Philadelphia 76ers 2018-19 season preview: Shake Milton’s quest for full-time roster spot

Can the Philadelphia 76ers’ only second-round draft pick, Shake Milton, establish himself as a long-term piece?

The Philadelphia 76ers will kick off training camp Sept. 21, a mere nine days from now. It will stretch across three days, ending with an open practice (and scrimmage) at the Palestra. That will be our first glance at the new pieces, with Shake Milton being among the most intriguing.

During my pre-draft coverage, Milton graded out as a top-40 prospect with a legitimate argument for first-round consideration. He shot efficiently in three straight seasons at SMU, while his length and physical tools bode well on the defensive end.

He’s the perfect 3-and-D wing in the modern NBA, and his playmaking skills are an added bonus. Yet a back injury and a rough pre-draft process tanked his stock, allowing the Sixers to trade up and select him 56th overall in June.

More from Sixers News

• 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
• 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
• 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
• Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
• Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden

Adding an arguable first-round talent at 56 is quite the steal.

Now Milton enters training camp as one of the Sixers’ two-way contract recipients, signing a two-year deal over the summer. With all 15 roster spots filled for the time being, he will occupy that spot for the foreseeable future.

Given the nature of his contract, Milton will probably spend good chunks of next season in the G-League. That’s a place where he’ll be able to get consistent reps and playing time, which doesn’t seem likely at the NBA level.

On top of that, Milton can only play 45 NBA games on his current contract. Since it’s a multi-year deal, the Sixers might put off making a final decision on his future until the 2019-20 campaign.

One thing that might work in Milton’s favor, though, is the Sixers’ limited depth on the perimeter. With Zhaire Smith injured, Wilson Chandler and Jerryd Bayless are their only proven threats in the second unit. One would think Bayless is out of the rotation for now.

If Milton gets a chance to play — which he absolutely should — his defensive versatility, ancillary playmaking and efficient three-point shooting could be a welcomed addition to the rotation. If that’s the case, Brown might be tempted to use Milton more often.

While Furkan Korkmaz impressed in Summer League and is impressing with the Turkish National Team overseas, he’s still a few years away from being a consistent NBA contributor. Landry Shamet is a better prospect than Milton, but lacks the immediate defensive impact the SMU product can provide.

If Brett Brown is open to the idea, Milton could provide legitimate value in spurts. He might not crack the rotation full-time, but he could have an opportunity to crack the roster full-time.

I doubt Jerryd Bayless makes it past the buyout deadline this season. If he isn’t cut or traded soon, he will be eventually. The Sixers will have more use for an open roster spot or new player than his expiring $9 million contract.

If Bayless is waived, converting Milton’s contract into a regular contract is a viable option. The Sixers might be able to target veteran contributors on the market at some point, but Milton’s long-term value could push management in the other direction.

Even with a team that’s ready to compete in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers should maintain the longest-view-in-the-room approach that got them to this point. They’re set to compete for 10 years, and maximizing the impact of someone like Milton is important.

We’ll see if the 21-year-old gets his shot this season.

Rough 2018-19 stat line projection: 3.5 PPG / 0.5 RPG / 1.2 APG / 0.3 SPG / 0.1 BPG / 48 FG% / 38 3FG% / 75 FT%