Sixers might still have an outside shot at Luka Doncic
If Luka Doncic slides on draft night, the Philadelphia 76ers need to seriously consider pushing for a trade.
This past weekend marked the first time all season that Luka Doncic was exposed to a large audience in the United States. NBA TV carried the first set of matchups in the Euroleague Final 4, featuring Real Madrid’s win over a talented CSKA Moscow team.
Doncic put together 16 points in an impressive all-around showing, making the kind of plays that have placed him atop many draft boards. He lacks the explosive athleticism that is common among most top tier prospects, but makes up for it with an elite feel for the game.
There are obvious concerns with Doncic and his athleticism. He doesn’t have a quick first step and might struggle to adjust against high-end NBA athletes. Still, it’s not like he’s a non-athlete. His understanding of angles and shifty ball handling help him overcome whatever athletic disadvantage he may have, to boot.
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At age 19, Doncic is the most accomplished European prospect ever. He won Euroleague MVP and the Final 4 MVP, all while leading Slovenia to the Eurobasket championship last summer alongside Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic. In the second-best league on the planet, Doncic has continually produced at the highest level.
Despite his unprecedented production, though, some NBA teams might not be sold on his upside. According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks — who hold the second and third picks, respectively — might be favoring American frontcourt players. That could mean Doncic drops to the No. 4 spot.
There’s a chance that the Suns draft Doncic first overall, but those chances feel somewhat slim. Even with Doncic’s Eurobasket coach, Igor Kokoskov, at the helm, DeAndre Ayton remains the heavy favorite for his hometown team.
If Doncic does slide on draft night, the Philadelphia 76ers need to hop into action. Doncic is the best prospect in this draft, and adding him to a young core that already features Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons would be a unique opportunity.
For a Sixers team that’s ready to compete, Doncic would provide immediate production in a variety of different spots. He’s a capable shooter who can play off the ball next to Simmons, while his shot creation and ball handling would be a valuable addition to a rotation that is limited in that respect.
Even without elite athleticism, Doncic can use a wide array of dribble combinations to break down defenders and work his way into shots. He gets to the free throw line at a high clip and his three-point shot, albeit inconsistent last season, projects well at the next level.
He’d give the Sixers another supremely smart passer, capable of running the pick-and-roll at a high level and shredding defenses with well-timed dimes. Both he and Ben Simmons would keep the ball moving and allow the Sixers to embrace the pace, space, pass model that Brett Brown preaches.
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Defense is a question mark for Doncic, but he has excellent instincts that could work nicely off the ball. The Sixers already have an elite defensive anchor in Joel Embiid, while both Simmons and Robert Covington can switch around the floor with ease.
Standing 6-8 with a sturdy 218-pound frame, Doncic is big enough to defend four different positions. He would be able to spend legitimate time guarding power forwards, allowing Brown to hide him on the opposition’s weakest link if needed.
There are some really cool lineup combinations that Doncic would unlock, to boot. Whenever Embiid sits, throwing together a small ball lineup of Dario Saric, Covington, Doncic, Simmons and *insert other athletic wing, ideally LeBron James or Paul George* would give the Sixers a dangerous mix of shooting and playmaking.
As Brett Brown said when referencing the Sixers’ free agency plans, this kind of trade shouldn’t be made into calculus. Doncic is the best prospect on the board, whether he falls to No. 4 or not. If the Sixers have a chance to trade up and select him they should.
The Grizzlies have already stated that they’re open to trading the pick. Philly can offer them the 10th and 26th picks, as well as multiple second rounders and potentially another future pick. Dario Saric might come up in those trade discussions, and even he needs to be on the table if the package is right.
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Doncic is a special talent putting up historic numbers overseas. If the Sixers have any reasonable shot at getting him, they should pull the trigger without hesitation.