Ranking every Philadelphia 76ers player on the 2018-19 roster
15. Shake Milton
Milton is an intriguing case in an odd situation. He’s talented enough to earn NBA minutes, but the Sixers won’t be focusing on youth development next season. Their goal is to compete, which naturally stacks the odds against a two-way contract recipient.
With that said, Milton’s draft position (56th) doesn’t reflect his ability. He was graded almost universally in the top 40 prior to draft night, but injury concerns and a rough pre-draft process tanked his stock.
He’s someone the Sixers should value quite a bit moving forward.
Boasting long arms, solid athleticism and an all-around offensive skill set, Milton will find ways to contribute across the board when on the floor. He was an above-40 percent three-point shooter every season at SMU, while his secondary playmaking skills fit nicely with Ben Simmons on paper.
His defensive profile is also intriguing, as he should be capable of guarding one through three at the next level. He’s the prototypical 3-and-D wing and can make plays for others on the side. It’s still surprising that he fell into Brett Brown’s lap late in the second round.
Expecting major minutes next season would be a mistake, but Milton is capable of showing positive flashes when given the opportunity. The Sixers don’t have a ton of wing depth right now, so there’s an outside chance Milton is given spot minutes early in the season.
The question is whether or not he does enough with them to earn a full-time roster spot.