Ranking every member of the Philadelphia 76ers 2018-19 roster.
The Philadelphia 76ers exceeded expectations last season, winning 52 games and securing a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference. Now Brett Brown’s squad is tasked with building on their best season since 2000-01, when Allen Iverson made his lone Finals appearance.
Although the core remained in tact, the Sixers did experience some roster turnover this summer. The likes of Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala and rookie Zhaire Smith will bring significant change to the second unit.
There are also some intriguing young pieces toward the end of the bench, with Landry Shamet, Jonah Bolden and Shake Milton all possessing traits that make them appealing in the modern NBA.
Perhaps the biggest storyline surrounding the Sixers’ roster, however, is Markelle Fultz and his ever-changing jump shot. Drew Hanlen has been working non-stop with the former No. 1 pick this summer, but there are still question marks surrounding his long-term outlook.
With the Celtics emerging as strong favorites in the East, Fultz’s development could be the determining factor in whether or not the Sixers catch up. His playmaking, halfcourt scoring and defensive potential are all important dynamics the rotation lacked last season.
In addition to Fultz, both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are well-positioned for significant improvement in 2018. This was Embiid’s first healthy offseason, while Simmons has been working on expanding his scoring profile (i.e. shooting).
We here at The Sixer Sense took the time to synthesize the entire roster and form a definitive ranking for all 17 players. We averaged rankings from 11 different writers, with several different perspectives utilized throughout the article.
Here’s how the final tally played out.
17. Demetrius Jackson
Jackson enters the 2018-19 season on his second two-way contract with the Sixers. He essentially has 45 NBA games to prove his worth, something that will be difficult given the current roster situation.
Simply put, the outlook isn’t great.
Once a five-star recruit at Notre Dame, Jackson slipped to 45th on draft night in 2016. After fizzing out in Boston, he has bounced around the G-League and NBA, with his most recent stint coming in Philadelphia. We haven’t seen much to suggest he’ll break out next season.
A lackluster defender and inefficient scorer, Jackson doesn’t fill a useful role in the modern NBA. He doesn’t space the floor, nor does he playmake for others at a high level. His athleticism and slashing is tantalizing in flashes, but he doesn’t bring the skill level needed to contribute on a consistent basis.
He’ll ride the Sixers’ bench again next season, only seeing the floor during absolute blowouts. He only played in three games during his tenure with the Sixers last season, and there’s no reason to expect an increase in playing time or workload this season.
With Ben Simmons patrolling the point guard spot, Markelle Fultz on the come up and T.J. McConnell providing valuable minutes in the playoffs, the Sixers are set when it comes to lead guards. Jackson doesn’t provide value in any one area that those three can’t exceed.
He’s talented enough to make it in the NBA, but that doesn’t always equate to success. If he does find success, it probably won’t be in Philadelphia.
16. Jerryd Bayless
A 10-year veteran and former lottery pick, generally, is something a contending team would find value in. However, with Bayless, Philadelphia hasn’t looked to him for much else then encouragement from the sidelines.
That said, can Philly faithful have any expectations for Jerryd? Maybe.
Weaknesses
- Stability
As mentioned, the Sixers staff haven’t look to Bayless for anything significant at all. Over his Liberty City tenure, Bayless has only carved his way into playing time in 42 games. That is not games started—its total games played in over two seasons.
When a player has that little time, you can’t expect them to show up on the court in any significant situation and produce quality play. Many players are dependent on rhythm, repetition, and consistency. The fact of the matter is that Jerryd can’t be trusted with critical minutes, because he isn’t getting any real time to play—and he isn’t getting real time to play, because he can’t be trusted with the minutes; it’s a vicious cycle.
Strengths
- Veteran leadership
Maybe it sounds weak—but there is real value for such a young team to have a 10-year vet help new players acclimate to their new life in the league. Listen to the now-legendary players talk about what meant the most to them—most of them will acknowledge someone who was there to show them how to integrate… and how invaluable that was for them.
Bayless can help the team by maintaining a positive attitude, preparing hard in the gym, and befriending new players in the organization and helping them mature and fit in. For Philly to catch Boston, our newest players will need to settle in quickly and get to work. Bayless is the type of guy who can help.
