Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot finally flashed his two-way potential

By Christopher Kline | Jan 21, 2018

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 21: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Toronto Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

After some serious regression in his second season, the Philadelphia 76ers finally got a taste of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot‘s upside.

Saturday nigth’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks was big in more than one way. Not only was it the Philadelphia 76ers‘ sixth win in seven games, but a number of noteworthy players stepped up — with Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot being the most impressive.

Aside from Joel Embiid being his All-Star self, TLC was one of the best players on the team down the stretch. He was second to Embiid in points with 16, while his defensive performance was finally up to par with the expectations we set entering the season. With J.J. Redick and Jerryd Bayless sitting out, the Sixers needed that boost.

TLC’s year has been disappointing in just about every aspect. His shooting and defense haven’t made the leap many expected, while the hyper-athletic stud from Mega Leks simply hasn’t lived up to the hype last season inspired.

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I had him No. 8 on my big board in 2016, so I — perhaps more than anybody else — was ready for him to emerge as a high-end role player.

That’s why last night was so important. TLC stepped into the starting role and looked more confident than he has been all season. His stroke was fluid, hitting 3-5 from deep after struggling immensely in recent weeks. Shooting was always the next step in TLC’s development, so hopefully this is the beginning of a larger trend.

His lack of confidence was always baffling as well. This was a dude who played hard during his time overseas, picking teams apart in transition while throwing down on some fools in the process. He was always somebody whose athleticism and swagger were appealing, so his inability to channel that in the NBA left some question marks.

Defense was another strong suit of his as a prospect. At 6-foot-7 with long arms, he has the ability to cover a handful of different positions. At his best, he should be another switch-friendly body in the Sixers’ lengthy rotation. His lack of production offensively has affected his defense at times this season, but that Milwaukee game served as a reminder of where his ceiling lies.

If that game is what it takes to spark TLC moving forward, that’s a good sign for Philadelphia. He’s still arguably their best long-term prospect outside of Embiid, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and Markelle Fultz. All the tools and ability is there, it’s just about upping his confidence and putting him in a position to maximize his diverse skill set.

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Not everything TLC showed at Mega Leks will translate to NBA play, but his passing skills, transition prowess and defensive upside are things the Sixers could greatly benefit from. If he can develop into a reliable pick-and-roll ball handler who gets to the rim and makes the right reads when driving the lane, that’s an insanely valuable addition to the Sixers bench.

That kind of development goes well beyond anything he showed against the Bucks, but it’s in his bag. Brett Brown and company would be wise to try and bring it out.

He also needs to be starting over Bayless until Redick returns. That could make the depth at small forward a bit murkier, but that’s what James Young is for. There’s no point in having two-way players if they aren’t used when applicable.

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It’s just one game, so I don’t suggest getting too excited, but this as something TLC really needed. He still has the ability to be a long-term piece in the Sixers’ rotation.