If the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in a position to do so, Hamidou Diallo is a prospect worth gambling on in the 2017 NBA Draft.
June is an interesting time of year for basketball fans. Aside from the spectacle of the Playoffs, the NBA Draft provides the catalyst for numerous teams in altering their fortunes moving forwards. Almost regardless of placement, contributors are readily available, while upper-level talent normally finds a way to manifest in a variety of different areas — it’s just a matter of selecting the right pieces.
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The 2017 NBA Draft figures to be no different in that regard, with one of the deepest lottery classes in recent memory being accompanied by a deep crop of talent projected to infiltrate the later portions of the first round, and onward. The Sixers have an obvious chance to add franchise-altering talent at the third spot, with pieces like Josh Jackson and Malik Monk giving them potential stars to pair alongside one of the league’s more dynamic young cores in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
That pick, though, doesn’t present the only option for the Sixers in this year’s ever-so-deep talent pool. They’ll have a quartet of second round picks in hand, with the highest reaching up to 37th. Should they decide to trade up — or even stand pat — gambling on talent with the highest upside is the smartest route for a young team in search of a major competitive boost.
If they’re in position to nab him, Hamidou Diallo has to be on their draft boards.
Little is known about Diallo in comparison to some of the other upper echelon talents in this year’s class. Orginally thought to be a potential lottery pick in 2018, the former graduate of Putnam Science Academy, a private school in Connecticut, didn’t join a collegiate team during his first semester, instead opting to (eventually) join John Calipari’s Kentucky squad at the season’s midway point.
And, despite not stepping foot on the floor during competitive game play, Diallo did gain what was likely invaluable experience as he seeks to, potentially, take the next step forward in his evolution. He spent a semester training with one of the more talent-laden college groups in the country, sharing the court with a pair of potential top five picks in Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox.
Calipari is arguably the most adept talent developer in the collegiate realm, showing an impressive knack for churning out high quality prospects with an impressive resume of consistency and rapidity. He turns players like Tyler Ulis into two-year commitments, while the more highly-touted prospects rarely see their stock fall during their tenures in Lexington.
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Diallo’s commitment to the draft this season was a surprise in some facets, but makes sense when analyzing the entirety of the situation. With the D-League and player development continuing to grow in today’s league, elite athletes with raw skills have more opportunities than ever to grow into roles at the next level. Thon Maker — who was able to forgo college, like Diallo had the option of doing — ended up going 10th in last year’s draft, despite representing more of an unknown entity than a surefire producer.
Diallo brings the insane athleticism of a top flight prospect (near-Combine record vertical athleticism), as well as the budding tools needed to present a star-caliber upside that few players in his tier do come draft night. Largely projected in that 20-40 range as it stands, Diallo is most certainly a risk — as his skills remain far less advanced than those with full seasons of college ball under their belt — but the upside is there.
Like Maker, he may be a couple, if not a few, years away from sustainable production. But the chance is there for him to develop into a special talent. That’s what the Sixers need to be targeting.
Even with Philadelphia looking to develop into a competitive unit in the Eastern Conference, that shouldn’t cloud the realities of their timeline. Even if Embiid and Simmons emerge as bona fide stars, their youth gives them the ability to build for long-term success. LeBron James and the Cavaliers are still set to reign as the conference’s top threat for the next handful of years, allowing the Sixers to take their evolution — both culturally and talent-wise — at a slow, methodical pace.
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They’ll already have the inherent versatility that comes with adding the third overall pick to an already-potent core of rookies and sophomores, but Diallo adds a new wrinkle to his potential. Not only does his lengthy wingspan and bouncy athleticism give him the upside of a plus defender on a roster centered around defensive prowess, but his scoring arsenal — should it develop — could make him the type of perimeter spark plug this team has desperately needed in process years past.
His physical gifts alone could make him a dangerous isolation threat as his handles continue to smooth over, while his quickness en route to the basket — as well as his requisite ability to finish — gives him massive upside as a cutter.
He’s also due for the occasional awe-inducing display of athleticism that even the most entertaining NBA players struggle to mimic.
We’ve already seen the early returns when teams take risks on underdeveloped talents with high ceilings. Maker looks like a two-way stud alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Bucks’ frontcourt, while Skal Labissiere, who dropped all the way to 28 in last year’s draft, showed flashes of upside that Willie Cauley-Stein struggled to match in Sacramento.
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Diallo is a future lottery talent who entered the draft a year early. If the Sixers are effective in their methodology behind bringing Diallo along — which, given their record, seems likely — there’s a chance for them to nab a third (or fourth) star. If not, the potential for a productive wing is enough to warrant taking him — especially if he manages to fall to 37.