Philadelphia 76ers Draft: Optionality and Possibilities: A Sixer Sense Lottery Roundtable Series: Scenario 3

Philadelphia 76ers NBA Rountable: NBA Draft Day Scenarios Caused by NBA Lottery

From now until the lottery on May 16th,  The Sixer Sense will be featuring a round table discussion between some of The Sixer Sense‘s contributors. Each day the lottery will be simulated via Tankathon and our contributors will talk through what options the Philadelphia 76ers would have and the trade possibilities, as well as a recommendation for who the 76ers should draft.

Today another roll  from Tankathon.com presented the following draft order:

In this scenario The 76ers have picks 3 and 6. Minnesota and Dallas jump up. The panel of Sixer Sense contributors  Jason Blevins, Anthony Depaul, and Lucas Johnson weighed in. So here is what our analysts had to say:

On who may be taken ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers

J Blevins: I’m guessing Fultz, Ball go 1/2 here. Can’t see Minnesota passing on Fultz, even with thier backcourt investments in Dunn and LaVine. I think this puts Rubio squarely on the market for pennies on the dollar. Dallas has a need at PG and the sheer Q rating of Lonzo Ball will be catnip for Mark Cuban at #2.

On who the Sixers may target – The Roundtable

Lucas Johnson:

“You can either take Tatum at 3 and Monk or Smith at 6. Which is what I would do. Or trade both plus okafor for the number 1. I honestly think Minnesota might do that too because they could take Tatum and Isaac with those picks. I know Dallas would in a second”

Jason Blevins

“I don’t like Tatum on the Philadelphia 76ers as I don’t think his shooting projects out to the NBA three and he’s a bit too ISO oriented for me. I’m admittedly anti Duke athletic profile though. I’m not sure he has the explosive first step I’d want in a wing. I agree this is the best scenario for Tatum going #1. If it’s going to happen, T-Wolves would be the team to do it. All depends on what they think of Dunn. I think Dallas goes PG though”

Lucas Johnson:

“I think if Fultz  is off the board.  Dallas goes Ball.”

Jason Blevins:

“If I’m the Sixers I’d probably take Jackson at 3 and just ignore his half court limitations and try to run people of of the gym in transition and defense. Then I would take Monk or Ntilikina at 6.”

Lucas Johnson:

“See, I think Jackson has 3 or 4 years before we see what he can do offensively, which I don’t think we have time to wait for.”

Jason Blevins:

“Half court offense yes, but In the meantime I think he brings a lot on defense and in transition. He will be a good finisher on the break right away. I don’t think he’s a developmental project like Jaylen Brown. He has excellent vision for his position. I’d move Covington to four and let JJ play 3 and swap that when Saric is on the floor”

Anthony Depaul:

"“I would seriously consider trading the 6th pick if Monk is gone at 6. Presumably the Sixers have taken Tatum or Jackson at 3. You could trade back and get Frank or get a PG like Eric Bledsoe.I think the Sixers will take Tatum if Ball and Fultz are gone. I would take Jackson. If Jackson is off the board I’ll take Ball over Tatum. I’ve come around a little bit on Lonzo, his floor as an elite passer and off the ball player could be pretty high. They are skills you can’t have enough of on the team”"

Jason Blevins:

“Tatum scares me but I am fully aware of my anti Duke bias when it comes to NBA prospects. Ball scares me simply because after watching a couple dozen of his games I just can’t get over that form.”

Anthony Depaul:

“Yeah, I think every player after Fultz has their question marks”

Jason Blevins:

"Happiness is expectations minus reality. They all have questions but some of them need to dominate the ball to be fully actualized. Lonzo at least could play off ball"

Anthony Depaul:

“I agree, that’s why I’d be ok with Lonzo anywhere from 2-4.”

Jason Blevins:

“I’d ask, what are Tatum and monk if they are not your best player? Can they help a team without the ball in their hands? Isaac and Ball and Jackson I see clear roles even if they aren’t the primary scoring option.”

Anthony Depaul

“I think Monk could absolutely be a more athletic Jamal Murray. Can play off the ball shoot really well and handle the ball on a limited basis and guard point guards. Tatum is a little trickier because he overlaps so many skills with Simmons but I think he can still be efficient in less playing time. He definitely needs to go to the Brett Brown school of defense and if he can be better than average on that side of the floor, he fits that pace, space and defend template. In Monk you are getting a better version of Bayless”

Jason Blevins:

“I’d definitely agree with that. I’m coming around on Monk but it’s so hugely dependent on Simmons actually being a point guard in a walk the game down scenario.”

Anthony Depaul:

“And if Simmons isn’t that and he’s a point forward, you can find a Pat Beverly type point guard who can defend his pants off to pair with Monk and you’d be just fine. Or if by some Miracle TJ’s relentless effort to improve his 3 point shot works then you can pair him with Monk. Because I think Bayless and Monk is too much overlap. I also expect BC to pick up a guard in free agency so that’s a variable too.”

Lucas Johnson:

“I’m not a Lonzo Ball fan. I am not even thinking about him ’till pick 6 and beyond. I think he is too much like Simmons. I actually think Fox is a better prospect and fit than Ball”

Anthony Depaul

“So you would go Tatum and DSJ/Monk/Fox at 3 and 6? In your ideal world do you have an order to the Guards you would take at 6?”

Lucas Johnson:

“You can either take Tatum at 3 and Monk or Smith at 6. Which is what I would do. Or trade both plus Okafor for the number 1”

Jason Blevins:

“I love Fox as a prospect just not as a fit for the current Philadelphia 76ers roster. I am very tempted to gamble on either him and/or Simmons working out their Jump shot issues. I’m more and more convinced that Isaac goes top five but if he’s there I’m taking him. Assuming he’s gone I am looking at Ntilikina. His tape is impressive to go along with good off ball numbers.”

Lucas Johnson:

“If Monk, Smith and Isaac are gone then Fox is my option at 6”

Jason Blevins:

"Dennis Smith Jr. to me just looks like a less competitive Kyle Lowry. Furthermore, Lowry took multiple teams to find the right role. Every game I watched of DSJ left me underwhelmed. I missed the Duke game to be fair."

Lucas Johnson

“Yeah that’s my concern too but you gotta take risks”

Anthony Depaul

“DSJ was in the worst possible position for him to be successful. 

Next: Previous Roundtable discussion - Scenario 2

Jason Blevins

“You could argue the same for Fultz but he jumped off the screen as a talent.”

Anthony Depaul

“Because he’s more talented and going number one. Smith is in the 6-10 range.”