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Sixers draft: Rodions Kurucs is a name worth watching

By Christopher Kline

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 15: Rodions Kurucs, #11 of U18 FC Barcelona Lassa in action during the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Championship game between U18 FC Barcelona Lassa v U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade at Mercedes Benz Arena on May 15, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Patrick Albertini/EB via Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 15: Rodions Kurucs, #11 of U18 FC Barcelona Lassa in action during the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Championship game between U18 FC Barcelona Lassa v U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade at Mercedes Benz Arena on May 15, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Patrick Albertini/EB via Getty Images) /
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Rodions Kurucs dropped out of the draft late last summer, and could be a potential Philadelphia 76ers target in the 2018 NBA Draft as a result.

It’s a bit early to start talking about the 2018 NBA Draft, but Philadelphia 76ers fans should be accustomed to it by now. There’s a good chance that we see the Sixers making a legit playoff push next season — which would knock them out of the early lottery conversation — but that doesn’t take away the potential for some high-caliber talent in the middle stages of the first round.

Assuming they don’t bottom out or exceed expectations, the 10-20 range is likely a good place to start when attempting to peg this Philadelphia team. They won’t have a viable chance at the Luka Doncics and Marvin Bagleys of the class, but some of the talented youngsters and upperclassmen who fall outside of that upper echelon could still be within reach.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers’ depth is in a good spot right now, with plenty of talent both on the perimeter and in the frontcourt. They also have Jonah Bolden and Anzejs Pasecniks waiting in the wings overseas, furthering their long-term depth up front.

With that said, there’s always value to be had — and the Sixers’ roster is bound to see some changes in the coming years. Perhaps the biggest source of change could be on the wing, where Nik Stauskas and Justin Anderson aren’t exactly guaranteed a spot a couple years from now. When you add in the fact that J.J. Redick‘s contract in only a one-year deal, there’s not much to bank on outside of a presumably-extended Robert Covington.

That means Bryan Colangelo would be wise to look for additional wing talent next season — and stashing overseas may be their best option depending on their placement. One name worth watching in that respect is Rodions Kurucs, whose name is already familiar with those who kept tabs on the draft last season.

Kurucs spent much of last season with FC Barcelona’s reserve team, while also logging some very limited playing time with the upper-level squad. He’s still a 19-year-old who hasn’t seen much playing time against top flight competition — so overinflated expectations are a risk — but he’s the type of long-term prospect that could yield some nice benefits down the line. The Sixers, considering their depth in the present, can afford to wait a few years.

Kurucs’ current draft projections are nearly impossible to pinpoint this early, but he’ll likely fall towards the middle of the first round. He was somebody who cracked the primary round on virtually all mock drafts last season before deciding to withdraw his name at the deadline.

It’s not difficult to see why Kurucs is viewed as a project more so than a finished product. He’s rail-thin in build, while his game still has some weird kinks that could hold back his production early on. He’s still an impressive athlete at 6-foot-8, though, and boasts the potential versatility needed to play several different positions — and defend them — once his frame fills out.

Offensively, Kurucs is somebody who fits the Sixers’ game plan quite nicely. He’s a smooth shooter from deep, with nice mechanics on spot-ups and decent instincts for a wing at his age. Kurucs’ interior presence isn’t bad either. He’s excellent with short floaters off of drives, while his touch is best displayed when posted up against smaller defenders around the block. His frame may prevent him from taking advantage of that early on, but it’s a nice skill to have in one’s back pocket right away.

Kurucs’ foremost need for improvement comes when handling the ball. He’s still a bit loose when attacking off the dribble, while his fluidity tends to run short once he’s pressured on the outside. He’s crafty with his scoring, but getting caught up in average defenders overseas isn’t always the greatest sign for prospective NBA players — and is something Kurucs needs to work on consistently over the next year.

Nonetheless, the basics for a skilled, versatile scorer are there. He’s also a plus defensive prospect, which furthers his value in an evolving league. The Sixers don’t have an inordinate amount of length on the wing as it currently stands, and that only furthers the potential value that comes with investing in Kurucs’ long-term outlook.

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Some Sixers fans are probably tired of seeing the team stash prospects overseas. Kurucs is a name who, in the right range on draft night, could be worth it.