- Shooting
Jerryd Bayless is a career 41.4 percent shooter, and 36 percent from beyond the arc. Maybe he is limited in playing time, maybe he has played for three teams in a season twice in his career, but the numbers don’t lie—Bayless can shoot. He should take that form and make sure to keep working with the other guys and stay prepared himself. Crazier things have happened.
Season Expectations
When all the niceties are said, and the fodder of a positive-outlook author have cleared, the truth is we shouldn’t expect much from Bayless. The Sixer roster is pretty much rounded out, and plans don’t include the former standout.
Bayless will be moved or cut at some point this season, and anything else would be a shock to Bayless himself.
- 4.6 PPG, 0.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.2 SPG, 39.1 FG%, 22 games played
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.
14. Jonah Bolden
Something Jonah Bolden and I have in common is that last year we both spent time in Israel. Something we don’t have in common is that he’s a gigantic human basketball prospect who you are far more interested in.
First and foremost, Bolden signed a four-year, $7 million contract this offseason. He’s a development guy who should, eventually, turn into a bargain role player. The ideal is for him to deliver impact off the bench, but probably not this year. This season is all about development.
Bolden’s positives are his defense and the potential to be a stretch four/five, although his shot isn’t there yet. He’s strong enough to guard bigger players and athletic enough to stay with some small forwards, allowing him to guard three positions well (SF, PF, C), which is useful on a defense not hesitant to switch.
The negative, and it’s a big negative, is his offense, especially the aforementioned lack of a consistent three-ball. Even if Bolden only becomes a career 35 percent three-point shooter, that’s a huge boost to this team. Right now, Bolden could probably be counted on to defend well when players ahead of him on the depth chart get hurt, but offensively he won’t feel much different from, say, Reggie Evans.
In time, though, he should develop into a good offensive player. Probably not a starter, but someone who doesn’t make you feel like you’re only playing with four guys on offense.
This year, Bolden should be strapped to the bench, playing exclusively in garbage time and as necessary due to injuries. Ahead of him on the depth chart are Embiid, Saric, Muscala, Amir Johnson, Ben Simmons (when the Sixers play ‘small ball’), and Wilson Chandler will get time at power forward. There is not and should not be a path to regular playing time for Bolden.
That’s okay. Sitting on the bench for a year or two to learn the league can be a boon. Brett Brown will almost certainly work closely with Bolden to keep him engaged and learning while he’s not playing. With Bolden, the focus isn’t so much on this year as it is the following three.
Oh, and if you’re looking for an X-factor in Bolden’s development process, don’t forget that, like Simmons, Bolden is from Australia. I wouldn’t put it past Ben to make sure this guy develops into someone capable of a meaningful role on Australia’s 2020 Summer Olympic team. If that happens, Bolden will be right on schedule to deliver for the Sixers, too.
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.
12. Furkan Korkmaz
Anything you can do, Furkan can do better.
Um, we’ll get back to that…
A 6-foot-7, 21-year-old sharpshooter from Istanbul, Korkmaz is a shooting guard with the potential to play small forward. After Redick, Fultz, Covington, and Chandler, Korkmaz appears to be the next guy up at either of those positions, which means, if the coaching staff believes in him, he should play regular minutes.
Even without Redick and Chandler missing some games here and there or the coaching staff reducing their minutes during various stretches of the season, there’s a real path to 10-15 minutes of playing time a night for the Summer League superstar.
The positives on Korkmaz are that he can shoot the lights out, he has good size, and he moves well without the ball.
The negatives are that he’s inconsistent offensively and doesn’t defend well.
I see a good regular season player. When you can shoot like Korkmaz and you’re the third man up at two different positions, you’re going to see the court. In the regular season, streaky nights and bad defense can be hidden.
The kid has enough talent to be a random spark plug, occasionally hitting anywhere from 2-4 threes, buoying the bench on off nights and keeping us optimistic about his future.
There’s always the chance Furkan does learn to play enough defense and does shoot more consistently. He strikes me as someone who will figure it out. I believe we will see a more polished offensive product this year, but we’ll have to wait until next year and beyond for the defense.
