Is Justin Anderson a Legitimate Part of the Philadelphia 76ers’ Future?

The Philadelphia 76ers have just acquired one of the youngest high-flying wings in the league. Is Justin Anderson a legitimate piece for the Sixers’ future?

Just 24 hours into his Philadelphia 76ers tenure, Justin Anderson is already flying under the radar.

The unexpected and misleading nature of the deadline day trade has shifted attention towards Bryan Colangelo and away from the Sixers’ newest young building block.

Anderson, the 21st overall pick in 2015, has been buried beneath a depth of wings the past two years. Anderson is an raw, athletic prospect who will get ample opportunities for the Sixers as opposed to providing water breaks for Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews.

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Given that Anderson will get his chances with the Sixers, let’s evaluate Anderson and see what the Sixers have in the young Small Forward.

Offensive Weapons

Anderson’s offensive skill set is relatively limited. He was drafted to fit the trendy “3-and-D” mold, but he’s relied far more on his athleticism than on his 3-point shot to be a passable offensive player.

Expect to see Anderson attacking the rim a great deal in a Sixers uniform. Anderson shoots 50 percent — above league average — on just 1.4 drives per game. That number will likely double.

Anderson is explosive off the dribble. He drives with purpose and authority. I have no doubt that the front office envisioned his athletic prowess shining in the 76ers’ offense, and rightly so. He will excel in Brett Brown’s maze of handoffs and inside ball screens. See if this action looks familiar:

Brown will use Anderson in short bursts. Anderson will never orchestrate the offense or weave through a high pick and roll. He’ll be attacking off the catch in lots of handoff situations, like so:

Jump Shot

Anderson’s jump shot has been a massive disappointment since being drafted in 2015. On the season, he’s shooting just 30.4 percent in catch and shoot situations.

Strangely, Anderson is shooting just 26.9 percent on 1.3 attempts per game that are considered “wide open.” That means that the closest defender is six or more feet away. His mechanics are clunky and he has also lost confidence in them.

I took a deep dive into Anderson’s jump shot on Twitter yesterday. All is not lost. Anderson has had very good stretches, and his mechanics have potential. It will be up to Brett Brown and the coaching staff to fine tune Anderson’s jumper. If you’re interested in looking into his mechanics, consider reading through the thread below:

Overall, Anderson will be a valued cog in Brett Brown’s offense. The Sixers have not had a high flying wing in the Brett Brown era. Brown might look to implement new sets and use Anderson off the ball in creative ways, but Anderson will be able to fit in seamlessly as it stands.

Defense

One area in which Anderson will make an immediate impact is the defensive end. He lacks discipline at times, but he is an off-the-charts athlete capable of making up for his own mistakes.

As Kevin Pelton touched on, Anderson is among 21 players in the NBA averaging 2.0 steals and blocking 2.0 percent of opponents shots per 100 possessions, in a minimum of 500 minutes played.

Good defensive players neutralize. Great defensive players weaponize themselves. Anderson combines elite physical tools with superb recognition. Notice here how he tails off his man to bait the pass, only to recover easily for the steal.

Anderson is clearly not ready, however, to defend at the rim. He ranks 374th out of 382 NBA players in field goal percentage within five feet at 66.3 percent. Anderson should limit his time guarding fours and fives, even though this stat says more about his team than Anderson.

So, Anderson should spend most of his time on the perimeter. He is a physical perimeter defender with elite lateral quickness.

Overall, Anderson’s physical tools, tenacity, and elite recognition make him a tremendous fit for the Sixers’ defense. Having another elite defender to share the court with Joel Embiid and Robert Covington will be a major asset for the Sixers moving forward.

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The Verdict

Anderson’s profile checks every box in the Sixers long-term plans. Elite athlete, defensive stalwart, offensive upside. The key always has been and always will be the development of Anderson’s jump shot. His encouraging junior year at UVA in which he shot 45 percent from distance is what drew him comparisons to Trevor Ariza. But without a jump shot, Anderson may end up a rich man’s JaKarr Sampson. Sixers fans have plenty of reason to be excited about their newest young piece. But his career will be entirely dependent on the development of his clunky jump shot.