Could Philadelphia 76ers Land At 3, 3 Seasons In A Row?

Kris Dunn

Kris Dunn is likely the top rated point guard in this draft, and the point guard is definitely a position the Philadelphia 76ers will seek to further address this off-season. Their reunion with current starting point guard Ish Smith has only temporary, as he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. The team allowed Smith to seek a contract elsewhere at the end of last season, and he signed on for a year with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Dunn is a 6’3″ 205 pound prospect from Providence University. He is a junior, which translates into his entering the NBA at a fairly mature 22 years of age.  Dunn becomes a curious prospect to the Philadelphia 76ers in two ways.  If the team’s own pick lands in the three or four spot, he is definitely in play.  But he is also in play if the Sixers land the four or five pick from the Los Angeles Lakers.  His is a name worth remembering.

The Philadelphia 76ers have had two challenges in the point guard position this season, shooting accuracy (when the one position takes shots) and defense.   Dunn can address both.

OFFENSE

Strengths

Dunn can take charge of a game, particularly against a formidable opponent. The 6’4” junior point guard went for 13 points (5-10 FG), 14 assists (six turnovers, though), 5 rebounds, and 4 steals before fouling out with 16 seconds left in overtime in a late in the season victory over Villanova. Dunn unequivocally has the keys to Providence’s offense: assisting at 47.5% (first in nation), steal rate of 5.2% (eighth in nation).

He was a projected lottery pick last year before deciding to return to school after two successive seasons with injuries.  We actually addressed his potential in a well written piece from Jaylen Young in February, but with the approach of the NBA lottery, it’s a good time to revisit the young man’s potential.  He has a very reliable jump shot, and has been discovering accuracy from the perimeter as he has boosted his three point shooting accuracy to 37%.  That is compounded by his relying more and more on the long range shot.

Weaknesses

Dunn takes chances, and there lies the rub.  He can thread an impervious defense with laser-like accuracy, but miscalculate later in the game.   Turnovers, the bane of the Sixers, is also a huge challenge to Dunn.  But that comes with the territory of being a point guard with a team so reliant upon your passing.

DEFENSE

Strengths

Dune does defense. In fact, the focus of most scouting reports remain on his jumper, offensive arsenal, and passing proficiency. But defense is likely where this young man will hang his NBA Jersey.   What many overlook about the junior All-American is that much of his play-making ability is driven by the havoc he creates on defense.  Providence is not a statically intimidating team, but they have found remarkable succes through an unusually prescient defense led by the prolific play of its superstar, Dunn.

Spearheading this defense is Dunn, who ranks second nationally in steal percentage at 6.5 percent. How does he do it? Dunn simply put is a gambler, and his length and defensive awareness enable him to read passing lanes and generate easy points.  Being 6’4″ gives Dunn a height advantage at his position, which will be negated in the larger bodied NBA, but the most impressive part of his defensive ability lies in his lateral quickness.  That will carry him far at the next level.  And given his rare combination of quickness and size for a point guard, it isn’t surprising that he also possesses an ability to block shots.

"Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress notes that, “Defensively, Dunn has all the tools you look for in a guard — elite size and length, a great frame, quick hands and feet, and outstanding instincts getting in the passing lanes — resulting in some extremely impressive plays.”"

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Weaknesses

Live by the sword, die by the sword.  Just as Dunn’s defensive play-making abilities stand out, it also comes at a question to his discipline and responsibility, areas that his NBA opponents will be more than happy to exploit at the next level.

"Ed Isaacson of NBADraftBlog expressed voiced concern his gamble rate, stating that Dunn “tends to gamble, including often leaving his man completely, no matter where he is on the floor, to try and force a turnover. This will work to some degree at the college level, but wouldn’t at the NBA level. Isaacson went on to say that “Dunn’s greatest strength is probably his awareness to see where the offense is moving and to react quickly enough to jump passing lanes when he has the opportunity.”"

All in all though, few argue about Dunn’s general defensive instincts. If the Sixers feel a need to shop for a two way point guard with incredible upside, then the inability to obtain Ben Simmons would surely have some of the sting alleviated by grabbing nearly as proficient Kris Dunn.

If the 76ers fail to land either of the top two picks in the NBA draft this year, it will not be the end of the world.  In many ways, the team will find a player at either three or four in this NBA draft to possess virtually all of the skills needed to bolster the Sixers’ production next season.  And there is something to be said for picking up a prospect who is a little hungrier than the rest.

This could work out very nicely for Philadelphia.