In what was largely considered a down year for the NBA Draft, the Sixers got a steal with Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.
The 2016 Draft was considered by the vast majority of pundits to be a weak one, with a stark lack of exciting talents outside the top 8 players. However, with that said, there are always unforeseen sleepers that manage to slip the mind of many when analyzing draft classes, and a select few who have a greater aptitude that the average draftee to break the mold of that predetermined standard. Philadelphia 76ers’ forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is one of those players.
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Standing at 6’7” with a lengthy build and a solid frame that is continuing to fill out, the French wing drafted 24th overall by the Sixers brings a tantalizing blend of athletic gifts and a well-rounded skill set that places his upside well beyond the majority of players taken in the first round on Draft night. When I compiled my personal big board for 2016, I placed Luwawu 8th in the class, ahead of Buddy Hield and merely one slot behind the eventual third overall selection in Jaylen Brown.
While he may be lesser known to the general public in America and doesn’t have the same elite collegiate competition on his resume as some of his counterparts, I have little doubt in the fact that the former Mega Leks star will be among the most productive perimeter players in this draft class, and a chance to prove himself with a budding roster in Philly should only help his chances.
Next: Athleticism
Athleticism
The first thing that jumps out at you when you watch Luwawu play in his athleticism. He’s extremely explosive off of the wing, with an excellent first step in comparison to the vast majority of swingmen in the draft and an incredibly bouncy nature in his game. Luwawu can get to the rim and finish with ease, often in exhilarating fashion, and it aids him in excelling in a plethora of ways.
As a skilled ball handler, especially in transition, Luwawu has the ability to find driving lanes off the dribble and cut to the basket with notable speed. He’s tough to stay in front of from a defensive standpoint, and is often able to overpower his opposition athletically. While that will clearly not occur to the same extent against NBA competition, his fluidity en route to the basket and powerful finishing ability are extremely promising tools to build off of at the next level. Not only is his fun to watch, but he’s effective in the process of creating highlights.
Luwawu’s athleticism also aids on the defensive side of the ball, as he’s able to chase down blocks on occasion and make places in open court that in turn open up opportunities for teammates. He is certainly raw and a bit unpolished in several aspects of his game, but his ability to get around the floor and put himself in position to make plays is something that Sixers fan should be excited for as he begins working with an NBA-level training staff.
Next: Defense
Defense
Perhaps Luwawu’s most NBA-ready skill is his defensive capability. The rangy wingman can cover any perimeter position with effectiveness while his ability to create turnovers highlights an aspect to his game that will make him thrive in today’s NBA.
With the league being based around versatility to the extent that it is, having someone like Luwawu who can both play and defend multiple positions is a massive plus. His frame is already impressive considering its his first year of American basketball, and it still has plenty of room to fill out as his matures physically with the 76ers. Luwawu has a long wingspan in combination with his athleticism, and defensive instincts that far outweigh the instinctual habits of many other shooting guards and small forwards who we saw come off the board prior to him on Draft night.
As mentioned in the previous slide, Luwawu gets into passing lanes with ease and is highly mobile in the manner in which he patrols the floor. He’s able to anticipate the course the ball takes and insert his body in between it and it’s intended destination with apparent ease at times, while his ability to change directions with ease allows him to switch into help defense in an instance.
Luwawu isn’t much of a shot blocker with how often he is locker onto the perimeter, but he is fully capable of chasing down a block or two when the opportunities present themselves. His decision making on the defensive side of the ball will be tested against the more advanced competition at the next level, but he has all the tools to excel as the prototypical 3-and-D player that has revolutionized the league as of late.
Next: Transition Play
Transition Play
Luwawu was placed into an extremely rare situation by European standards in Mega Leks, as the team was comprised almost exclusively of younger players within the same general age group as the Sixers’ rookie. That youth, combined with a unique coaching philosophy, led Mega Leks to become one of Europe’s most up-tempo units, which highlighted some of Luwawu’s most impressive offensive skills during his tenure with the Serbian club.
Swarm and Sting
Luwawu’s athleticism has been a huge focal point thus far in this article, and the carries over to his ability to execute in transition. When operating at a breakneck speed, Luwawu handles the ball with impressive control, displaying the type of agility and finesse that few players that young are able to master when playing at the college ranks in America. His touch around the basket is still improving, but he’s fully capable of finishing above with rim, whether in space or in traffic, and is among the most explosive players off the bounce in the 2016 class.
