Shake Milton
By Christopher Kline
Right now, the Sixers’ second unit relies heavily on three negative defenders: Landry Shamet, T.J. McConnell and Furkan Korkmaz. A healthy Markelle Fultz provides some remedy in theory, but he’s far from polished on the defensive end.
Perhaps the best solution on the current roster is Shake Milton. He hasn’t thrived in non-garbage time minutes, Milton is still the most defensively-oriented guard on the roster outside Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler.
At 6-foot-6, Milton has the size and length to defend either guard spot. Add in legitimate playmaking chops and a three-point stroke, and it’s easy to picture Milton’s fit with the second unit. His resolution is simple: strive to make the minor leap from G-League star to NBA rotation piece.
Adding strength is the first step, which Milton is undoubtedly working on. In the limited sample size to date, he tends to get overpowered by stronger, more dynamic perimeter players. Once he’s able to handle more physicality, Milton could become a sizable upgrade over McConnell with his size and shooting.
If Milton can put in the work to get better on defense — where his ceiling lies significantly higher than the current reserves — there’s reason to believe his two-way contract turns into something more down the line.