Too many young players plague the Philadelphia 76ers. But if the team uses picks 24 and 26 in the 2016 NBA Draft, a draft and stash would be a wise strategy.
You don’t know who will be at 24 or 26 of the 2016 NBA Draft until we get there. By then, it’s just too late to wing it. The Philadelphia 76ers must enter the draft knowing what they plan to do at the 24 and 26 picks.
It’s not enough to assume that the team can select a prospect and then assign that player to the developmental league with the Delaware 87ers. Other teams have walked to the gates of the 87ers and raided their roster before. There is no protection for any prospect to remain associated with the Philadelphia 76ers in the D-League.
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So another strategy is called for. We know the method by heart. Draft a prospect with huge talent potential, and stash them overseas for a year or two while they round out their game and while the Philadelphia 76ers refines the lineup.
In the case of Dario Saric, there is a risk of a player maturing so well, that they continue to play overseas through their rookie phase of the NBA, to force a full priced contract upon their team when they truly are eligible. But for now, no matter what happens with Dario Saric and his decision to remain in Turkey for another season or to come to the United States and play in the NBA, there is still far too many young players on the Philadelphia 76ers roster for the comfort level of Bryan Colangelo. The Sixers will take the number one pick of the NBA draft, and then must decide what to do with the rest.
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Some prospects lend themselves better to a draft and stash scenario. Let’s review who might flourish in that strategy:
Next: Thon
Thon Maker
When you think of raw NBA talent, one of the first images that form is that of Thon Maker. He’s a 7′ center with moves like a guard. He’s the Sudanese-born Australian who is attempting to jump from high school to the NBA, and he just may do so. In order to be eligible, a player has to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school. Maker was born in February of 1997 and, according to his guardian, graduated high school in June of 2015 despite staying at Athlete Institute in Ontario, Canada for a fifth year of high school. His situation was so unique that the NBA gave him the go ahead.
Maker measured at 7’0 and 220 pounds in 2015 and has a high motor and perimeter skills on both ends. Big men who can space the floor and move their feet on defense have value in the modern NBA and Maker has the potential to be that type of player a few years down the line.
He’s the mixtape phenom, a player whose images on the basketball court appeared just as his name reached you. And Thon Maker wishes that wasn’t the case:
"“People have gotta stop with the mix-tape stuff,” Maker said. “That’s not me. I bet you those people that put out those mix-tapes haven’t really sat through a whole game of mine and watched it and saw my defensive rotations, the way I communicate to my teammates, the way I pass the ball. They probably got the bad passes, the one-handed passes, and didn’t get the fundamental two-handed ones, or jump stop, or skip passes. They don’t get to see all of that stuff. So some people use that to identify me, the mix-tapes, and I just told the teams what it is. That’s not me.”"
Who is Thon Maker? He is a very talented 7’0″ player who could fall to 24 or 26. If he does, he would be a prime player to select and stash internationally.
Next: Zhou
Zhou Qi
He’s 19 years old, stands 7’2″ and has an incredible 7′ 7.75″ wingspan which is one of the largest wingspans ever recorded at an NBA combine. And at 19, he’s still growing. Playing at the position of center, Zhou has the interest of franchises selecting in the mid- to late first round because of his mobility, soft shooting touch and rim-protection ability.
He is projected at the mid 20’s by most mocks, the perfect place to be selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. He led the Chinese Basketball Association in blocks per game and in minutes per game this year, with 3.2 blocks in 34 minutes per game. He also added 15.8 points and 9.8 rebounds, shooting 60 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free-throw line. His ability to stretch defenses beyond the three-point line, while providing a shot-blocking presence in the paint, is coveted in today’s NBA.
He was in the US working out for a variety of teams. When he returned to China in late May, he was planning to learn English and bulk up his 218 pound frame. With more muscle mass, the young man will need additional time to learn how to use that power.
