Who should Philadelphia 76ers fans be watching as the Vegas Summer League shifts to tournament play?
The Philadelphia 76ers‘ 2018 Summer League team has been nothing short of underwhelming, entering tournament play with an 0-3 record. Zhaire Smith, Cameron Oliver and Furkan Korkmaz have all had flashes, but consistency in every facet has been lacking.
Much like the regular season squad, the Summer Sixers are suffering from a lack of self-creation on the perimeter. Demetrius Jackson has provided some dribble penetration at the point guard spot, but neither Smith nor Korkmaz can reliably create off the bounce (yet).
Landry Shamet could have helped the Sixers in that regard, but the reigning 26th overall pick sprained his ankle early in the first game. For our purposes, he will be excluded from the upcoming list.
Every team is guaranteed a minimum of five Summer League games, meaning the Sixers will play at least twice more before leaving Vegas. Considering their lackluster performances to date, expecting a lengthy run over the next week would be ill-advised.
With that said, it’s still important to understand which prospects could prove meaningful, both in Summer League and beyond. The Sixers don’t have any roster spots to fill, but they do have two-way contracts and training camp invites to disperse.
Other teams will be eyeing their talent as well, with most players on the roster playing for their NBA (or even international) careers. The Sixers’ roster, while not competitive, has multiple players with NBA upside.
Here are the seven prospects who are most likely to provide value to an NBA team.
7. Devyn Marble
Marble was the 56th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and appeared in 44 games over two seasons with the Orlando Magic. He has been out of the league since then, however, spending the past two seasons overseas and in the G-League.
In his two NBA seasons, Marble’s playing time was sparse. He averaged 2.2 points in 10.4 minutes per game, often finding himself relegated to garbage time minutes. The talent and NBA pedigree is there, but he’s still trying to prove his worth to teams.
With that said, Marble still has time to grow. He’s 25 and fits a valuable niche in the modern NBA — a 6-foot-6 wing who can space the floor and defend multiple positions. There are opportunities aplenty for players of that archetype.
Coming off the bench for the Summer Sixers, it’s unlikely that Marble will find himself with the team next season. He could find himself with a training camp invite, though. His shooting mechanics look smooth and, again, there is some NBA history there.
As arguably the most experienced player on the roster, Marble would present quite the storyline if he’s able to claw his way back into the league.
6. Demetrius Jackson
Jackson was one of several two-way contract recipients for the Sixers last season. He fits an area of need as a ball-handler and has been on the roster before, meaning Brett Brown is already familiar with his game and his personality.
That’s where the argument for keeping him on the roster ends.
At 6-foot-1, Jackson is undersized on defense and struggles to produce efficiently on offense. He doesn’t create for others at a high level and often finds himself forcing the issue, driving into traffic and taking bad shots.
Jackson was once considered a top-20 prospect by some, with his drop to 45th in the 2016 NBA Draft surprising most draftniks. But the concerns that caused him to slip have been on full display since then, and he simply hasn’t earned another two-way contract heading into next season.
Talent and athleticism will always appeal to some NBA front offices, though, and Jackson has both. He’s an explosive, quick-twitch driver who can use his strong frame to finish through contact at the rim. His high-octane scoring at Notre Dame made him one of the nation’s best lead guards.
If Jackson can refine his shot and improve his efficiency, there’s a path to becoming an NBA backup. As the starting point guard this summer, the ball has been in his hands quite a bit, for better or worse.
5. Chris McCullough
The big man rotation has been the most promising faction of the Summer Sixers’ roster, aside from Zhaire Smith. McCullough in particular has shown some promising flashes, displaying the length and athleticism that made him a first-round pick in 2015.
On the defensive end, McCullough has effectively deterred shots at the rim and defended in space. He’s a definite NBA athlete who, for that reason alone, should be popping onto front offices’ radars — including the Sixers.
Amir Johnson is getting old, Jonah Bolden is unproven and Richaun Holmes might be gone next season. The Sixers need to invest in depth behind Joel Embiid, and handing McCullough a two-way contract could be the solution.
Among other things, injuries have played a big role in McCullough’s early-career struggles. In three years split between the Nets and Wizards, McCullough hasn’t played more than 24 games in a single season. That was his rookie year.
If the Sixers are going to make any sort of investment in McCullough, they’ll need to make sure the medical is clear. What he has shown in Summer League is worth the interest, though, especially given his upside on the offensive end. He’s a career 30.6 percent three-point shooter.
4. Cameron Oliver
Oliver went undrafted in 2017 despite earning second-round grades from most draft analysts. After spending some time with the Sixers’ G-League affiliate last season, Oliver now seems well-positioned to get an NBA opportunity next season.
