The Sixer Sense
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Thon Maker: Hidden Key To Success

By Jaylen Young

Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Then Maker could be the key to the Philadelphia 76ers success, if they can find a spot for him.

“Trade Jahlil Okafor.”
“We need a stretch-four”.
“Okafor is too slow”.
“He’ll never be a good defender”.
“We should have drafted Kristaps Porzingis“.
“We have too many centers”.
“Okafor doesn’t fit with Nerlens Noel or Joel Embiid“.

If you are a Philadelphia 76ers fan and have not heard at least one of those comments before, then you are clearly not a true fan. To the many fans that believe those comments though, I have your answer. His name is Thon Maker.

Yes, Thon Maker. The same guy that is projected to go 40th in the NBA draft by DraftExpress.com and 28th by nbadraft.net. The 76ers possess the 24th and 26th picks in the draft and are both higher picks than what Maker is ranked by those two websites. I honestly cannot tell you why Maker is ranked so low but I am definitely not complaining. The draft (for the most part) is supposed to be about getting guys you think will give the best production a few years down the road and getting the guys with the most potential.

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As far as I’m concerned, Maker has a higher ceiling than anyone in this draft class not named Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram. There is absolutely no reason for 76ers GM Bryan Colangelo not to draft Maker at 24 (or even 16 if a trade is made with the Celtics) considering how weak this draft class looks to be overall. Look at this video and tell me this guy doesn’t have more potential than 98% of this draft class:

While I am one of the biggest Okafor supporters out there, there is a very real chance he is not on the roster come July. Who better to fill that void than Maker? He’s practically the anti-Okafor and specializes in things that most fans despise Okafor for. Maker is extremely athletic with a very high motor and can shoot the three ball at 7 feet 1 inch tall. He would slide in between Simmons and Embiid perfectly with no problem. He moves his feet and swats layup attempts like flies.

When watching Maker he has many superstar moments and other moments he looks very raw. That is fine though considering he’s still 19 (6 months younger than Simmons) and doesn’t look any more raw than Nerlens Noel who is 22 years old and going into his 4th contractual season. He is just like Porzingis (the guy Okafor haters wanted) in many ways.

Maker and Porzingis both step out and can hit threes standing at 7’1 or taller, they can both run the floor and dunk all over you, they both need to hit the weight room (although Maker is more willing to play physical), they both are highlight reel shot blockers, and both of them don’t clog the paint because they don’t thrive from post play. If you think the scouting staff failed from not picking Porzingis last year, then you should be hoping the 76ers come out of the 2016 draft with Thon Maker.

If Okafor is traded to the Boston Celtics, it would probably be for something like the 3rd and 16th picks along with Avery Bradley in return. Just imagine a lineup of Jamal Murray, Avery Bradley, Ben Simmons, Thon Maker, and Joel Embiid. In that lineup you have shooting/spacing, shot creation/ball-handling, rim protection, post play, lockdown perimeter defense, pick &rolls, pick & pops, fast breaks, and so much more. Not to mention the bench could consist of guys like Dejounte Murray, Timothe Luwawu, Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Nerlens Noel, Jerami Grant etc.

Next: How Many Wins Will Philadelphia 76ers Get In 2017?

Like I said before, Maker has a higher absolute ceiling than anybody in this draft class not named Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram. Semi-raw athletic freaks like Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and DeAndre Jordan are often taken outside the lottery for some reason and then GM’s wish they wouldn’t have passed on them. Don’t be like those other GM’s Mr. Colangelo. Make it happen.