While most people are lasered in on the transaction tables happening in free agency, the Summer League action rages on. In fact, the Philadelphia 76ers quietly got vindicated for their draft choice early on as rookie Labaron Philon Jr. quickly proved that he is an absolute gem of a draft pick with the 22nd overall selection, leading the team to a win in the mini tourney.
Philon ended the night with 18 points and seven assists, but it actually only took him a single quarter to show that he belongs. By the end of the first frame, the Alabama product had already registered 11 markers, draining four of his six shots and three of his five attempts from beyond the arc. Philon's scoring acumen was on full display, and that should get fans exhilarated.
The 76ers needed a direct replacement for Jared McCain, whom the front office back then infamously shipped away to the Thunder for draft capital. One of those yielded Philon, who is slowly reminding fans and the league as a whole that Philly may actully still win that poorly received trade.
The 76ers saw everything they wanted from Labaron Philon Jr. in just one quarter
The 76ers brought in Anfernee Simons to help the bench squad out in the advent of Quentin Grimes' exit, but a three-guard rotation will simply not cut it. That makes Philon an early candidate to log considerable minutes early on, and if his performance in this game is a sign of things to come, the 76ers bench should be in much better shape.
Heading into the draft, Philon was noted to be one of the most NBA-ready scorers in his class –– and he definitely showed that his pre-draft profile was spot-on. Even better is the fact that he showed glimpses of reliable playmaking, which is something the 76ers have yet to address despite their slew of additions this offseason.
Without a doubt, defenses will heavily focus on shutting down the 76ers' core four and be more than willing to concede shots to everyone else. If Philon can sustain this level of play against better competition, that will make the team even harder to guard as a collective. Last season, the team suffered from the fact that their complementary players could not hit shots to save their lives, and that caused their flaming out in the playoffs.
The 76ers absolutely delivered with their decision to draft Labaron Philon at No. 22. Now, he is quickly thriving with the liberty he is enjoying in the Summer League as an electric scoring guard who can give the team a lift in the coming season.
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