Philadelphia 76ers: Could An All-Kentucky Lottery Help?

The 2017 NBA Draft class is beginning to shape up. Kentucky’s backcourt has emerged as one of the most talented perimeter shooting for the Philadelphia 76ers to look into.

The Philadelphia 76ers are bound to be at the forefront of the NBA Draft conversation once again this offseason. There’s no denying that.

Where Kentucky Slides Into the Equation

The Kentucky Wildcats have one of the most talented groups of freshman talent on a yearly basis. Coach John Calipari is unmatched at recruiting. That’s made Kentucky a hotbed for young, up-and-coming NBA talents. Furthermore, it has made their developmental system all that more impressive along the way.

Calipari has been fairly blunt in his goals at times. Winning is certainly a significant aspect of the Wildcats’ culture. But it is overshadowed by the way they cultivate their players into NBA-ready assets. In fact, that has always been a cornerstone of Calipari’s regime.

They look for the most gifted players coming out of high school. Then, the team slots them into the roles where they can excel at college and in the eyes of professional scouts.

Few coaches are as willing to play younger players over veterans. The level of success Calipari often obtains is incredibly unique. With the likes of De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk gracing their backcourt this season, little has changed in that respect.

Briscoe Contributes Too

While sophomore Isaiah Briscoe is still playing a massive role–and working his way into the 2nd Round conversation as a result–both Fox and Monk, as well as 5-star four-man Bam Adebayo, have been a huge part of the offensive rotation.

With the Philadelphia 76ers likely to be looking for perimeter talent come draft night, the likes of Monk and Fox have become very real possibilities. While Monk’s perimeter scoring has likely garnered him a higher draft spot for the time being, a scenario in which both are selected by the Sixers isn’t necessarily out of the proverbial equation.

How Monk, Fox End Up in a Philadelphia 76ers Uniform

The Lakers have made massive strides this season, but their likelihood of making the playoffs still appears thin. Their high octane bench and explosive young talent is counterbalanced by a dreadful defense. That said, they simply aren’t ready to jump to the next level in the increasingly competitive Western Conference.

With that said, they certainly aren’t bad enough–yet–to fall to a top three pick. which would award their selection on draft night to the Philadelphia 76ers. If the Sixers fall into that top slot or so, that gives them the potential to have a pair of draft picks within the 1-10 (plus or minus) range on draft night.

Right now, Monk and Fox project consistently within the five-twelve range on most big boards. Conversely, I believe Monk ranks much higher, and he seems to be trending upwards as well. For the time being, projecting player ranks fall along their predicted slot.

The 76ers would pick Malik Monk with their first pick, and follow that up with the name De’Aaron Fox ringing over the loud speakers later in place of the Lakers’ selection. While it seems like an odd route to take, the talent that both Monk and Fox possess makes this entirely reasonable.

Must Read: 2017 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0

At that point, the only remaining question is fairly simple: how do they fit with the Sixers’ current core?

Fox’s Fit with the Sixers

There are some fairly distinct highs and lows when analyzing how these two fit in with the Sixers’ game plan. Philadelphia’s unique build as a roster–with great emphasis being placed on the frontcourt–leaves some relatively expansive grey area in terms of just how well the combination of both Monk and Fox would fit into their respective niches on the team.

Joel Embiid’s prowess as an offensive powerhouse at the five spot seems to be something the Sixers will continue to lean on. Ultimately Ben Simmons is the player who will likely determine just how the likes of Monk and Fox fit. Brett Brown stated that Simmons would run the point guard spot upon his return. Wwhether or not he takes on a full load of ball handling duties could dictate how the new additions would fit–especially Fox.

Distributor Cap Is The Spark Plug

Fox’s main utility is as the main ball distributor, as his uncanny quickness off the dribble allows him to get into the teeth of the defense and create offense at a fairly high clip. His athletic tools at 6-4 are impressive, but he lacks the strength and the scoring touch at this stage in his development to really operate off the ball with extended success.