If he contributes meaningfully, great. No need to trade or scour the waiver wires for a solid bench guy. If he doesn’t contribute, people might get frustrated, especially after similar players Justin Anderson and TLC failed to develop well. Third time’s the charm?
As long as we see positive signs this year, the 2018-19 season should not be the final verdict on Korkmaz.
In the end, perhaps anything you can do Furkan can’t do better, but the potential is there, and so should the playing time to produce for the first time in his career.
11. Amir Johnson
Amir is the definition of hustle. Johnson plays hard, does whatever is asked of him, and does it all with a smile and the team in mind. With the addition of Mike Muscala, Johnson will not have to spell Embiid as much, if at all, and can play his natural position of Forward and it will change the defensive objective for him. Its going to be a fun season for him.
Weaknesses
- Scoring
Johnson has never lit the world on fire with scoring, and we shouldn’t expect him to start anytime soon. A solid contributor for the time his plays, considering he is more defensive oriented, but again—not a world-beater.
- Physical
Amir hustles hard but doesn’t have the lateral quickness to contend with the upper echelon he may see. In fact, I’m not sure he has the lateral quickness to match up to the second-tier opponents he will face. It has yet to make him detrimental defensively; but with age, it will be sooner rather than later that it catches up with him.
Strengths
- Defense
It goes without saying (much), that he has always been a defensive hound. Being able to play a more natural position is going to go a long way in helping Amir add more defensive value to an already very good defensive team.
- Playmaking
Did you know Amir Johnson’s assist-to-usage ratio (courtesy of Cleaning The Glass) has been in the 79th percentile or higher for the last four consecutive years?
That’s kind of a big deal.
For a big man or forward to facilitate to his teammates is often a work of art, which means he could increase his ability to score inside. No one has ever been upset about having too many playmakers.
Season Expectations
I’m expecting a fun season for Amir. He will contribute in the second unit, and I think will be responsible for some big defensive moments down the stretch. If nothing else, he will elevate the level of intensity on the floor and display that blue-collar work ethic Philly is so well known for.
- 7.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.5 SPG, 54.8 FG%, 74 games played
10. Zhaire Smith
The most recent injured 76ers draft pick provides athleticism and potential lock-down defensive ability, and although he will miss a chunk of time early in the season, he should prove to be an upgrade upon the recently departed wing duo of Justin Anderson and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.
In his one year at Texas Tech, the 6-foot-4 wing stood out defensively, averaging 1.1 blocks and steals per game and finishing in sixth place in the Big 12 in defensive rating. Whenever he makes his NBA debut, he will instantly add a tough defensive presence off the bench. The Sixers severely lacked strong depth on the wing, and their second unit wings particularly struggled on the defensive end, so Smith will help fix that issue this season.
Although his defensive ability stands out above all, Smith’s offensive game does not disappoint. First off, the kid can straight up fly, which means Sixers fans will see plenty of fast-break jams from him.
Additionally, he made a stellar 45 percent of his three-pointers on 1.1 attempts per game. He dropped 11.3 points per game along with 1.8 assists per game. Luckily for him and the team, he will not have to act as floor general since Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, and T.J. McConnell are all more suited to playing that role.
Smith’s injury will hinder his development, but as long as he fully recovers, he will be one of the most exciting players on the team. He can shift momentum with a chase down block or a thunderous dunk, and he does not sacrifice teamwork for entertainment value.
9. Mike Muscala
Newcomer Mike Muscala will be a welcome addition to the 76ers roster. Muscala will give the Sixers a true center backup for Joel Embiid — one with a good three-point shot, and a very high free throw percentage. Lets take a look at what to expect from Muscala.
Weaknesses
- Defense
Muscala will not provide much in the way of rim protection. What is gained in offense is lost on defense. However, it appears that the second unit may have some athletic defenders to help out, and so that second unit may surprise some people.
- Mid-range shooting
Muscala’s 34 percent from short mid-range isn’t anything to write home about. In fact, some would hide their head in shame.
Nevertheless, Mike may not be called upon very often to have to make this shot, and we should hope not—because he is not good at it.
