The Sixer Sense
Fansided

WANTED: Someone with a jump shot

By Rory Fette

NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 17: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners takes to the court before the game against the Texas Longhorns at Lloyd Noble Center on February 24, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Longhorns defeated the Sooners 77-66. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 17: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners takes to the court before the game against the Texas Longhorns at Lloyd Noble Center on February 24, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Longhorns defeated the Sooners 77-66. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

 The Philadelphia 76ers have gone years and years without focusing on shooting in the NBA draft. And after 2017’s unusual shoulder debacle the Sixers, once again, left the draft without a jump shooter. So in this draft the Sixers need to do one thing… draft someone that can freaking shoot!

The Philadelphia 76ers have spent years acquiring players through the the draft with tremendous upside and physical talent. That’s what the process was about and you can’t deny that the strategy, for the most part, has worked.

But this year is different. The failure to have another reliable shooter besides J.J. Redick cost the 76ers over the past season. This draft will be a great opportunity to pick up a guy with a shot that doesn’t need to be fixed or messed with. Bottom line shooting needs to be the No. 1 priority in the first round. (Sorry, Collin Sexton fan club.)

With the 10th pick the Philadelphia 76ers should…

First of all, trade up. By staying at 10 the 76ers risk missing out on the top shooters in the draft that they need. Assuming Doncic is out of the question (which he is) that leaves Trae Young and Mikal Bridges as the targets.

More from Draft

Both these players are slotted to go just before the Sixers pick at 10. So therefore, a small draft day trade should be in order. Bridges and Young are both clearly talented at shooting the ball, but in my mind there is really only one that is worth gambling on: Trae Young.

The Argument for Trae Young

Chances are you’ve heard of Trae Young before. And chances are you either love or hate this idea. But bare with me because if it doesn’t take much to get him or if he falls to 10 (fingers crossed) its a no brainer.

Trae Young can shoot the basketball, that is one thing he definitely proved in college. 36 percent from three is nothing to scoff at on its own. But what makes that number a lot more impressive is that he attempted 328 three point shots in his lone college season. This attempt figure helps prove that his percentages in college weren’t just luck or a “good run”.

Many college players have a high three point percentage in college simply because they don’t shoot a lot of them. So yeah, Zhaire Smith and Shai Gilgeous- Alexander both technically have better three point percentages. But when you realize that combined these two players only attempted 97 threes, you got to wonder what those percentages would be like if they each attempted 270 more.

Fit with the Sixers

In addition, Young put up these numbers despite everyone on the floor knowing that he was the main offensive guy. Oklahoma ran everything through Young. So because of that he was always target number one for defenders.

If the 76ers draft Young he will be able to play with breathing room, which is something that he didn’t have at Oklahoma. Defenses will not be double teaming him and he will have a lot more space to shoot.

Who knows how much his percentages could increase when he gets to the league and plays next to guys like Ben Simmons. Playing alongside him and Embiid all while under the watchful eyes of veteran J.J. Redick seems like a perfect fit.

Next: Top 5 Sixers games from the regular season

Trae Young will be able to solely focus on his shooting in his first season with Philadelphia. Which is all that the Sixers need at the moment.