The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers’ Core: Ultimate Roster Analysis and Predictions

By Bret Stuter

Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 10, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) looks toward a teammate during an NBA Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) looks toward a teammate during an NBA Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Nik Stauskas

Status: Active and improving, fighting for a roster spot
Contracted Through: 2018
Current 2016-2017 Salary: $2,993,040
Trade Value: While selected eighth by the Sacramento Kings in the 2014 NBA draft, he would be valued at a high second round pick at this point

Strengths:  Nik Stauskas is flamboyant and loves the camera.  He also managed to win the heart of head coach Brett Brown, who singled both him and Robert Covington as players who could develop into two way players. While that may yet happen, the team has brought in a number of players at the shooting guard position who have better alignment with what Brown is trying to implement.
Offense: Stauskas improved across the board in his offense, nearly doubling his points per game to 8.5, rebounds to 2.5, and his two point accuracy to 47.3 percent.  When he arrived from the Kings, everyone knew Stauskas would be a reclamation project. He was that and more, finally getting his offense to gel at better than ten points per game in the last two months of the season.
Defense: Stauskas was promoted as a potential two way player for the team, but his defense, much like his offense, was sporadic.  His trend improved dramatically through the season, but he played far too many minutes for his production.

Weaknesses:  Not the quickest, not the most accurate.  He needs to bulk up this off-season, improve his shooting accuracy, and work long and hard. No easy fixes here.  Unfortunately, his off-season included time in front of the camera in spot basketball analysis for TSN. To Philadelphia fans, that gives an impression of a player seeking face time, rather than gym time.
Offense: He needs to find his shooting stroke. With no Isaiah Canaan, and with plenty of other shooting guards (see Luwawu, Henderson, Bayless, Thompson later) coming onboard, Stauskas is in serious risk of falling short of the threshhold to another season with the team. His accuracy was 38.5 percent from the floor, including 32.6 percent from the three point mark.  He had 32.2 percent from that distance the previous year, indicating virtually no improvement.
Defense: He simply disappeared in some games. Opponent shooting guards had a span of career nights against the 76ers, and head coach Brett Brown could only shut his eyes and hope that the team found a way to defend at the perimeter. He could improve, but the team needs that to happen in practice, and not as on-the-job-training in real games.

Probability of 2016-2017 Roster:  I like the young man, but the team shoved too many new faces at the position to give me confidence he stays.  40 percent chance he makes the roster.

Next: Thompson