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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Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with guard T.J. McConnell (12) during a break in the action against the Orlando Magic in the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with guard T.J. McConnell (12) during a break in the action against the Orlando Magic in the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

T.J. McConnell

Status: Active. Surprisingly successful rookie season. Likely slotted for backup role
Contracted Through:  2017
Current 2016-2017 Salary:  $874,636
Trade Value: Despite a great first season and low impact on salary cap, likely no better than mid second round pick.

Strengths:  A Marine-like mentality:  played with heart, hustle, passion, intellect, and grit. Practically willed himself to remain on the roster. He answered virtually every challenge by stepping up his game. He only missed one game the entire season.  McConnell ranked second among rookies with 367 assists, finishing just behind Denver’s Emmanuel Mudiay, who logged  far more minutes than McConnell did.  Defensively, McConnell’s 95 steals topped all first-year players, while his per 36-minute rebounding rate of 5.6 led this season’s crop of rookie guards.
Offense:  He’s truly a selfless player, averaging 4.5 assists per game despite averaging less than 20 minutes per game.  He shot at a 47 percent rate from the floor, including a 34.8 percent shooting from three-point range.
Defense:  He’s a guy who hustles defensively on each play, getting 1.17 steals per game and 3.1 rebounds per game from the point. In fact, his motor revved just as hard on offense as defense.

Weaknesses: He was an undrafted rookie, and had to fight that perception all season. It wasn’t fair, but if he had been a lottery pick in the 2015 NBA draft, he’d easily be in the discussions for starting point guard this season.  The fact is tho that he is raw and young, and as such played very inconsistently at the position where consistency is most critical.
Offense: He is a selfless player, but perhaps to a fault.  He needs to develop a good shot at the perimeter to force the defense to hang with him.  That will allow him to pass off to an open man and benefit the team overall.
Defense: He is still a young man defending wiley veterans.  As such he is still guessing and has not honed his instincts and anticipation to where they need to be.

Probability of 2016-2017 Roster:  No matter which way the lineup shakes out, he’s earned his right to play this coming season.  87 percent.

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