Ranking every player on the Sixers’ 2021-22 roster

Ranking every player on the Sixers roster — 14. Jaden Springer

After months of trade speculation surrounding the Sixers’ first-round pick, management thought Jaden Springer was too valuable to pass up. This writer tends to agree, with Springer ranking at No. 15 on our draft board. The 18-year-old has a lot of work to do, but there’s reason to believe he will deliver.

Springer is one of the youngest players in the NBA. Given Philadelphia’s current title aspirations, it is unreasonable to expect him to contribute immediately. He will spend a lot of time in the G-League, discovering his role and getting reps he simply won’t get at the NBA level.

That said, what we can expect to be a quiet rookie season from Springer shouldn’t be confused as a waisted season. Springer is virtually under team control for another seven years, and Philadelphia does have a future to plan for. Springer can sit comfortably on the back-burner while Philadelphia’s more senior contributors fight for a championship.

At 6-foot-4, Springer made his name on the defensive end at Tennessee. He’s already an above-average perimeter defender, with elite instincts, non-stop hustle, and a 6-foot-8 wingspan at his disposal. If Springer does come along quicker than expected, it will be because of his innate defensive aptitude.

That said, Springer is not totally lost offensively. He looked rusty in Summer League and has been quiet so far in the preseason, but unlike most 18-year-olds, Springer possesses a basketball I.Q. the Sixers can bank on. The ball doesn’t stick and he’s naturally unselfish. He was an efficient 3-point shooter on small volume at Tennessee. The next step is getting that long-distance shot hammered out.