The Philadelphia 76ers added a solid, NBA-ready talent at 26.
Most people went into Thursday night with expectations of a pretty standard night for the Philadelphia 76ers. Draft Mikal Bridges at 10, then add another perimeter piece later on. And that’s almost how it went down.
But here we are, 16 hours later, with Zhaire Smith set to join the Sixers’ core. Brett Brown and company were aggressive despite the lack of a true general manager and they ended up with an extremely valuable asset as a result — the Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-round pick.
Their pick at 26 was slightly less exciting/invigorating/disappointing/whatever other feelings came with trading away Mikal Bridges. Landry Shamet, the sophomore point guard out of Wichita State, was widely expected to go in the second round. Now he’ll be looking for a spot in the rotation next year.
More from Draft
- Philadelphia 76ers Ten Biggest Mistakes of the Last Ten Years
- The Sixers sign four undrafted players after the NBA Draft
- Players the Sixers should target in undrafted free agency
- How to Watch the 2023 NBA Draft as a Sixers Fan
- 2023 NBA Mock Draft: 5 wing prospects 76ers could target
Many have argued that Shamet was a reach, and rightfully so. He was the No. 35 prospect on our draft board and even lower on others, presenting some defensive concerns that might cap his ceiling at the next level.
With that said, his talent and fit is undeniable. He’s a smart, high-I.Q. playmaker who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, which should help his transition to the next level. The Sixers need more ball-handlers who can help take pressure off Ben Simmons, and Shamet gives them just that.
He’s also one of the best shooters in the draft — or, as B/R’s Chris Cason argued, possibly the best shooter in the draft. Shamet shot 44.2 percent (!!!) from three-point range last season and 43.7 percent over the course of three seasons at Wichita State.
He gives the Sixers somebody who can work both on and off the ball, gunning around screens and spacing the floor while also running the pick-and-roll. He checks just about every offensive box for the Sixers, even if he isn’t the most exciting pick or the best talent available.
The defensive concerns with Shamet are legit. He’ll need to add more strength to contain stronger NBA guards, while his average athleticism might also hurt him against some of the league’s elite. He has solid size for the point guard spot at 6-foot-5, but he’ll need to work on his frame in order to take advantage of that size.
There are some notable players that the Sixers passed up at 26. Robert Williams was in the lottery discussion but ended up falling to the Celtics at 27. He could have been an exciting lob-catcher and defensive presence behind Joel Embiid at the five.
Next: Grading the Sixers' 2018 NBA Draft moves
But, with the Sixers drafting Zhaire Smith — a player who might not be ready to contribute consistently next season — nabbing a high-end shooter and level-headed playmaker like Shamet makes sense. There’s a very real chance that he cracks the rotation next season.