Next: Cheick
Cheick Diallo
He was a Kansas Jayhawk, but while there he posted just over 200 minutes of playing time, and averaged just 3.0 PPG and 2.5 RPG. However, he has the measurables which makes any NBA executive sit up and take notice. He’s a 6’9″ 219 pound forward with a 7′ 4.5″ wingspan. Since his high school days, Diallo has long been known for his tremendous athleticism in running the floor and his unwavering motor. In the combine five on fives – as well as in an NBA that is increasingly played in the open floor and in space — his skills shine through and allow him to really perform well. In one game he scored 18 points with 4 blocks and 4 rebounds. In a second game, he scored 9 points but pulled down 10 rebounds.
He’s known as an active defender who can block shots and really guard in space due to that mobility at his size. Those players are rare in the NBA, and they’ve become even more valuable in recent years due to the relative downsizing of the game. It’s worth noting that Diallo is absolutely still a bit of a project on the next level given that he’s only been playing basketball for about six years, but the combine allowed him to show teams that this season wasn’t necessarily his real self and that he’s a project worth undertaking.
If selected, he’s the type of young man who would be ideal for a two -three year international assignment.
Next: Furkan
Furkan Korkmaz
Once the darling of the 2016 NBA draft, his name has lost a little bit of luster in comparison to some of the other talents who are gaining popularity.
at 6’7″, 170 pounds and just 18 years old, Korkmaz is the ideal draft and stash candidate. His career has had limited playing time and overseas production, which adds to the argument to stash him. But he’s not a raw talent by any means. He’s just raw physically.
He’s been in the basketball scene him since 2013, from the under-16 European Championships to last summer’s under-19 World Championships, where he averaged 13.7 points in 24.2 minutes on 45.2 percent shooting from three. He’s played the last two years against pros in Euroleague and the Turkish Basketball Super League with Anadolu Efes, who dresses former draft-and-stash NBA talents Dario Saric and Cedi Osman.
His greatest limits is playing time, but he’s still managed to put together enough flashes and a strong first-round case for the 2016 NBA draft.
He has a great perimeter shot at 44.3% accuracy, and 56.2% from two point range. He projects as a shooting guard in the NBA, and that is certainly an area of need for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Next: Kyle
Kyle Wiltjer
Kyle Wiltjer is a 23 year old 6’10” 238 forward with incredible offensive skills and a great basketball IQ.
He’s got a good perspective. Wiltjer is a blue collar mentaility, a “just give me the ball and the chance to earn my way”, a mentality that resonates with the very fiber of the Philadelphia 76ers fan base. But it’s more than a determined mindset that brings him to mind in the NBA draft.
It’s that oh so very sweet offensive shot chart is too good to look away from.
Don’t get me wrong, Kyle Wiltjer has the potential to be something very special in the NBA someday. He simply needs more focus on the non-offense aspects of the game. So why stash him? He is a defensive liability, and he needs some polish on his ball handling skills.
Wiltjer’s perceived defensive shortcomings and lack of elite athleticism create a lot of doubt with league observers about whether he can stay on the floor in the NBA long enough to be a contributor. He needs to smooth the rough edges on his shortcomings. A short assignment where he can more fully develop defensive skills would be a nice way to ensure he arrives and stays at the NBA level.
Next: Summary
Summary
In many cases, young men get one chance at the NBA. If you show up prematurely, fans and even some executives judge your entire career upon the standard a player creates for themselves. If a 19 year old struggles defensively, that theme will haunt them even in their late 20s and even after they’ve master the defensive side of the ball.
For those NBA players who have incredible talent, but is either too raw or too skewed to impact the NBA as a well rounded player, the notion of playing internationally can only help their overall NBA careers.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, whose roster is already bursting at the seams with young players, there is simply no more capacity to take on a player/project. The only solution is to weigh the option of an international assignment for their players heavily.
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Basketball is basketball, and the popularity of the sport has created competition around the world. While the NBA is the best there is, it’s not all there is. Players who need more time can take advantage of that.
Eventually, the goal is to load the Philadelphia 76ers roster with the best talent possible. We needn’t limit the options for how that talent arrives.