Does T.J. McConnell Give Sixers Confidence to Pick Simmons?

As the Philadelphia 76ers seek to improve the point guard position, all eyes turn towards the NBA draft. Can the Sixers select Ben Simmons to upgrade the backcourt? With T.J. McConnell on the bench, they certainly can.

The Philadelphia 76ers have pretty much maxed out players with huge upsides in both their center and power forward positions for the 2016-2017 season. Beginning with Nerlens Noel, then adding Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, and finally pulling in Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes, the Sixers appear to have their work cut out for them in mentoring/mixing/matching/monitoring/moving their logjam of tall men for the 2016-2017 NBA season.

The team needs back-court help, and could stand to obtain a serious perimeter defender at a wing position. But defense seldom runs hot in NCAA prospects, as they focus on scoring as the main highway into their NBA dream career.  The Sixers may not find exactly everything they are seeking in the 2016 NBA draft, and so they need to prepare other options as well in what appears to be a down draft year.  But If the draft class is not as strong overall as recent years, it does have a skew towards smaller players.  Smaller players fill backcourt positions.  That is right into the Sixers wheelhouse.

The Philadelphia 76ers have the potential first round draft pick in the NBA draft, with an almost a 30% chance of selecting there.  As the Sixers have dire needs in several positions, the team will have a very important decision to make if they land the top overall pick.  One such choice who has been the talk of the 2016 NBA draft has been Louisiana State University point forward Ben Simmons.

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Ben Simmons is a rare type of basketball player who has no one true position. “Jack of all trades, master of none.”  If selected by the Sixers, he would likely be slotted into the point guard role.  That’s where his most valuable skill sets dictate he plays, that is where he wants to play, that is where the Philadelphia 76ers biggest need lies.  A perfect set up?  Well in some regards. You see, his bread and butter is passing the ball, and using his huge size in a way that few can – defending point guards.   He has not yet mastered the jumper, nor is his long range shot going to place on any highlight reels, but given time, he will grow into those shots.

Next: Best Relief

Best Relief

Given time.  you see, with all the arguments of who to choose, the factor nobody gives Ben Simmons is time.  He is projected as the number one or two pick.  Players of that magnitude arrive to a team with a built up desire to improve immediately, and the Philadelphia 76ers are no exception.  Ben Simmons may not be an immediate pick-me-up.  No team is set up to plug him in and go.  If he is picked by another team, they will place him into a power forward role due to his size.  But his shooting doesn’t have the complete arsenal.  If he comes to the 76ers, he is a point guard, but he has not played in that role for 20+ minutes a game.  He brings questions as well.

But there are answers too.  Simmons would enjoy the benefits of joining a team which has constructed an industry leading infrastructure.  Meanwhile, he would join newcomers Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, who also have skills in moving the ball.  Simmons, when paired with Saric, the Sixers could immediately improve upon their most damaging statistic, turnovers.    But in the end, all of this takes time.  But what about the meantime?

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The key to the 2016 NBA draft lies in the team. Draft a potential starter, but give the position ample competition to force the rookie to elevate his game and earn his minutes. Right now, that point guard position role is already becoming hotly contested by undrafted rookie T.J. McConnell

McConnell is more than just a warm body. He’s growing adept at a very challenging position at an astronomical rate.  Undrafted, he’s had to fight an uphill battle to get time on the basketball court.  And fight he has, giving the team a very strong performance that so many seem to be overlooking.  His rookie performance, even fettered from a mere bench role, has been absolutely outstanding.  In one year, he’s becoming a true competitor and contributor.

But the team will need more. And with his emergence, he has earned the right to deliver more.

Next: Comparable to MCW

Comparable to Michael Carter-Williams?

Invariably, the ultimate litmus test of the Philadelphia 76ers fan is the eventual outcome of point guard Michael Carter Williams (MCW). In fact, the team had just under a two year audition for the eleventh pick of the 2013 NBA draft to determine his status with the team. The die was cast when the team traded MCW as part of a three-way deal that netted the team the first round draft pick of the Los Angeles Laker (top three protected this year).

Before the trade, MCW had won the NBA rookie of the year as a 76er. Yet while he was a proficient scorer (career average 14.5 points per game) and could shovel the ball to teammates (career assists 6.1 per game) he had peaked in the eyes of president and general manager Sam Hinkie. You see, he played on average 34.2 minutes per game as a 76er, and his accuracy dropped from 40.5% as a rookie to 38.5% in his sophomore season.  His shooting was volume based, and very dependant upon driving to the basket. His long range shot was just 26% accurate while a 76er.  But the two key metrics for the point guard role is assists to turnovers , which came in at 1.79 and 1.75 for MCW, while his steals per assist fell from .53 to a career low .44 while a 76er.  He generated 441 assists for the team in his rookie season as the hands down starter.  To get a look at MCW’s shot chart, click here.

But the team is not without a point guard with high upside.  Casting a net far and wide, the team discovered undrafted Arizona’s T.J. McConnell in the search for point guard talent. While his chances with the team were not favorable, he rose to the challenge and earned a spot on the team, and then onto the court.

While T.J. McConnell has only earned just 19.9 minutes per game, and scored a modest 6.1 points per game, he has made very effective use of his court time.  He has 308 assists so far this season now, with games remaining to play, on nearly half of the playing time of MCW.  While he is less proficient at scoring, his 47.8% shooting from the floor is far more accurate.  His shots also are no as dependant upon driving to the basket, as his range has been a fairly successful 32.9% from beyond the three point arc.  The same two key metrics, when drawn from McConnell, come in at 2.5 assists per turnover and steals per assist at a more impressive .67.  To get a look at T.J. McConnell’s shot chart, click here. 

McConnell is more than just a warm body on this roster. He’s earned an optimistic projection. While he is not going to play a selfish “watch me take the ball to the hoop” style, his selfless manner is more fitting for a team that is pushing hard to becoming a champion caliber force to be reckoned with.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers Talent Raided By Other NBA Teams

Only time will tell if T.J.McConnell can have the type of NBA career that lands him a starting role on a playoff team.  But for now?  He’s earned the right to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.   And with his insurance on the roster, the team can stretch to fill the point guard role with a top NCAA prospect.