If the Sixers get the No. 1 pick, Luka Doncic is the answer
If the Philadelphia 76ers end up drafting first overall (again), Luka Doncic is the best option.
The Philadelphia 76ers are in the playoff hunt entering the new year, so naturally we’re going to talk about the 2018 NBA Draft. We aren’t talking about the Sixers’ pick, though. It’s the Lakers’ recent struggles that mean the most.
With Lonzo Ball hurt and the team’s chemistry going down the drain, L.A. is starting to bottom out. They’re currently the second-worst team in the league, increasing their odds for the top pick.
As we all know, the Lakers pick goes to Philly if it a) falls outside the top five or b) falls to No. 1. That means the Sixers’ odds of actually getting the pick are lower, but their chances of striking gold are going up. Wouldn’t it be great to add another top pick?
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So, if the Sixers do find some luck and end up drafting first, the conversation then shifts to who they should pick. The top of this year’s lottery is loaded, leaving six viable candidates at the top. All six have enticing upside, but only one name — right now — should top the Sixers’ draft board.
That name is Luka Doncic.
Don’t let the European sterotypes scare you off. He’s not the most athletic player, but his skill level is high enough to overcome that. He’s easily the best international prospect since Pau Gasol, if not a few notches better, and continues to outplay what is arguably the best upper-lottery class since 2003.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand Doncic’s competition level. Euroleague teams are miles ahead of college basketball, meaning Doncic — who’s leading the charge for Real Madrid — is facing the toughest competition outside of the NBA.
He’s an 18-year-old facing grown men, and more often then not, he’s putting together big outings with an inordinate sense of ease.
Doncic’s athletic concerns are mitigated by a couple of factors, starting with his size. He’s 6-foot-8 with a point guard’s skill set, allowing him to defend multiple positions defensively while contributing across the board on the offensive end.
This season, Doncic has improved in almost all of his biggest problem areas. He’s becoming a better scorer, shooting 35.6 percent from deep in Euroleague play while averaging 18.6 points in 26.7 minutes.
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He’s adding more craftiness off the bounce, allowing him to find his shots in isolation while showing nice touch in the lane. He lets the game come to him, and is proving himself more and more capable of being the lead option at the next level.
Even if that doesn’t come to fruition, though, Philly couldn’t be a better spot for him. He’d be able to work off of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons when needed, while his ball handling and passing would be a welcomed addition to a team that needs more playmaking outside of its core duo.
His shot isn’t great yet, but the mechanics are projectable and he should continue to grow in that respect. He’s capable off the ball, while his brilliance in the pick-and-roll and ability to initiate the offense would allow Brett Brown to throw a number of different looks at opposing defenses.
Doncic will join Simmons and Ball as one of the smartest, most high-I.Q. players to enter in the league in recent years. He does an incredible job of finding holes in the defense and exploiting them, whether it be as a scorer or a passer.
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As Jonathan Wasserman so eloquently put it, he “dominates without dominating.” He’s a stud, and does it with a skill level that nobody his age should have. Let’s not forget that it was Doncic, alongside Goran Dragic, who helped lead Slovenia to a EuroBasket championship this summer.
Marvin Bagley III, Deandre Ayton, Michael Porter Jr., Mo Bamba and Trae Young are all fantastic players with real arguments. But when it comes down to both fit and taking the best player available, they haven’t done enough to dethrone Doncic as the best bet in the 2018 class.
He’s doing something that’s virtually unheralded, and he’s far from the “unkown” entity that some will make him out to be. Doncic has been well-scouted and viewed as Europe’s best young talent for years.
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NBA teams know who he is, and the Sixers wouldn’t (or at least, shouldn’t) hesitate if presented with the opportunity to select him.