Re-drafting the 2020 NBA Draft: Tyrese Maxey rises, Sixers target another guard

Re-drafting the 2020 NBA Draft — 11. Tyrese Maxey, San Antonio Spurs

Tyrese Maxey never should have fallen to 21 on draft night. The Spurs jump on the electric point guard in the lottery, adding another hard-worker and culture-setter to Gregg Popovich’s team. The Spurs’ player development system is historically unrivaled, and Maxey’s work ethic is perhaps his best attribute. It’s a natural fit.

The Spurs have no shortage of guards, but Maxey’s skill set is unique. He’s lightning-quick, with a unique ability to get downhill, penetrate the defense, and create advantages with speed alone. He’s an excellent finisher already, and has improved significantly at drawing contact and getting to the free throw line.

For Maxey, the next step is getting better on defense and becoming a more well-rounded “point guard.” If he can start making advanced reads on the move and getting teammates more involved, the sky is the limit. Also, if the shooting versatility he showed in Summer League is real, the Spurs have a potential go-to scorer. As a rookie buried in Doc Rivers’ rotation, Maxey averaged 8.0 points and 2.0 assists on 46.7 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from deep.