Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking every player on the roster (April 2020)
11. Mike Scott
PRESEASON RANKING: 6
Mike Scott is certainly not a player I ever anticipated ranking below Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton at the beginning of the season. His 2018-19 campaign was nothing short of spectacular. He was the hidden gem of the Tobias Harris trade.
Scott stepped in and made an immediate impact alongside James Ennis as the one-two punch off the bench. He scored 22 points in a thriller against the Golden State Warriors, sipped a fan’s beer in a late season showdown with the Milwaukee Bucks, and hit a game-winner in Game 4 of the opening series against the Brooklyn Nets.
When the Sixers signed him to a two-year $9.8 million deal at the beginning of the season, I thought it was a steal. Now I have to be a big enough man to admit I was wrong. Mike is averaging 5.7 points this year shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three. On the surface those numbers don’t seem that bad, but when you watch him in person the weaknesses in his game become more apparent.
This year Scott’s shot has seemed broken. There was a stretch during the season where he’d release the ball and the fans would hold their breath hoping it was going to catch rim. Couple that with his recent struggles defensively and his slide in the rankings is warranted.
With all that being said, I still believe Mike Scott is a valuable piece to the rotation. He brings toughness, shot making, and a fan connection that is unparalleled for a player coming off the bench. Scott’s role will be important should the season resume, and I believe that he will find a way to get back on track.