Strengths
- Three-point shot
Muscala brings another serviceable shooter to the Sixers. As a center able to shoot from the corners and top of the arc with accuracy, the offense will not skip a beat when JoJo sits. Obviously, Muscala is not the same caliber as Joel (or even close), but having Moose spell the star big will elevate the scoring capacity of the second unit and allow Amir Johnson to focus more on hustle than point production.
- Free throw shooting
His free throw shooting is so good, it must be considered a strength worth mentioning. Muscala shot almost 92 percent from the charity stripe, which is in the top 100 percentile for his position, and very good or any position in general.
Adding Muscala’s phenomenal free throw shooting to Redick’s gives Brown a combination that can find some time on the floor in crucial games, with close scores where its known the opposing team must foul. Its an exciting prospect to consider how that shooting touch can translate to elsewhere on the floor.
Season Expectations
We can expect high energy, good offensive I.Q., and a good fitting piece to the Sixers’ puzzle. Mike will be a pleasing addition.
- 11.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 39.7 3PT%, 73 games played
8. T.J. McConnell
It’s fair to say that T.J. McConnell had the best season of his career last year. He saw a career high in field goal and 3-point shooting percentages while putting up a consistent stat line that lines up with his career averages. McConnell was relied upon heavily as the only other reliable point guard on the roster besides Ben Simmons.
Sadly, fans shouldn’t expect McConnell to see as much floor time due to the expected emergence of former first overall pick Markelle Fultz. Fultz should have the ball in his hands for the majority of the time when playing in the second unit with McConnell.
Seeing as one of McConnell’s best skills is being a playmaker, expect his impact on the floor to be diminished significantly. However, as long as he can maintain his defensive grit and his 3-point percentage around last season’s mark of 43.5 percent, he should still be able to co-exist with Fultz.
Being in a contract year and looking at a reduced role, it could be in his best interest if the Philadelphia 76ers where to trade him to another team. In the past, I have written about the possibility of him going to the Phoenix Suns. In that article, I reviewed the possible financial ramifications of keeping McConnell past this season.
However, looking at the present moment keeping McConnell would definitely give the Sixers quality depth at the point guard position. McConnell’s value as a member of “The Process” and defensive identity is unquestioned. He will most likely see a reduced role within the Sixers rotation, however he should still be a quality playmaker and defender when his number is called.
7. Wilson Chandler
At least one thing is certain. When the season begins, Wilson Chandler won’t be wearing No. 21 anymore.
Other certainties include dependable bench scoring, wing depth behind Covington that the Sixers lacked last year, solid rebounding, the ability to play both small forward and power forward, and good durability.
He will shoot about or just below league average from three. He will hit two-point jumpers with consistency and finish at the rim. He is going to score off the bounce, a quality seemingly only T.J. McConnell possessed in last year’s playoffs.
Defensively, Chandler is solid, and will only play better in a superior defense anchored by Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Joel Embiid. Chandler has always been a good shot blocking wing, although he’s seen better years in that regard, and he can guard the two when necessary.
He’s a reliable veteran who shoots well from the field. Expect a healthy uptick in his offensive numbers due to a better situation in Philadelphia, where he’ll have more opportunity than he did last year in Denver.
There is no real knock on Chandler except that he is what he is. He’s a solid, reliable player who, at this point in his career, is best fit for a meaningful bench role.
Chandler won’t take over games, but he’s a good rotation player on an expiring contract who fills several holes. He won’t make you forget that we didn’t land Kawhi Leonard, not by a longshot, but you also won’t find yourself daydreaming about Marco Belinelli or a never-gonna-happen breakout from Justin Anderson.
6. Markelle Fultz
The 2018-19 season, for all intents and purposes, is set up to be a major bounce-back year for one Markelle Fultz. We all know quite well the rookie year Fultz endured: from mysterious shoulder injuries, to ugly hitches in his jump shot, to people actually doubting his long-term outlook in the wake of all these setbacks, etc.
Now, all signs point to us finding out what Fultz is truly capable of this upcoming season.
