The Philadelphia 76ers grabbed one of the 2016 Draft’s most promising players when the team selected Ben Simmons, but the 2017 NBA Draft is a whole different ball game.
The 2016 NBA Draft is now in the record books. It resulted in what has been largely considered a successful draft haul with the establishment of Ben Simmons as the next franchise cornerstone in Philadelphia. The team also picked up two other solid additions in Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Furkan Korkmaz later in the first round. With 2016 behind us, the 76ers will surely begin looking forward to next year’s draft fairly soon.
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Despite the likelihood of new additions this offseason and a highly promising upside presented by Ben Simmons, the Philadelphia 76ers are likely to remain a lottery team next year. Given the excitement surrounding the talented players who are expected to commit next season, there’s certainly reason for an early analysis of some prospects who could suit the 76ers’ needs.
The 2016 NBA Draft was disappointing from a potential standpoint. Outside of the top eight, a slim number of players ever showcased anything that would lead to a projection beyond the label of solid contributor. The 2017 NBA Draft, however, is set to be quite different. With a high school class loaded with highly coveted players and a solid bunch of returning upperclassmen, there’s a lot of hype that could be legitimized come next campaign.
Next: 1. Giles
PF Harry Giles, Duke, FR
Duke’s forward Harry Giles is somebody widely considered a possibility with the first overall pick next season. So if the Sixers fail to improve to a position out of the NBA basement, he should be one of the first players on their mind. Standing at 6’10” with an incredible 7’3” wingspan, Giles’ physical tools alone make him a tantalizing prospect at the next level.
He’s a fluid athlete who’s incredibly explosive for someone his size. He handles the ball with agility and making smooth moves to the basket on a consistent basis. His length, which gives him a 9’1” standing reach, makes it hard to contest his shots when they go up. This gives him a ton of potential driving down the lane and operating in the paint.
Giles, albeit only 18, has well-developed instincts for the game. He understands how to locate his spots on the offensive end of the floor and is extremely aggressive in looking for his offense. He utilizes his physical advantages to create separation and knock shots down, while his ability to read the defense and make the correct decision with the ball is extremely promising for someone of his age. His first step is far quicker than your typical power forward, and his leaping ability allows him to finish in entertaining fashion around the basket.
Defensively, Giles’ length and lateral quickness makes him fully capable of switching off of screens and guarding multiple positions. Giles can chase down blocks and insert himself into passing lanes with relative ease and displays commendable potential on that side of the basketball. In addition to his defensive prowess, he’s a well above average rebounder for his position.
There are certainly weaknesses here. Giles’ jumper is raw at the moment, and it’s the one pressing flaw that’s holding him back in terms of maximizing his unbelievable potential. He only shot 59% from the free throw line and showcased an awkward release from the perimeter that fell at a rate far less than desirable.
With that said, at the FIBA U19 championships, Giles averaged 25 points and 19 rebounds per 40 minutes against some of the best high school competition in the world. He’s a special athletic prospect with soft touch in the lane and around the basket, in combination with defensive potential that’s tough to match. He has established himself not only as the best prospect in the 2017 Draft for the time being, but someone who could surpass the likes of Ben Simmons, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins as the best prospect in recent memory with a few subtle improvements. He doesn’t solve the Sixers’ current spacing problem, but in time he could be a dreamy second star alongside Ben Simmons in an idealistic world, even as another big.
"“Standing 6’10 in shoes with a 7’3 wingspan and a now-227-pound frame, Harry Giles has terrific physical attributes for a power forward. He’s added nearly two inches of height and 24 pounds since his first USA Basketball measurement in 2012. He now compares favorably from a size (but not athletic) standpoint to Amare Stoudemire who measured 6’10 with a 7’1.75 wingspan and a 233-pound frame coming out of high school.” -DraftExpress"
Next: 2. Fultz
PG Markelle Fultz, Washington, FR
Standing at 6’4” with a 6’9” wingspan, Markelle Fultz is another player whose athletic package is immediately intriguing. He has huge hands for the point guard spot and is a nimble athlete when slicing his way through the lane.
Fultz’s feel for the game and ability to create for both himself and teammates off the dribble is unparalleled in this draft class. He has a nice set of dribble moves he can utilize to maneuver his way through the defense and is extremely difficult to stay in front off due to his noteworthy rapidity off his first step. He’s creative with the ball in his hands and sees the floor extremely well. He penetrates the defense with ease and facilitates and an extremely high level afterwards.