He’s a skillful ball handler and a nearly impossible entity to slow down once he gets going full speed in transition, but his lack of a jumper will be his most notable hindrance early on. That could, with Simmons possibly handling the majority of the playmaking load, relegate Fox to a backup position.

Fox coming off the bench as he polishes off his game, however, isn’t a bad idea. His elite physical tools could transform him into a dominant scoring threat if he further develops his outside shot over time, and his defensive skills are a notable boost in reserve. Neither the injury-plagued Jerryd Bayless nor Sergio Rodriguez offer much longevity at the point guard spot at this stage, so bringing in Fox to add to the mix makes sense later in the lottery.

Monk’s Fit with the Sixers

Monk’s fit is more immediate than his counterpart’s in this scenario, as the high octane scorer should have an immediate role as the starting 2-guard–especially if Gerald Henderson is elsewhere next season. Despite being somewhat undersized for the shooting guard position at 6-3, playing alongside Simmons would diminish a good bit of those concerns given the fact that he could cover the point guard defensively early on.

If there’s one thing Monk has proven himself capable of doing thus far in 2016, it’s score the basketball. That’s an aspect of the rotation that the Sixers have greatly lacked in recent seasons. Monk is shooting in the ballpark of 38% from beyond the arc, but that’s significantly more impressive when you note that he’s taking around 8 attempts per game.

Free Flow

Monk has been able to flow freely in the Kentucky offense for the most part, and is draining an incredible volume of shots from deep–one of the more emphasized points of criticism coming into the year.

Both off the catch and off the bounce, Monk showcases fluid fundamentals with his shot and has simply exudes confidence in every aspect of his game. He plays like an elite scoring threat on the wing, and a transition of that to the NBA seems very plausible at this point in time.

In addition to his scoring, however, Monk’s other tools make him an ideal fit with Simmons on the outside. He’s a capable ball handler and intelligent passer in his own right. That alone is something that many have overlooked this college season. Playing almost solely off the ball alongside Fox and Briscoe has had it’s clear benefits in the scoring department. But that doesn’t mean we can simply rule out Monk’s legitimacy as a creator when asked to fill that role.

Like Fox, Monk is an incredible athlete on the perimeter. There’s a ton of potential both short and long term in adding a player of Monk’s caliber to the rotation. Furthermore, he’s all but guaranteed to be part of the conversation leading into draft night. Of course, barring some major changes as the season progresses.

Chemistry and if it’s Worthwhile

Is it an iffy gamble with the wealth of talent that will be available? You bet. But when Monk and Fox enter the conversation, the chemistry it would bring does make this a scenario worth considering.

These are two supremely athletic guards who have run circles around their competition this season. Clearly, Fox and Monk have established a good rapport on the court. On one had, they’re highly energetic. On the other hand, both share the ball around en route to shredding hapless college defenses on a nightly basis.

This is a Kentucky organization that has produced great relationships in the past. From DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall‘s clear friendship to Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis‘ partnership in Phoenix, it’s a lifelong bond. There’s a certain level of personal entanglement that seems to come from passing through the NBA preparations of a year (or more) at Kentucky. That mesh exists in both Monk and Fox today.

Friendship Is Not The Only Blendship

I’m not here to speculate on a magnificent friendship that hasn’t necessarily come to fruition. On the contrary, there’s just no doubt whether they understand how to compliment each other on the basketball court. Bringing in two rookiess who already know how to player with each other, and enjoy doing it, is a huge plus. In fact, it’s a benefit few–if any–teams experience. But it’s one that a rebuilding Sixers team in need of a pivotal campaign could certainly reap.

The chances of them both starting together are not high for now. But the simple notion of adding two top-ten talents who understand how to execute alongside one another is nonetheless appealing.

Next: Top 5 Prospects to Target in the 2017 NBA Draft

Depending on who’s available when the Lakers’ selection rolls around, Fox may not be the best selection available. But Fox could be in the mix. That likelihood is enough to put some stock into bringing in an All-Kentucky draft haul.