Alec Peters Should Be A 2nd Round Target
Alec Peters would be a quality value pick for the Philadelphia 76ers if he is available at the 46th or 50th selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Alec Peters did not receive much national attention playing for Valparaiso in Indiana. As a 22 year old senior, Peters should be able to make the jump to the NBA this summer with his consistent shooting ability. Shooting 37 percent on threes on over 5 attempts per game would be impressive for a shooting guard, but Peters plays as a power forward. Standing 6-8 with a 6-wingspan, Peters will be undersized at the next level but lacks the athleticism to play the three. Despite these limitations, Peters still projects to be drafted in the middle of the second round in the 2017 NBA Draft.
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Offensively, Peters has shown that he shoot from anywhere on the floor. Peters struggles as the operator of the pick-and-roll but is an outstanding scorer in pick-and-pop situation. His lack of athleticism prevents Peters from creating his own shot on the perimeter. In the post, Peters uses a variety of fakes to create separation where he can then finish at the rim with either hand or use his turnaround jumper. Against larger defenders, Peters struggles to get his shot off with his lack of size and athleticism often resulting in a poor, off balanced attempt.
In the post or on the move, Peters’ pump fake can get defenders off their feet which allowed him to get to the free throw line an average of 6.7 attempts per game where he converts at 88.8 percent. While in the post, Peters does well to use his body to feel where his defender is while keeping his eyes up to spot cutters. Peters is comfortable operating on the perimeter and will project to be a stretch four in the NBA.
Although Peters has an offensive ready NBA game, his defense leaves much to be desired. Too short to play the four and too slow the three, Peters is a traditional tweener for the 3 and 4 position. Fortunately Peters is in an age of small ball where teams may be able to hide him on the opposing power forward. Peters has terrible lateral movement and leaping ability, making him a perfect mismatch for any guard. He shows a strong fight on the boards on both ends but his small vertical and short arms do not play to his favor.
When engaged in the post, Peters has a strong base and is not moved easily but does not have much of a chance to block the shot, shown by his measly 0.3 blocks per game. Peters’ only real defensive positive is his off-ball IQ. Rotations are rarely missed and when a player is beat, he is tremendous at challenging the defender or helping the helper to prevent uncontested shots.
In the end, Peters hooting is too much to ignore. His ability to hit shots, contested or uncontested, is something that every team needs. Although his defense will prevent him from being an NBA level starter, his floor spacing along with his intelligence define a role for him as a backup power forward. If Brett Brown and Bryan Colangelo are serious about playing a power forward alongside Ben Simmons, Peters may be able to eventually fill that role perfectly by stretching the floor and forcing either a smaller 3 or slower 4 to guard Simmons.
The transition will take some time but Peters’ humble personality and commitment to the game lead me to believe that he would be comfortable in one of the two G-League roster spots the NBA has created where he can develop. If Alec Peters falls to the Sixers at 46th in the draft, he would be a valuable addition to the future of the Philadelphia 76ers.