In addition to his knack for passing, Fultz is a promising scorer as well. He shoots the ball consistently from beyond the arc and is an ideal spot-up shooter that could work alongside someone like a Ben Simmons in the future, while also possessing a nice soft touch around the rim and impressive athleticism in space.
Defensively, Fultz has all the tools of a successful multi-positional force. He hasn’t always shown the willpower desired out of a top prospect on that side of the ball, but against tougher competition at the college level with more advanced coaching, I would be shocked not to see that change. He has a confident demeanor and is someone who can telegraph passing lanes well beyond the average rate and force turnovers at a high clip when he is concentrated.
Fultz is ranked second on DraftExpress’ current big board behind the aforementioned Giles and is considered in many circles the best point guard in a class that is highlighted by a strong group of talent at the one spot.
"“In a matter of two years Fultz has gone from a junior varsity sophomore to arguably the best guard in the 2016 class and a potential top pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Despite the USA team being loaded with perimeter players, Fultz’s talent was still able to shine through at the Nike Hoop Summit. Although he’s a better athlete and not quite the shooter, the future Washington Huskie fits the D’Angelo Russell mold – a lead guard who can both score and create for others with a level of creativity and flare. Fultz’s trajectory has been remarkable, and there haven’t been signs that the improvement will slow down soon. With the keys to Lorenzo Romar’s offense, Fultz should be in position to take the Pac-12 by storm.” -Mike Schmitz, DraftExpress"
Next: 3. Monk
PG Malik Monk, Kentucky, FR
Continuing the trend of impressive athletes, Malik Monk in perhaps the most entertaining of them all. The Kentucky commit has already made a name for himself in this year’s class as an offensive juggernaut from the high school ranks with the physical features of someone who could excel at the next level. DraftExpress currently mocks him in the early 20s in next years draft, but I could see that number dropping well into the single digits over the course of this upcoming season.
Monk is an extremely quick and agile guard who speeds his way through the lane in awe-inspiring fashion at times. He’s a nifty creator who sees the floor fairly well for someone who is typically considered a comboguard at 6’4”, and has a diverse scoring arsenal that allows him to simply put up points in a hurry. He can get some tunnel vision at times and take some bad shots, but he handles the ball extremely well and often has no problem finding space to get a shot off, whether on the outside or around the hoop. In terms of his shooting, Monk has proven himself to be effective off the catch, making 12 of 26 from deep in the Global Nike Challenge, but he was somewhat hesitant to attempt extensive amounts of pull up shots when far away from the basket.
Transition is where Monk is pessimally dangerous. He’s difficult to contain when he’s pushing the pace in the open court and has all the tools necessary to overpower his defender and get to the rim with astounding effectiveness.
Defensively, Monk’s commitment is his greatest concern. He has the quickenss and physical tools to defend either guard spot, but can seem indifferent at times and doesn’t always put a great sense of urgency into how he plays on that side of the ball. Greater competition at Kentucky could help that a lot, but it’s one of his most pressing concerns entering the next level.
Next: 4. Ntilikina
PG Frank Ntilikina, Strasbourg, Int’l
Frank Ntilikina has been the most highly touted international prospect coming into the 2017 class, as the impressive amount of skill has shown thus far in his early development (he’s not quite 18 yet) is certainly a promising sign. Standing at 6’5” with a 7′ wingspan, Ntilikina’s physical prospects are exceptional for the one spot, and his multifaceted play has only cemented himself as a likely top 10 pick.
While he may not be the ideal fit moving forward with Ben Simmons, from a pure draft prospect analysis standpoint, it’s tough to ignore the Frenchman’s upside. He understands how to operate at multiple different speeds on the offensive end and is the most advanced passer in this draft class at the moment, which is a rarity for someone as youthful and inexperienced as he is. He can see over the defense given his height and handles the ball at a level few can draw parallels with, especially in this draft class. He utilizes a plethora of dribble moves to work his way into the defense and is a highly unselfish player. He’s willing to pass up solid scoring opportunities to get a teammates an even better one, and that’s always a good sign when analyzing a rookie’s tendencies. He’s an improving shooter from outside as well, although still a little rough in that regard, and doesn’t possess the most aggressive mentality when searching for his offense in the lane.
Defensively, he has everything necessitated to cover both guard spots and be an elite switch defender. He’s committed to executing on both sides of the basketball and reads the opposition’s sets extremely well. He needs to fill out his frame before he’s ready to bash physically with the stronger two-guards at the NBA level, but he his build is one that should easily fill out over time.
