Who should the Philadelphia 76ers be considering with their lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft?
Holding the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers will have the rare opportunity to add lottery-level talent to a competitive roster. The Sixers’ lack of depth, especially on the perimeter, was exposed against Boston in the postseason, meaning whoever they draft could play a major role next season.
While there is plenty of talent in the lottery discussion, the Sixers’ most likely options boil down to a handful of names. Assuming Wendell Carter Jr. is off the board, there won’t be any bigs worth considering. It’s almost a foregone conclusion that perimeter help, in some form, is the end goal.
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid will still shoulder the playmaking load next season, while Markelle Fultz figures to return to full health at some point. Even then, the Sixers could benefit from another ball handler. They’ll also have their pick of a few long, versatile wing defenders.
With draft month officially underway, let’s take an in-depth look at five prime candidates for the No. 10 pick.
Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech
One of the most intriguing prospects in the draft, Smith could be a dark-horse at 10. He’s easily the best pure athlete, playing above the rim with an impressive sense of ease. You shouldn’t base draft stock around someone’s highlight reel, but Smith’s compilation of high-flying dunks is something to behold.
One common misconception with Smith is that he’s all athlete and no skill, which is flat-out wrong. He’s still raw in many ways, but boasts a high basketball I.Q. and some of the base skills needed to improve at the next level.
Smith was a 45 percent three-point shooter on a limited number of attempts last season. His small sample size and slow release is concerning, but he should be able to iron out some kinks in his shot long term. Even if he shoots poorly on the move, he brings does enough as a spot-up shooter and cutter to play a complimentary role offensively.
Playing off the ball is where Smith is best suited anyway. His athleticism makes him one of the premier cutters in this draft, finding open space and erupting toward the basket. He’s also an underrated passer who keeps the ball moving and makes smart reads when they’re available.
Until he proves he can handle the ball consistently, Smith will be an inherently limited offensive player. Given the Sixers’ core playmakers, though, there’s plenty of value in bringing in an elite defender who is serviceable off the ball.
Around 6-4 with a 6-10 wingspan, Smith is strong enough to guard three positions defensively. He’s highly adept at making plays as a roamer, bursting into passing lanes and kickstarting the transition offense. Smith also averaged a block per game last season, using his athleticism to make plays as a weak-side rim protector.
He’s further behind in his development than most wings in the lottery discussion, but his two-way upside could be worth the gamble.
Lonnie Walker IV, Miami
It took several weeks for Walker to find his groove this season, but the freshman eventually grew into the Canes’ most dynamic offensive player. He brings a lot of traits the Sixers need on the wing, both spacing the floor and creating off the dribble.
While not to Smith’s extent, Walker is another elite athlete who is more than capable of playing off the ball. His shot mechanics look good, whether it be coming around screens or simply spotting up. His 34.6 percent three-point shooting doesn’t necessarily match expectations moving forward.
Walker is also a dynamic pull-up shooter, stretching well beyond the three-point line. He’s capable of putting the ball on the floor and creating his own shot, using clean footwork to generate space and get up shots. That’s something no other wing on the Sixers’ roster can match.
Aside from shooting, Walker’s athleticism also makes him a dangerous threat around the rim. Both on drives and cuts, he’s able to contort his body and finish through traffic on a regular basis. He’s also liable for a few big dunks from time to time.
At 6-5 with a 6-10 wingspan, Walker presents some tantalizing upside on the defensive end. His engagement wavers, but he has the length and athleticism needed to get into passing lanes and force ball handlers out of rhythm.
Adding weight will be a point of emphasis for Walker. He’s long enough to defend three positions, but will need to bulk up in order to handle strong-bodied forwards. That could go a long way in making the Sixers a more versatile defensive rotation around Joel Embiid.
Given the Sixers’ biggest issues against Boston in the postseason — lack of ball handlers and awful defensive matchups — looking into a prospect like Walker makes sense. He checks a lot of boxes for the current rotation.
Miles Bridges, Michigan State
A bit of a tweener positionally, Bridges should spent time at both the three and four in the NBA. He’s only 6-6, but can use his strong frame and athleticism to hang with bigger players — giving the Sixers some nice versatility on the defensive end.
Most of Bridges’ value will be derived from his work off the ball. He’s already a solid spot-up shooter, knocking down 36.4 percent of his three-point attempts on a relatively high volume. It would be easy for Brett Brown to plug him in as a small-ball four who can space the floor.
