The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Why the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA Draft

By Christopher Kline

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot walks off the stage after being selected as the number twenty-four overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Timothe Luwawu

In addition to the Simmons pick up, the Sixers absolutely excelled with their later first round picks. The first of which, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, (it changed when his parents divorced) is someone I’ve been extremely high on since virtually the beginning of draft preparations. As an elite 3-and-D prospect who excelled overseas with an up-tempo Mega Leks team, I had Luwawu ranked higher than notable names like Buddy Hield as a draft prospect and think, in a vacuum, he has among the more bountiful upsides of any player we saw taken outside the top 8.

Luwawu’s most prominent impact early on will stem from his defensive aptness, a tool that Brett Brown will surely enjoy having in his arsenal. Standing at 6’7’’ with a solid, yet maturing, frame and a lanky wingspan, Luwawu’s defensive instincts are one of the staples of his game. He can guard multiple spots on the perimeter while utilizing his dynamic blend of athleticism and length to get into passing lanes and force turnovers at a high clip. This is a Sixers rotation that has the capability to going big and sliding him in as a versatile two-guard or running the court and have him spearheading that rotation at the three. Either way, his ability to force turnovers and in turn create opportunities in transition will be extremely valuable moving forward.

Alongside his defensive contributions, Luwawu’s improved offensive game over recent months has been a pleasant sign for his NBA projection. The Frenchman’s best qualities on offense come on the fastbreak, as he runs the court with great strides and handles well when operating at breakneck speeds. He’s an explosive finisher at the basket and an underrated passer in terms of kicking the ball out to open teammates on the perimeter. He has shown signs of seeing the floor better than an average wing player, and developing that could be a focal point of the Sixers’ developmental team as the acclimate him to the next level of competition.

While Luwawu’s half court offense is admittedly limited in several facets, the upside remains extremely promising for a team that isn’t quite ready to compete at a high level. He upped his three-point percentage greatly over the course of his last season with the team, and possesses the same explosion around the basket and athletic tools that could transform him into a dangerous slasher in time.

As someone who could work well as a running mate for Simmons in what could be a highly flexible rotation, the fact that Luwawu slipped all the way to the 24th spot should be considered a steal by all accounts, and one the Sixers could build on as a legitimate part of their future plans.

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