Ntilikina isn’t going to score the ball all that much, sometimes to a fault, but he’s by far the most effective facilitator in this year’s draft class. He’s far more developed from a basketball I.Q. standpoint than the majority of players his age, and his aptness in creating offense for others is something that should intrigue any team, including the Sixers, even if it’s not a seamless fit on paper.
"“French point guard Frank Ntilikina proved to be one of the top prospects in attendance at last summer’s U18 European Championship (playing up a year) and has done nothing to diminish that while earning some real minutes at the Euroleague and French league level despite being only 17 years old. The tall, long and fluid playmaker is highly unselfish and has terrific upside defensively. NBA scouts watching him for the first time are bound to be impressed with his maturity.” -Jonathan Givony, DraftExpress"
Next: 5. Jackson
SF Josh Jackson, Kansas, FR
Josh Jackson, albeit it not much of a fit with the Sixers, is another incredible athlete with a noteworthy upside that should find his way into the early stages of the lottery next season. Standing at 6’8” with a 6’10” wingspan, he has excellent size for the small forward spot at the next level and is an explosive athlete in space who is capable of pulling off highlight reel plays at almost any given moment.
Offensively, Jackson is a highly fluid player who executes exceptionally well at alternating speeds. He’s a hard cutter who finishes well around the basket and has a nice touch around the basket to compliment his freakish athleticism. He pushes through contact willingly and is among the stronger finishers, if not the strongest, in the draft class, especially from the perimeter. Jackson has a strong feel for the game as well, as he doesn’t overdo it with the ball in his hands and he’s a budding passer who could flourish as a secondary or tertiary playmaker with proper coaching and development. His shooting is his main weakness. His shot isn’t entirely broken, but he has a funky release that could hold him back as his career progresses, especially against NBA competition in the future. That’s something he must work on, but if he improves it, he could become an elite scoring prospect given his other physical gifts.
Defensively, Jackson is another player who is ideally suited to covering multiple positions. He’s quick for his size and can switch onto almost any perimeter position, while he could feasibly function as a defender against small ball fours once his frame fills out. He’s a highly dedicated defender and puts out the type of energy that NBA scouts will certainly be enamored with on that side of the ball.
Alongside his shooting, one disadvantage that DraftExpress noted that is worth keeping an eye on is his attitude. He has a tendency to, at times, be “outwardly demonstrative” towards his teammates according to Mike Schmitz, something that should be carefully watched by NBA executives and fans alike as he builds up his credentials for the NBA level of play.
"“Josh Jackson’s measurements are virtually identical to the numbers he’s posted over the last two years. He isn’t freakishly long, but otherwise has prototypical size for a wing at the next level to go along with outstanding overall athleticism. His ability to pack muscle onto his frame will be a point of interest moving forward as he remains on the skinny side.” -DraftExpress"
Next: 6. Fox
PG De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky, FR
As yet another athletic guard out of Kentucky, De’Aaron Fox (pictured left) brings a level of defensive prowess that’s highly intriguing in a draft class that has been largely characterized by offensive firepower. Standing around 6’3” with a 6’6” wingspan, Fox is well built for the point guard spot at any level moving forward and has the type of two-way pedigree that could be intriguing to a team like the 76ers come draft night.
Offensively, Fox has shown some distinct limitations, but he’s far from ineffective. He’s quick off the dribble with excellent ball handling skills and a knack for creating his own shot around the basket. His finishing touch is still unpolished, but he gets into the teeth of the defense with ease and can certainly operate at a high level from there. Shooting wise, he has been inconsistent overall, but his mechanics are strong and he has all the looks of someone who could develop into a legitimate spacer, especially spotting up, at the next level. Fox is an unselfish distributor as well, and although his decision making is still developing, his ability to move the ball is promising for someone entering one of the most effective college programs in the country.
Defensively, Fox’s aggressiveness and awareness are at a level simply unmatched in this draft class. He’s quick laterally and does an extremely good job of staying in front of his opposition and anticipating their next move with constant effectiveness He forces steals at a high rate and in a pesky ball hawk who has all the signs of a formidable stopper once he hits the NBA, something that could suit Brett Brown’s system well. His basketball I.Q. really shines through on the defensive side of the ball, and given that he has plenty to work with offensively as well, he could be a viable option in the later stages of the lottery or the mid-first round depending on where the 76ers find themselves making selections by the time next year roles around.
