The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Which Philadelphia 76ers Players Not Assured 2017-2018 Roster Spots?

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) /

Draft stash baby

By the end of the 2017-2018 season, the Philadelphia 76ers will no longer view themselves as incredibly young. In fact, with the transformation of players into their second contracts, this team will begin  to feel seasoned.

If they make the playoffs in 2018, you can bet the team will emerge with a surplus of experience.

But amidst all of the “now” feel to the team, there are four players who will be international during the 2017-2018 NBA season.  The first is guard Vasilije Micic, who will likely not see the NBA.  But the Philadelphia 76ers have three 2017 NBA draft selections who are quite intriguing.

Summer league heating up

In the draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected  Latvian center, Anzejs Pasecniks, at 25, Austrailian power forwad Jonah Bolden at 36, and French power forward Mathias Lessort at 50.   Both Bolden and Lessort are getting solid looks in summer league right now. I won’t bore you with analyzing their play with so much readily available. But we can discuss center Pasecniks a tad. At 7-foot-2, he is the right height to back up Joel Embiid. But there are other similarities

On one hand, he can fill the Embiid-like role of a stretch five. On the other hand, he has a solid post presence which will only improve with experience and more muscle. With his availability, that allows the 76ers to consider offers for Jahlil Okafor or Richaun Holmes in 2018 without crippling the team.

Next: Should league fix NBA Draft that helped to rebuild Philadelphia 76ers?

In this assessment, the team will have no glaring holes in 2018.  With as many as six picks, the team will have plenty of firepower to deal. But from this vantage point, the 76ers will be good to go.