Last season provided us with merely a glimpse into Markelle’s potentially All-Star-caliber skill set. Obviously the athleticism is the one thing that stands up above all else. He’s explosive getting to the basket yet displays impressive body control when finishing at the rim, allowing him to hit even the toughest of layup attempts. Plus he has the leaping ability to develop into a solid rebounder as well. He’s also proven to be an excellent ball-handler both in transition and in pick-and-roll sets in addition to being a very able passer.
Of course the one thing everyone will be paying attention to this year is the development of his previously broken jump shot. It’s arguably the one thing that separates him from being a possible superstar in the NBA, and it would also open up so many new layers for this Sixers’ offense. He also was very turnover-prone in game action last year, but that’s to be expected out of a young guard.
Nevertheless, Markelle could easily turn out to be the third star complementing Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons we all thought he could be when he was drafted. He provides this team with another, much-needed capable ball-handler and, if his shot is indeed fixed, even more spacing along with a source of self-offense.
It’s still way too early to tell whether or not he could ever become the best player on the team (probably not, since, you know, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are his teammates), but there’s a good chance he could become the third-best by season’s end.
5. J.J. Redick
Redick was the second-leading scorer, behind Joel Embiid, for the 2017-18 campaign. J.J. also shot around 90 percent on free throws, near the top of the league. What can we expect from the Philly sharpshooter for the upcoming year? Lets take a look.
Weaknesses
- Defense
There is no doubt that J.J. is not an elite defender. It is very possible the only reason his defense wasn’t under more of a microscope last season was because of the atrocious work of Marco Belinelli, the latter having moved on to San Antonio.
To put it bluntly: the numbers show Redick is a defensive liability for his position. We can expect a decline in defense as he ages, and Brett Brown will have to do more to cover up for his two guard.
- System proficiency
It must be mentioned that not only is Redick a liability on defense, but unless Brown makes sure to continue setting up good screens for Redick to roll off of, he could become an issue on offense. While his shooting is outstanding, J.J. doesn’t have the capability of the other starters to either pace the movement of the ball or create for himself.
Strengths
- Shooting
Few stay this good for this long. Redick has stood the test of time and is still a far above average shooter. It can’t be overstated how much Philly needs his shooting to succeed. I look forward to game-winning threes from Mr. Duke.
- Leadership
J.J. has been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt. For that, he has ice water in his veins. No shot bothers him, and Redick doesn’t mind the high-pressure shots. It was evident down the stretch last year, that even though missing a couple of big shots, it wasn’t the nerves—it was just a miss.
We should trust J.J. at the end of games to take the potential clinching shot.
Further to that, he can direct and teach these younger players what it takes to win and overcome adversity on the court. Redick is a superb player to have as a mentor to the youth of the Sixers.
Season Expectations
It is safe to think Redick will be a top-three scorer, unless Markelle Fultz has a serious breakout season (which we all hope for and anticipate to some degree).
Redick’s usefulness lies solely on the offensive side of the team.
- 17.4 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.4 SPG, 44 3PT%, 74 games played
4. Robert Covington
I’m not sure there’s an better athlete in Philadelphia that receives the level of maligned scrutiny like Robert Covington.
The Boston Celtics series gave lots of ammo to the anti-Covington army. With the exception of Game 2, he rarely looked like himself. A poor series is not enough to forget how impactful Robert Covington is.
They don’t just give out First Team All-Defense selections like they’re candy.
Robert Covington is an elite defender that nearly shot 37 percent from three. You can’t sleepwalk and wind up with 1.7 steals per game, a true shooting percentage of .563, and a defensive rating of 103 (12th in the NBA).
There aren’t many stats or reasons to suggest Robert Covington is not a good basketball player. Robert Covington has used his maniacal work ethic to climb out of the NBA’s basement, and has evolved into a premier 3-and-D player with a four-year, $62 million contract extension in tow.
Covington has improved year-by-year, ever since his debut with Houston in 2013. There is no reason to expect Covington won’t continue his upward trend. Playmakers like Markelle Fultz and Landry Shamet will only add to the Sixers’ pass-happy offense, and create opportunities for Covington to hit threes.
Robert Covington was fourth on our list with good reason. He’s a lanky, intelligent, competitive defender that loves doing the dirty work. Cov loves launching threes (sometimes ill-advised), and has a knack for big shots.