Fox has a solid two-way floor with a ceiling that puts him in the same category as a number of the surefire lottery picks in the upcoming class. Whether or not he falls far beyond the lottery’s end or rises further up is obviously something we won’t be able to gauge until after this upcoming college season comes to a conclusion, but he’s a solid option to consider for Philadelphia in a premature sense.
"“What will allow Fox to make an impact from day one at the college level is his defensive prowess. He brings tremendous intensity to this end of the floor, to go along with his excellent size and quickness. He has quick hands and terrific instincts for swiping at the ball and creating turnovers, which helped him to wreak havoc on the World Team guards in the actual game and create a ton of easy baskets for his teammates.” -Jonathan Givony, DraftExpress"
Next: 7. Ball
PG Lonzo Ball, UCLA, FR
Lonzo Ball (pictured right) is another point guard with excellent physical attributes that could fall somewhere within the same range as the aforementioned Fox. Standing at 6’4” with a 6’7” wingspan, he has separated himself from the proverbial pack as one of the best passers in the draft and another elite defensive prospect.
On the offensive side of the ball, Lonzo is a master in terms of running the offense at a myriad of different paces. He’s thrives in transition with excellent instincts and a knack for nailing long outlet passes, while his ability to cut through the defense in the halfcourt and penetrate the lane is without question. Ball averaged 8.7 assists per 40 minutes/paced adjusted at adidas Nations, showcasing excellent vision when controlling the basketball and one of the more refined facilitation games in the 2017 class. He’s a mediocre athlete and doesn’t explode off the dribble, but he knows how to find his spots and execute an offense. With that said, Ball’s jump shot is unorthodox in just about every manner in terms of release point, as he shoots from the left side of his body, and he will definitely need to focus on improving that aspect of his game to fully exploit his talents on a team like Philly playing off of Ben Simmons.
Defensively, Ball overcomes his somewhat underwhelming athletic aptness with a nose for the ball and instincts that are really only matched by Fox on the perimeter in the upcoming class. He works his way into passing lanes with ease and is notably effective at poking the ball loose and forcing turnovers through pesky play. He’s a committed two-way player who puts in maximum effort on both sides of the ball, and is highly reminiscent of someone you could picture playing on a Brett Brown team.
"“Ball is one of the more unique talents in the 2016 class. His size, court vision, basketball instincts, rebounding ability and defensive playmaking will make him an eventual, legitimate triple double threat in the Pac-12. It will be interesting to see how Ball’s jump shot, arguably his biggest weakness, develops under former sharpshooter and current UCLA head coach Steve Alford. Overall, Ball has room to improve his body, jumper, and shot selection, but he’ll serve as a do-it-all lead guard for the Bruins, and has a chance to continue that versatility at the NBA level down the road if he continues to develop.” -Mike Schmitz, DraftExpress"
Next: 8. Anunoby
SF OG Anunoby, Indiana, SO
OG Aununoby was a surprise impact during last year’s tournament, bursting onto the scene as an elite defensive stopper on the wing and a high energy contributor who had gone relatively unnoticed for the majority of the season prior. Standing at 6’8” with a long reach and a strong core, Anunboy is the first returning college player mentioned on the list and a highly unique prospect that the Sixers could target as a later first round possibility.
OG wasn’t much of a factor more most of last season, so his draft is in many ways still up in the air in terms of where it could stand at the end of this upcoming season. If he continues to ball hawking defensive output and excellent energy on both sides of the ball that he showcased in the tournament, he could feasibly sneak into the lottery conversation. However, with that said, an uninspiring season could leave him towards the end of the first as a largely unproven asset. Regardless of where he ends up, his potential at the next level is something the Sixers should definitely take note of. Offensively, he’s a strong slasher with explosive finishing skills around the basket, albeit his perimeter scoring remains underdeveloped in a number of aspects. He is, however, an intelligent player for someone at his stage in development and shows a lot of 76er-type qualities on the floor in terms of willingness to learn at ability to out-hustle his opposition.
Defensively is where Onunoby’s impact will be most greatly felt. He’s an elite athlete at the three spot who can switch onto any position without hindrance on the perimeter. His body in NBA-ready in the mold of, almost, a Kawhi Leonard and he is an ultra-motivated stopper on that side of the ball. He’s more than willing to put a body on the opposition’s most talented player and takes the challenge of shutting him down to heart. He projects beyond well to the next level as a wing defender, who hustles on the boards and excels in transition off of forced turnovers as well.