Off of turnovers, Luwawu is immediately dialed in on finding the correct spot on the floor and maximizing his opportunities. He’s a capable three-point shooter when trailing behind, or can get out in front and lead the break from a number of different aspects. In addition to his high flying around the rim, Luwawu is an underrated passer on the fastbreak and is fully capable of finding a teammate on the perimeter with constant accuracy.
This is a Philly team that is built around offensive versatility now with Ben Simmons, and as their frontcourt mess is eventually cleaned up, their ability to push the pace and execute in small ball sets should play right to Luwawu’s strengths as an offensive player.
Next: Offensive Tools
Offensive Tools
Offensively, Luwawu is somewhat limited coming into the league outside of his exceptional transition game, but that doesn’t limit his upside whatsoever. With his athleticism on the way to the basket and much improved all-around skill set during his tenure with Mega Leks, Luwawu has put himself on the right track in terms of becoming an effective contributor in the half court as well.
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Luwawu’s shooting is his most promising sign moving into the NBA. He improved greatly over the course of his last season overseas, and seemed to develop a smooth stroke when spotting up and ideal mechanics that don’t need any extensive work from a functionality standpoint. With a clean looking shot and improving accuracy, Luwawu should be able to spot-up on the perimeter as an off-ball scorer to Simmons, Jerryd Bayless, and the rest of the Sixers’ playmakers,. His shooting touch will likely only improve as he gets acclimated to the league and works with a Philly training staff that has proven itself capable in the shooting department in the past. As a team seemingly starved of outside scoring during several stretches of games last season, this is a tools the Sixers will likely seek to exploit and improve at every possible opportunity.
Slashing is also a facet of his game that Luwawu should have ample success in at the NBA level. As I mentioned earlier, his finishing touch is still a work in progress, but he finds his way above the rim more often than not and could certainly develop as a quick off-guard cutter. His rapid first step and exceptional fluidity should allow him to free himself from the defense in plentiful amounts, and making his way towards the rim is the least of his worries in regards to skill. His solid passing touch in transition could translate well to half court sets as well, but that will likely come with time as he adjusts to what may be a slower pace considering the change in philosophy the NBA provides in contrast to Mega Leks and the decreased role he will play in early on.
Luwawu isn’t much of a shot creator yet, but that’s another tool that could come it time. I don’t expect him to be a 20-point scorer that pushes the majority of his buckets in through isolation match-ups on the perimeter, but utilizing his length and quickness to find space and get shots off isn’t out of the question in terms of something he could add to his arsenal as his career progresses in America.
Transition and the defensive end are the areas in which Luwawu is going to excel immediately, but his offensive game in general shouldn’t be too far behind. His work ethic will play a crucial role in determining just how successful he is as an all-encompassing wing player, but all the requisite tools are in place. His upside goes well beyond standard spot up shooter, with his defense only cementing his status as a potentially elite prospect.
Next: The Sixers' Perfect Wing
The Sixers’ Perfect Wing
Luwawu is in essence exactly what the Sixers need at this point. He’s a legitimate talent who has skills that should lead to immediate success at the NBA level, but also has tools that can develop over time as they continue their slightly expedited rebuild over the next few seasons.
His improving shooting touch adds a spacing element that could be servicable in some capacity next season, while his expansive aptness on the defensive end makes him someone who could cover a number of positions, whether in a tall lineup centered around a pair of bigs or a small ball rotations geared towards freely operating through Ben Simmons. He gives Brown a lot of flexibility on that side of the ball and helps reassure the aspect of the game that Philadelphia has stressed most in recent years.
Luwawu will, in all likelihood, take a while to reach his outright full potential, but that’s absolutely fine. This was a weak draft class with a myriad of picks that either won’t produce right away or will never reach a level far beyond average. Most teams will have to wait to reap any sizable benefits from this draft, and the Sixers should have no problem waiting as Ben Simmons produces immediate value. Colangelo’s patience could very well be tested, but his defensive toughness and exhilarating play style could give more than enough reason for him to allow Luwawu to stick around through his inevitable ups and downs, especially with their minimal depth on the perimeter as opposed to the front court.
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Luwawu is going to be a fan favorite, and it will surely be interesting to watch the gradual evolution of his game during his time with Philadelphia. He’ll make a lot of entertaining plays on the fast-break, and his defensive execution should do nothing short of please Brown from a coaching perspective. He might not make a huge impact early on, but he’ll find his methods of producing as the remainder of his game develops, and in an ideal world, eventually thrives as his career progresses. There was risk involved with considering Luwawu a top 10 pick, but he went 24th. This was a steal in every sense of the word, and Philadelphia should be zealously awaiting his arrival point as an impact player down the road.