defends during the second quarter of the game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) drives the ball to the basket as Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) defends during the second quarter of the game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The Lure Of The NBA Draft

Right now, Ish Smith’s greatest competition is not even on the roster, nor even playing in the NBA. With his performance at the point guard clearly as the starter, young rookie T.J. McConnell has emerged as the reserve point guard – a role that befits the young man as he gleans both experience and confidence playing backup to Smith. In fact, since the trade for Smith, McConnell’s game has actually improved.

He now has a mentor to learn from through conversation and observation. So far, it’s working.

But the pair play for a team whose NBA draft can include four first round draft picks, with two of those picks optimistically sitting at the first and fourth picks of the draft.   In either position, game changing talent can be found.  Prospects whose impact should immediately translate into a top ten in the NBA at their position in their first year.  And these Sixers have two potential picks.  They also have a perceived need at the point guard position since the team failed to land D’Angelo Russell with the third pick of the NBA 2015 draft.  He went to the Los Angeles Lakers who picked second that year.   Forget the fact that T.J. McConnell is outplaying D’Angelo Russell this season, or that Russell is rumored to be on the trade block  by the Lakers already. There was a draft with a prospect fitting a need.  Fans do not shrug that story off easily.

Sometimes, top rated prospects do not deliver quickly, or worse, sometimes not at all. The Lakers may have done the Sixers a favor in taking Russell, who is not winning over the head coach of the Lakers so far.

Right now, the Sixers have many alternative options for the upcoming draft.  They should focus on wings, either a shooting guard or a small forward.  This draft has plenty of options.  The obvious answer for the team is to focus on BPA and sort out the player skillsets after the fact.  That path has linked the team with both Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, despite the presence of center turned power forward Nerlens Noel previously.

ALSO ON SIXER SENSE: What Can Jerry Colangelo Tell Us About Philadelphia 76ers Trade Strategy?

If the team targets a point guard in this draft, there is talent there.  Duke’s Jammal Murray, or Providence’s Kris Dunn, Notre Dame’s Demetrius Jackson, Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe, or even California’s Tyrone Wallace could be considered.

Next: It Would Be Just Like Starting Over