Bridges can also do good work driving to the basket. He needs to clean up his handles, but is capable of taking slower players off the bounce and powering through contact at the rim. His thick frame allows him to absorb contract and finish well in traffic.
Especially against smaller defenders, Bridges can make some tough off-the-dribble shots. Cleaning up his handles, again, will be important, but he can hit pull-up jumpers. If he makes those improvements, there’s some go-to scoring potential.
Given Bridges’ athleticism — he’s probably the second-best athlete in the draft next to the aforementioned Smith, if not on the same tier — he also thrives as a cutter. His ability to make hard cuts and finish above the rim could be nifty next to a playmaker of Ben Simmons’ ilk.
Defense has always been a mixed bag for Bridges. His lack of a true position could hurt him in some respect, but he’s strong enough to handle guarding four positions physically. His 6-9 wingspan is shorter than some would like, but he has the athletic gifts to overcome that.
Energy and engagement fluctuates for Bridges. He makes some eye-popping plays, whether it be slipping into passing lanes or skying for a weak-side block. The only question is whether or not he consistently puts in the effort needed to maximize his two-way potential.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
Depending on your level of trust in Markelle Fultz, the Sixers don’t necessarily need another point guard. They do need playmakers, though, and one as talented as Gilgeous-Alexander is worth consideration. He’s versatile enough to fit into a rotation consisting of Simmons and Fultz, to boot.
At 6-6 with a 7-0 wingspan, Gilgeous-Alexander has some of the best individual measurements in the draft. According to The Athletic’s database, the only other point guard with an 8-8+ standing reach is Shaun Livingston. That speaks volumes about Gilgeous-Alexander’s defensive potential.
On the offensive end, Gilgeous-Alexander should have little issue fitting into the Sixers’ system. His shooting is a slight question mark, but he’s a good enough spot-up threat to play next to Simmons. Shooting off the dribble is something he can improve over time given his proficiency from mid-range.
The Sixers, outside of non-shooters in Simmons, Fultz and McConnell, didn’t have a legitimate pick-and-roll ball handler last season. Gilgeous-Alexander thrives in the pick-and-roll, combining shifty handles, nice scoring touch and excellent vision as a passer.
Gilgeous-Alexander struggled early in the season with Kentucky, but shined as soon as he was handed a bigger role. Down the stretch of the season, he was easily their most effective playmaker, setting up the offense and generating opportunities for a rotation that lacked reliable shot creators.
Some of the Sixers’ postseason struggles were tied to their outright lack of shot creators. They need another piece who can put the ball on the floor and create, both for himself and others, something Gilgeous-Alexander provides.
Alongside his crafty offensive game, Gilgeous-Alexander’s length and basketball I.Q. makes him an excellent perimeter defender. He’ll need to put on muscle, but he’s long enough to defend either guard spot at a high level. His length will bother opposing ball handlers at the point of attack.
Mikal Bridges, Villanova
Bridges is the overwhelming favorite to go to the Sixers at 10, and for good reason. He’s the prototypical 3-and-D wing that most teams are looking for, defending at a high level on one end and spacing the floor consistently on the other.
Of all the lottery players, Bridges is the easiest to fit into any system. He’s a stellar off-ball shooter, gunning around screens and knocking down shots on the move. He lacks the advanced ball handling skills that most top-10 picks have, but that’s something players can improve over time.
Jaylen Brown is a solid example. He wasn’t nearly the shooter that Bridges was in college, but entered the league as a two-way wing whose offense was limited by lackluster ball skills. Two years after getting drafted, he torched the Sixers in the playoffs, emerging as a legitimate go-to scoring threat.
The Sixers’ run a lot of off-ball movement, using Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid as playmakers. Bridges fits right into that system, giving them a more athletic alternative to Marco Belinelli, who struggled defensively in the playoffs.
Bridges isn’t just a shooter either. While he doesn’t do much off the dribble, he is a capable driver who can finish through traffic in the lane. That also helps him as a cutter. He flashes some solid passing chops as well, making the right play when it becomes available.
He doesn’t necessarily fix the Sixers’ foremost needs in terms of shot creation, but he gives them another elite perimeter defender who can find a niche immediately on the offensive end. There is always inherent upside to a wing in Bridges’ mold, so additional shot creation skills aren’t out of the picture entirely.
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Given his length and instincts, Bridges is probably the best individual defensive prospect on this list. That, above all else, is what keeps him ahead of names like (Miles) Bridges and Gilgeous-Alexander on most draft boards/mocks.