13. Landry Shamet
With Zhaire Smith on the sidelines, Shamet is the Sixers rookie most likely to receive playing time early on. His shooting and playmaking skills are natural fits in a second unit that lacks perimeter depth outside Markelle Fultz, Wilson Chandler and T.J. McConnell.
Some thought Shamet was a reach in the first round, but he was worth the late-round gamble. What he lacks in athleticism he makes up for in basketball I.Q. and NBA-ready skills, seldom turning the ball over and shooting over 44 percent from deep at the collegiate level.
With J.J. Redick as his mentor, the Sixers’ offense will add another dynamic to Shamet’s game. He showed the ability to curl around screens and hit shots on the move in college, but that will become a focal point with the Sixers. A focal point that can help elevate his performance to the next level.
Defense will be a concern, but Shamet is smart enough to survive in an NBA offense from day one. His shooting is something the Sixers need and Brett Brown had enough confidence to select him 26th, which is higher than most draft boards had him.
He won’t get big minutes, but seeing Shamet crack the rotation for 10-15 minutes per game isn’t out of the question. At least on offense, he checks just about every possible box — shooting, ball handling, passing, movement.
The Sixers took some unexpected turns on draft night, but their moves yielded overwhelmingly positive results. Shamet should provide more value than most late-round rookies on competitive teams.