Onunoby isn’t a seamless team fit for the Sixers on paper, but as a potential late first rounder, his defensive prowess is something any team should consider. He’s going to hit the gym at full throttle on his first day with the team and is someone that will continuously work to get better himself and put the team in an overarching position to win basketball games to the best of his ability.
Next: 9. Allen
SG Grayson Allen, Duke, JR
Grayson Allen gained a lot of buzz as a potential late lottery, mid-first round pick this season before opting to return to Duke once again for his Junior season with the team. The explosive comboguard was the Blue Devils’ most effective offensive piece for the vast majority of last season, on the same team as Brandon Ingram, and could provide the Sixers with excellent value on the wing in the later stages of the 2017 draft.
Allen’s ability to attack the defense off the dribble is among the most prominent in college basketball. He’s a crafty ball handler for the two spot and gets into the teeth of the defense with apparent ease, while knocking down tough shots and finishing through contact in impressive fashion seem to be the cornerstones of his game at times. He’s a smooth outside shooter spotting up and can create offense off the dribble at a high rate. Allen can get sloppy handling the basketball and gets into jams when he forces the issue at times, but is an all-around skilled creator on the offensive end, even though he’s undersized to an extent at the two-spot.
Defensively, Allen shows solid instincts but can be overmatched by elite talents at times. He struggled to guard upper echelon talents such as Jamal Murray and Isaiah Briscoe in the team’s matchup with Kentucky last season, and was overpowered by stronger guards despite already possessing a somewhat sturdy build Allen can force turnovers and get into the opposition’s grill at times, but he doesn’t project overly well as a defender at the next level right away.
Allen’s ceiling doesn’t reach superstar heights by any means, but he projects extremely well as an offensive spark plug at the next level, especially in a sixth man role potentially. He can score the ball in bunches at any given moment and is the type of skillful off-guard that could work well off of Ben Simmons when willing.
Next: 10. Hart
SG Josh Hart, Villanova, SR
Josh Hart is entering his senior season after proving to be one of the pivotal pieces in Villanova’s 2016 title run, as the skilled comboguard led the way as the team’s most effective outside scorer and a consistent producer on both sides of the basketball. He’s projected as a late first, early second round prospect that Philly could look at as a solid backup plan on the perimeter.
Hart is a fairly average athlete, standing at 6’5” with a 6’7” wingspan and mediocre leaping ability, meaning his offensive game revolves more around skill and savvy rather than raw explosiveness. His more NBA-ready aspect is, without question, his three-point shooting. Hart has significantly improved his stroke over the course of his career with Nova, with his percentage from deep climbing all the way to 46% last season on almost three attempts per game. He’s a strong spot-up shooter, but has also improved his handles to the extent that he can operate in isolation in some scenarios and create enough space to get a shot off in that realm as well. He’s also an improved passer who could operate as a secondary ball handler to Simmons as the ideal shooting-passing compliment, while his ability to operate off of screens opens up a number of pick-and-roll opportunities in that situation.
On the defensive end, he’s an extremely competitive player who showcased great instincts over the course of his junior year. He overcomes his subpar lateral quickness with unyielding energy and excellent on-ball anticipation. He’s not going to be a stopper on the wing, but he can cover a couple of spots, switch well, and give sufficient effort in every facet.
Hart is the type of high I.Q. upperclassman that could always find a way to carve out a niche at the next level. His understands the limitations of his body and plays within them to an exceptional extent on a nightly basis. He has shown flashes of hybrid guard ability that could excite Sixers fans in their current rotational situation, and his spacing is still a desperately needed asset for the time being.
"“Hart contributes not only with his effort level, but also with his excellent basketball IQ. He makes the extra pass frequently and willingly, either moving the ball along on the perimeter, pushing it forward in transition, or finding his big men in post-entry situations. His intelligence and unselfishness bodes well for his role-player potential at the next level, especially since he’s unlikely to make it off his pure talent.”-Jonathan Givony, DraftExpress"
Next: Philadelphia 76ers See Backup Role For PG Ish Smith
At the end of the day, the 2017 NBA Draft will offer a smorgasbord of young talented players. Not only will the Philadelphia 76ers have their own draft pick, but will have the Los Angeles Lakers pick (top three protected) as well as the rights to swap with the Sacramento Kings.