At 6-foot-8, Oliver projects as a small-ball five who can space the floor, fill the lane in transition and bring energy on the defensive end. His strong frame allows him to contain bigger fives, while his mobility allows him to survive on switches.
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In a league that preaches versatility, Oliver has always looked to part of a serviceable reserve and complimentary piece. He possesses a lot of quality role player traits — setting good screens, making hard cuts to the rim and playing unselfishly.
Much like McCullough, Oliver deserves attention from the Sixers due to their lack of frontcourt depth. If Holmes doesn’t work out and Embiid or Johnson gets hurt, the Sixers need somebody other than Bolden to compete for minutes at the five.
Oliver is the perfect two-way contract candidate and somebody who has a legitimate future in the NBA. He should have been drafted last season and is more than capable of carving out playing time at the next level.
3. Furkan Korkmaz
Korkmaz dropped a 40-piece in the first Summer League game. The 2016 first-round looked like a player that could compete for minutes next season, shooting 8-14 from three-point range and occasionally initiating the offense.
He now holds the record for fifth-highest scoring night in Summer League history. For one night, the Kork was popped and it was pretty Furkan impressive.
Things haven’t been quite as great since then. Korkmaz has shot a combined 1-18 from the field over two games, struggling to find rhythm with his shot. He’s also making ill-advised passes and looks far less comfortable as a secondary initiator.
Korkmaz rarely saw playing time last season and isn’t on pace to change that this season. He still has more upside than fellow first-round pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot due to his size and shooting prowess, but Korkmaz still has significant development ahead of him before seeing real NBA minutes.
The defensive end will need to be a point of emphasis for Korkmaz this summer. He’s still too thin, meaning stronger wings can power through him on drives to the hoop. His fundamentals have been less than ideal on that side of the ball as well.
Overall, this Summer League has been the perfect microcosm for Korkmaz’s very brief professional career. He’s a silky shooter who looks good on paper, but his inconsistency and key flaws have been impossible to overcome (thus far).
2. Jonah Bolden
Through three games, Bolden has probably been the third-best big man on the Summer Sixers’ roster, trailing both McCullough and Oliver. You could even argue that Norvel Pelle has been more consistently impactful, albeit in a smaller role with fewer minutes.
Bolden just hasn’t looked good, disappointing many fans in the process. After going 36th in last year’s draft, the Australian is expected to join the Sixers next season. Prior to July, many believed he could be Embiid’s primary backup.
Putting significant stock into Summer League play is unwise, but Bolden doesn’t look ready for that level of responsibility yet. His offensive game appears raw and his defense has been less impressive than it was in the same event a year ago.
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Bolden did show some positive flashes in the third game, knocking down a three-point shot and scoring 10 points. His versatility is still a valuable trait in the modern NBA, on both sides of the ball.
He can hit spot-up jumpers and attack closeouts off the bounce, using long strides to get to the rim and finish. He can also grab-and-go in transition, boasting smooth handles for a 6-foot-10 big. In theory, he’d be the ideal modern reserve behind Embiid and Dario Saric.
And, there’s a good chance that Bolden still reaches that level at some point. You can’t take Summer League struggles at face value, especially when he has been notably better in the past. The upside is still there with Bolden, even if his play this summer has been underwhelming.
1. Zhaire Smith
This one goes without saying. Smith is easily the most important prospect on the Sixers’ Summer League roster, with the potential to become one of the best two-way prospects in the 2018 class. He can even provide value next season.
At 6-foot-4, Smith is already an elite on-ball defender. His combination of length, athleticism and effort allows him to pester opposing ball-handlers, dissolving passing angles and forcing turnovers. He can also use his athleticism to impact plays elsewhere, like the occasional weak-side block.
On the offensive end, Smith will shine with better talent around him. His smart cutting isn’t rewarded as often as it should be by Summer League playmakers, often leading to fruitless forays to the rim. When Ben Simmons is passing the ball, that might (read: will) change.
Smith still has plenty of room left to grow, especially as a ball-handler. His athleticism and first step gives him upside as a go-to scorer, but he’s far from realizing that potential. He simply can’t handle the ball effectively at this stage in his development.
Shots haven’t been falling at a particularly high rate, but Smith has also shown significant progress as a shooter. His form is still a bit quirky, but it’s quicker and more fluid than it was at Texas Tech. He has hit a couple of pull-ups in isolation, which wasn’t common in college.
As one of the smartest players in the 2018 draft, Zhiare’s combination of physical and mental gifts is tantalizing. He needs to make improvements to maximize his production in the NBA, but the basic mold is in place.
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Smith will forever be compared to Mikal Bridges, and the latter will probably produce more next season. But there is a good chance that Smith, 10+ years down the line, ends up having the superior career. The Sixers made the right choice at 16.