4. Killian Hayes, Ulm
There’s a good chance Hayes ends up top-3 on my big board, so he’s not ranked fourth based on talent. He’s ranked fourth (on this very specific list) due to probability. Hayes will probably end up in the top-10, and Philadelphia would need to part with significant assets (probably Zhaire Smith and a top-25 pick, maybe more) to get there.
If the Sixers were to stumble into Hayes, however, expectations would be high. While not a proven shooter, Hayes gives the Sixers a much-needed boost at the point guard position — a high-level decision maker and quick-twitch athlete who can generate looks, both for himself and for teammates, in a halfcourt setting. The Sixers don’t have someone like that on the roster.
At 6-foot-5, Hayes has ample size for the position, so he doesn’t sacrifice the Sixers’ switchability on defense. He is young, and inexperience often breeds mistakes, but Hayes is one of the more impressive all-around talents in a shaky draft class. The Sixers would be lucky to have him.
This is the pipe-dreamiest option on this list, but hey, given the current state of world affairs, what’s the harm in dreaming? This is going to be a wonky pre-draft process, so things could get weirder than normal.