Sixers Should Draft Frank Mason III After Josh Jackson
By Brian Doogan
The Philadelphia 76ers have four second round picks in the upcoming draft and limited roster spots. They will likely being making a lot of moves in the second round. But the one move they should make is drafting Kansas point guard, Frank Mason III.
On June 22, the Philadelphia 76ers will be drafting third overall and be in a perfect position to add another big piece to the lineup. Fultz will go first to the Celtics or whoever picks first while the Lakers appear to be set on selecting the hometown guard prospect, Lonzo Ball. The Sixers will likely be deciding between Josh Jackson and Jayson Tatum. Ultimately the pick will and should be Jackson.
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He is the perfect fit for this team now and in the future, the Sixers shouldn’t overthink this. However the Sixers are going to have to give some serious thought into how to use there four second round picks. The Sixers likely won’t make four picks in the second round and will probably draft an international player or two to stash. After drafting Josh Jackson, the Sixers must draft wisely in the second round. Jackson’s teammate, Frank Mason III, would be the perfect pick for the Sixers.
The Sixers should look no further than Josh Jackson’s Kansas teammate. Although both are Kansas Jayhawks, the two prospects have completely different storylines attached. Jackson is a one-and-done, while Mason III played all four seasons at Kansas. The Big 12 Player of the year had a great college career at Kansas and will go down as the best point guard in Kansas history.
Jackson was a five-star recruit who had his choicee of many big schools all over the country. Mason was a three-star recruit joining a freshman class of Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins. It’s funny looking back now, of the three, Frank Mason is the one who left a lasting impression on Kansas University.
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Not only would Mason III immediately have chemistry with Jackson, but he also played with Joel Embiid back in 2013. Kansas has seen its fair share of one-and-dones during Mason III’s tenure, such as Andrew Wiggins, Cliff Alexander, Kelly Oubre, Josh Jackson and Joel Embiid. But each year, Mason III decided to stay another year to try and get one more chance to win a NCAA title. While he never won a tournament in his four years he did win and win a lot. Mason III became one of the winningest players in the NCAA with a 84-17 record as a starter.
At the age of 23, Mason III could step into the Sixers locker room day one and take a leadership role. His shot making ability is exactly what you are looking for to pair with Simmons and Embiid. Mason III shot 47.1 percent from three and averaged 20.9 points during his senior season.
Mason III does not have the ideal size you want but he makes up for that in his ability to knock down shots and drive to the basket while drawing contact. If you watch him play you will notice he is constantly drawing fouls and knocking down jumpers with a soft touch. His highlights against Duke and Oklahoma State are must-see and perfect examples of what he could add to the team.
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His age may effect his draft position, but the Sixers shouldn’t shy away from the senior. After years of subpar production from first round picks, we can not leave room for mishaps this season. Josh Jackson’s off-court issues should not be overlooked, and drafting Mason III might help Jackson’s transition into the league.
Mason III will likely be available at the beginning of the second round and the Sixers should not hesistate to pull the trigger. Frank Mason III is by no means the answer to the Sixers’ point guard dilemma. But he could be a better option off the bench than McConnell. If nothing else, adding Mason III would add some much needed competition to this Sixers back court.
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Even if it means trading back into the first round the Sixers need to draft Frank Mason III with Josh Jackson. Mason III and the Sixers are perfectly suited for each other. It would be a mistake not to add Mason’s athleticism and 3-point shooting ability to the Sixers lineup. Embiid may be a month older than Mason III but adding Mason’s leadership into the young mix of Embiid, Simmons, and Saric could be an essential step in the future.
Frank Mason III was a three-star recruit who worked hard for years and will go down as one of the best Kansas players of all time, so why can’t he make an impact in the NBA on the Sixers?