Ranking the Sixers’ young core against every NBA team

Ranking every NBA young core — 16. Utah Jazz

• Donovan Mitchell, Jared Butler, Udoka Azubuike, Jarrell Brantley, Miye Oni, Eric Paschall, Trent Forrest

None of the names after Donovan Mitchell are particularly consequential in the broader landscape of NBA basketball, but then again, it’s Donovan Mitchell. He’s already a borderline top-20 player, with room to improve still. A lot of teams would pick Utah’s core just to have the luxury of building around Mitchell.

That said, the other names aren’t all throw-aways. Jared Butler was a first-round talent who fell to 40th on draft night. Miye Oni has flashed NBA potential, while Udoka Azubuike could earn more opportunities behind Rudy Gobert following the departure of Derrick Favors.

Ranking every NBA young core — 15. Philadelphia 76ers

• Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe, Jaden Springer, Shake Milton, Charles Bassey, Grant Riller, Aaron Henry

The Sixers’ ability to hit on late first and second-round draft picks has left them in a great position, even with uncertainty over the future of Ben Simmons. Almost every player on this list can play NBA minutes. Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed were first-round talents taken in the back half of the second round. Tyrese Maxey was a lottery talent taken at 21. Matisse Thybulle was a lottery talent taken at 20. Jaden Springer was a lottery talent taken at 28.

The elephant in the room, of course, is Ben Simmons. He just turned 25, so it’s his last year on this list. As soon as he departs (either due to age, or more likely via trade) the Sixers will fall rather precipitously. For now, he’s still good enough to earn Philadelphia a spot in the top 15. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and generates more 3s for teammates than anyone in basketball.