If you’re a Robert Covington devotee, then 2018 may be the best year yet. If you’re ready to run him out of town, you’re just wrong.
— AJ Iezzi
3. Dario Saric
Known to many fans as the ‘Homie’, Dario Saric has such a mature all-around game it is sometimes hard to remember the 6-foot-10 forward is just 24 years old.
First, yes, Saric is coming over from his native Croatia to play a third season with the 76ers. His biggest asset might be versatility. He is the ultimate ‘glue’ guy, as whatever the 76ers need at the moment, he will usually figure out a way to provide.
Although the Sixers had more talent than in his rookie year, Saric was able to raise his average in scoring (14.6 from 12.8) rebounds (6.7 from 6.3) and assists (2.6 from 2.2) while cutting down on turnovers (1.9 from 2.3) in his second year.
Durability is also one of Saric’s attributes as he has played 159 out of a possible 164 games the past two years.
The biggest improvement in Saric’s game has been 3-point shooting. After making just 31.1 percent of his 3-point shots as a rookie, Saric boosted that number to 39.3 percentlast season even as he shot more from behind the line (5.1 attempts to 4.2 as rookie).
What he brings most on the court is a hard-nosed attitude, which explains why he is a fan favorite.
This intensity is key to Saric’s game as he is not the most athletically gifted, which hurts him at times on the defensive end.
Saric’s stats are better as a starter but, depending on how Markelle Fultz looks, he will either start at power forward or be the first player off the bench.
2. Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons was ranked by The Sixer Sense as the number two overall player on the team; there was only one dissenting voice (three guesses who…).
It is understandable why Simmons would not garner the top spot in such a ranking. While Ben has all the tools necessary to bring in awards and championships, there are some critical items in his repertoire that need to be addressed – some well noted, and others not.
Lets take a look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of the Young King, and what we can expect from the Sixer star point guard, for the upcoming campaign.
Weaknesses
- Turnovers
There is no shortage of the litany of writings, videos, etc., that exist detailing the star guard’s struggles with turning the ball over. Per possessions owned, Simmons ranked second on the team with a significant percentage of turnovers. This is a problem that is known team wide, and so we won’t belabor the point.
- Jump Shot
If the hot button items regarding Ben’s game isn’t turnovers, it’s shooting. Young King’s inside game is undeniable. He has it all—from insane leaping ability to ferocious dunking skills. Its not quite “Vinsanity,” but its pretty good. Knowing that, Ben hadn’t been all that convinced in the necessity of a jump shot—then the playoffs happened.
Ben was unable to help his team against the Celtics due to that very lack.
However, keep this in mind: Ben is a jump shot away from an MVP ceiling. Big ‘ol facts, folks.
- Poise
Yes—poise is an issue. During the regular season, Ben had no trouble dominating. But when the games counted the most, he just couldn’t deliver. Part of that was the lack of jump shot, as previously mentioned. However, some of it was just inexperience and nerves. We can expect this to be less a factor going forward; however, “how much less?” is still a question in desperate need of an answer.
Strengths
- Playmaking
Ben is a gunslinger with the pass. He can make all the passes needed on the court, and then some. This will be an asset to the Sixers with the addition of consistent offensive pieces like Muscala and Chandler, and the advancement of Saric and Fultz.
- Defense
This author stands by the idea that Simmons will be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, sooner rather than later. The defense should work around Ben’s skills and scheme from there. Simmons can guard all five positions with ease, and that is something that makes him an incredibly valuable and versatile asset.
Season Expectations
Sixer fans should expect to come out of the upcoming season considering if Simmons should have been ranked first.
Ben will lead this team with better poise, and a serviceable jump shot that will help his team compete with the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors.
Also, we should expect Ben to be the second-leading scorer on the team and challenge some triple-double oriented record.
Ben Simmons is going to be a dangerous player, that will turn heads all season.
- 20.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 10.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 56 FG%, 82 games played
1. Joel Embiid
Most would agree that Joel Embiid is the best overall player on the Sixer’s roster. He offers an array of abilities on both sides of the ball that make him a one-of-a-kind talent in today’s NBA. From Embiid’s Hakeem Olajuwon-esque post moves and euro-steps to his three-point shooting, he is the definition of superstar center in the modern NBA.
