The Philadelphia 76ers have a swell opportunity to add shooting to the rotation.
The 2020 NBA Draft is roughly one week away, and many expect the Philadelphia 76ers to target shooting in the first round. While this year’s draft is weak at the top, there’s no shortage of depth. The Sixers should have plenty of appealing options when on the clock at 21.
Naturally, while the Sixers have other weaknesses to address — a real ball-handler, anyone? — shooting does stand out as a top priority. When building around Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, a spaced floor is essential. With Morey in charge, Philadelphia is sure to better understand that.
Here are five shooters to monitor as draft day approaches.
5. Malachi Flynn, San Diego State
Much more than a shooter, Malachi Flynn has seen his draft stock skyrocket in recent weeks. He is a legitimate possibility at 21, and fills a number of holes in Philadelphia’s current rotation. As a senior, he shot 37.3 percent on 6.4 attempts per game from beyond the arc. With both volume and deep range, he could help the Sixers immensely.
Flynn is a sly 6-foot-1 point guard who thrives in the pick-and-roll. Doc Rivers has built entire offenses around pick-and-rolls in the past, and the Sixers desperately need a guard who can make life easier for its star players. Flynn is an unselfish lead ball-handler and a dynamic floor-spacer. He makes tons of sense on paper.
While the defense is a concern — Flynn is neither long, nor a great athlete — he checks too many boxes offensively to ignore. He’s a polished upperclassman, a competitive soul, and a hand-in-glove fit. If not the pick at 21, Philadelphia should hope he falls to 34. Morey could even consider trading up for a second first-round pick.