Looking ahead to 2019 NBA Draft storylines that might impact the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 2019 NBA Draft will look vastly different than 2018, with less depth and more perimeter talent. On top of that, the three best prospects — R.J. Barrett, Cameron Reddish and Zion Williamson — all play for the same school. Duke will be quite the spectacle.
And that brings us to the Philadelphia 76ers, who will be in the running for the always-coveted No. 1 pick. Sacramento will be bad next season, which should put the Sixers in a position to compete (via lottery odds) for the opportunity to pick first.
As part of the Markelle Fultz trade, however, that pick goes to Boston if it falls anywhere from 2-30. A lot of way-too-early projections have the Celtics picking second, which is an unsettling thought.
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With all of that in mind, it’s worth keeping an eye on the top of the lottery. Or watching Duke games, which is becoming increasingly synonymous.
The consensus top prospect right now seems to be R.J. Barrett. While questions about his shot remain, he’s an elite slasher with standout athleticism and defensive versatility. He has been the most productive pre-college player of the group by far.
Cameron Reddish might be the most naturally talented of the group. At 6-foot-9, he’s a fluid ball-handler with lead initiator upside. He’s also the best shooter of the group, with a smooth game that allows him to score at all three levels.
Zion Williamson takes Barrett’s standout athleticism and dwarfs it. He’s currently listed at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, which would make him the heaviest NBA player not named Boban Marjanovic. He’s also dunking from the free throw line in practice.
Of the three, Barrett has earned the top spot on pedigree and production to this point. Reddish has a bad habit of underachieving and Zion still has some question marks regarding his NBA fit. He might be the kind of athletic anomaly that makes skill a secondary concern, though.
The best fit on paper would be Reddish — another versatile defender who can help Ben Simmons carry the playmaking load. Imagine having three players initiating the offense, two of whom are 6–foot-9+. The other, Markelle Fultz, has a 6-foot-10 wingspan.
How these three fit together at Duke will be fascinating. All have the ability to handle the ball and set up the offense, meaning at least one will have to accept a different role with more off-ball responsibilities. That might end up being Zion due to his strength down low and rim-running upside.
Nassir Little (North Carolina) and Sekou Doumbouya (France) are other names who will hover around the top three discussion as the college season approaches. Both are talented players deserving of top-five spots, but it feels as though the Duke trio has earned its spot on top for the time being.
The Sixers will also have late-first round interest, assuming their 2019 playoff push goes as planned. While the 2019 class lacks depth, there are some intriguing prospects currently projected toward the back end of the top-30.
Charles Bassey, Jarrey Foster, Ja Morant and Immanuel Quickley all come to mind.
We will release our first full-blown 2019 big board in the coming days. Be on the lookout and follow us @SixerSense on Twitter.