Joel Embiid had a successful sophomore year during the 2017-2018 season. Embiid improved in almost every stat category: He averaged 22.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 11 rebounds per game.
That said, a look at Joel Embiid’s numbers fails to do him justice in terms of determining his true value on court.
You can make the argument that Joel Embiid is one of the most complete players in the NBA, let alone on the Sixers.
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First and foremost, Joel Embiid is an elite scorer with great efficiency. He led the Sixers in scoring the entire season, and was reliable as their number one option on offense. Throughout the season we saw the Sixers primarily use Embiid down low, underneath the rim. He was effective in the post-game, and in shooting mid-range jump shots.
Embiid’s offensive game is especially impressive when you factor in how much the Sixers put the ball in his hands. Per Basketball Reference , Joel Embiid has had the highest usage rate in history for a player’s first two seasons in the NBA. Embiid averaged a monster 34.1 percent usage rate so far. In comparison, all-time great Michael Jordan only averaged a 30.9 percent usage rate during his first two seasons.
Joel Embiid isn’t a one-dimensional player by any means. Embiid proved to be the anchor for the Sixers’ defense, recently winning an All-Defensive Team award.
Embiid is a great rim protector and an all-around defender. When temporarily switched onto smaller players, Embiid has shown that he is capable of playing defense. This is very promising to see, as the NBA has grown to value versatility among players.
One of the more underrated success stories with Joel Embiid involves his health. After injury and setbacks, Embiid was finally given permission to play in back-to-back games during the
2017-2018 NBA campaign. Remarkably, he managed to play in 63 games; a number which would have approached 70 if his facial fracture had not occurred.
While Joel Embiid is already an amazing NBA talent, he does have areas in which he can improve. One are that could stand work? Overall playmaking.
Turnovers have been a consistent problem for Joel Embiid throughout his first two years. Embiid managed to finish among the top five in the league, in terms of turnovers. Embiid is an elite player in this league, which means at times he does get doubled teamed; often leading to a turnover. While he does have the ball often, one would like see his average of almost four turnovers reduced.
Earlier I mentioned that Joel Embiid is temporary capable of playing smaller players well on defense. While he is effective in short-term defensive situations, Embiid struggled playing against perimeter orientated players over long durations of play.
An example of this was when Boston tried to use Aron Baynes as a spot up three-point shooter in the playoffs. Embiid is very comfortable playing defense close to the rim, and it showed with Baynes getting a good amount of spot-up threes.
While he was effective on offensive, Joel Embiid did have an off year in terms of actually shooting the basketball. His three-point percentage dropped from 37 percent his rookie year to 31 percent in his sophomore season.
Embiid did battle a right hand injury early on in 2018. While this might account for some shooting difficulty, shooting is an area Joel must focus on during offseason. When he is hitting three-pointers, Embiid’s game opens up for him as well as others, as defenses need to close out on him.
What to expect in the upcoming season
For the first time in Joel Embiid’s professional career, he will experience a healthy off-season. This is huge news for fans, as he can add a lot to his game during the summer.
As many people know, Joel Embiid works with Drew Hanlen during off-season. Hanlen describes some of the skills that he is working on with Joel in numerous videos and podcasts.
On the Hoops Hype Podcast with Alex Kennedy , Hanlen stated that Joel Embiid is working on three primary things: low post dominance, three-point shooting, and perimeter playmaking. These are arguably Embiid’s three biggest weaknesses. Hearing that Joel Embiid is spending months working weaknesses is very promising. Through honing these skills during a healthy and hardworking off-season, Joel can become an even more complete player.
As such, I would expect to see some improvement in all of three areas. Fans can expect to see Joel Embiid with a consistent three-pointer and better playmaking – Embiid as an instantly MVP caliber player.
With factoring in improvement, I would expect Joel Embiid to put up a stat line around these numbers for the upcoming season:
- 25 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 4 APG, 1 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Joel Embiid is already an elite player, and the best the Sixers have. As a fan it will be incredibly exciting to watch him grow, and see just how high the 24 year old’s ceiling really is.
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