Well, Tuesday’s late-night Woj bomb was certainly a downer. In case you missed it, the New York Knicks gave up a massive draft pick haul to land the Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges. The price was steep, but man, it makes the team that just eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs even better.
Onto happier things.
The Sixers actually have draft picks this year! They possess a first-rounder (No. 16) and second-rounder (No. 41). While a trade is very much in play for pick 16, Daryl Morey and company could have a few intriguing options fall into their laps.
With that in mind, we rounded up all the latest mock drafts from a few of our trusted sources.
Could Dillingham really slide to 16?
Why do Kentucky guards always slide in the draft? The 2024 version of that appears to be Rob Dillingham. Both Sam Vecenie of The Athletic and the folks over at No Ceilings have the dynamic guard slipping all the way to 16.
Per Vecenie (who is the best in business in this writer’s humble opinion):
“Philadelphia has cleared significant cap space to go star-hunting, so, if the right deal becomes available, this pick could be used to further that goal. … The 76ers will likely take a ‘best player available’ approach under Daryl Morey if they keep the pick.
“Dillingham averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists per game this past season while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3. He maintains control well despite playing at a fast pace, using a bevy of crossovers and well-timed hesitation moves to maximize his speed. Evaluators are confident he’ll be able to separate from his man in the NBA.”
Analysis: I’ve long held the belief that the Sixers will move this pick one way or another — the most likely option being a trade down to acquire more draft capital. But if a player as special as Dillingham drops, Morey has to consider it. The knocks on Dillingham are his size and his defense (kind of related), but he is an elite shot creator that can also really shoot it. A long-term Maxey-Dillingham backcourt is risky, but my goodness, would it be dynamic offensively.
McCain is an exciting option if he slips
Chances are Dillingham will go before 16, but if he slips at all, it could mean other guards are slipping as well. ESPN and Bleacher Report both have the Sixers snagging Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain at 16.
Per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony:
“The Sixers are known to have conducted only a handful of workouts, possibly the fewest of any team drafting in the first round. That info has caused some speculation that this pick could be on the move, depending on which player falls to No. 16.
Regardless of who is picking, McCain has an easy niche he can fill in the NBA with his scoring versatility, basketball instincts, competitiveness and smarts, making him an attractive option for teams drafting in this range.”
Analysis: While McCain might not be in the same category as Dillingham, he’s pretty damn special in his own right. Like Dillingham, size will be the issue — McCain is a 6-foot-2 two guard with a 6-3 wingspan. But as Givony states above, McCain should be able to overcome his disadvantages because he’s an elite shooter with amazing feel. He also fights like hell on defense and is a smart team defender. Again, if he’s there, the Sixers have to consider simply taking him.
Walter is an elite 3-and-D starter kit
If Dillingham and McCain go off the board before 16 — much like they did in the SB Nation community mock draft — Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter could prove to be the best player available. Krysten Peek of Yahoo and Tankathon have the Sixers drafting the high-volume shooting wing.
Per Peek:
“Walter’s game translates better to the NBA than what scouts saw from him in college. He has good size at the guard position and elite shooting mechanics. With the spacing of the NBA game, it’ll free him more as a shooting threat with how well Tyrese Maxey plays with the ball in his hands and how much space Joel Embiid commands in the paint.”
Analysis: If the board falls this way, Morey would have to seriously consider a trade back. Still, Walter is plenty intriguing. He was a five-star recruit joining Baylor and he can really shoot it. He also has the makings of an elite defender. The floor is a high-level 3-and-D dog. He’s still just 19, so there’s a chance he hasn’t even scratched the surface of his ceiling yet.
Da Silva the safe pick
Rounding out our look around the mock draftosphere is Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. KOC has the Sixers taking Colorado forward Tristan Da Silva, maybe one of the safest picks in the draft.
Per KOC:
Da Silva is one of the safer bets to find success in the NBA because of his two-way abilities, and the Sixers could use his size and versatility no matter what they end up doing in free agency.
Analysis: Despite his banging on the table for Killian Hayes a couple years back, KOC typically provides good draft analysis. In this instance I couldn’t disagree more. When has Morey ever drafted a “safe” player? He’s always been much more prone to target the best player available and upside. Da Silva at 16 feels like a reach. That’s not even a knock on the player, who I think has excellent glue guy potential. It just doesn’t line up with Morey’s draft record.
Boom. In the quiet, with less than 24 hours before the start of Wednesday’s 2024 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks have pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Knicks are shipping out four future unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks, an unprotected swap, a second-rounder and Bojan Bogdanovic for Mikal Bridges.
BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets have agreed in principle on a trade to send F Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick via Bucks, an unprotected pick swap and a second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/TEGsIpoa3b
In a follow up tweet, Woj added: “The Knicks pay a steep price to land one of the league’s most coveted trade assets and the Nets get a massive haul to replenish assets and embark on a rebuild with mass cap space and future draft picks.”
With Jalen Brunson, fresh off his first All-Star bid, the All-NBA Second team, and having finished fourth in MVP voting, along with Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, Bridges will now round out the Villanova Knicks.
The Knicks go deeper into the Villanova national championship roster — bringing Mikal Bridges to join his old teammates and close friends Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVencenzo. pic.twitter.com/G544CT02zI
The Nets once depleted their draft warchest for James Harden, who they then traded for Ben Simmons back in 2022. So this allows Brooklyn, who has reportedly turned down numerous other offers for the quintessential 3-and-D stud in the past, to restock and then some.
The next major question for the Knicks is what this could mean, if anything, for OG Anunoby’s future?
The former Raptor recently opted out of his one-year player option. And all insiders seem to agree that he’s all but certain to re-sign in New York. Would adding Bridges, someone who essentially plays the same small forward position as OG, change the equation? Could this be a form of “insurance” should Anunoby somehow walk? There have at least been rumors that OG’s camp was not satisfied with the extension offers he received from Knicks’ President Leon Rose — fueling rumors out of Philadelphia, a team named by numerous sources as having interest.
But there is still plenty of room to keep him around in New York if they trim in other places.
According to Yossi Gozlan, previously with Hoops Hype, the Knicks are now hard-capped yet could still theoretically retain both Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The New York Knicks are now hard capped to the $178.7 million first apron by taking back more salary than they’re sending out.
This will have roster-building implications.
They could still re-sign OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein, but they’ll need to reduce payroll elsewhere.
Where would they cut costs then? We’ve already seen rumors that Mitchell Robinson could be on the move, with the Wizards being one team named.
Another former All-NBA Second Teamer, Julius Randle, also has a hefty salary, and should offer back some value if the Knicks looked to move the former Lakers and Pelicans power forward too. If they truly want to avoid the hard cap, then it makes sense why SNY’s Ian Begley had this to add:
NYK free agent C Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to be a top target for several opposing teams in free agency. With the offers that Hartenstein is expected to command on open market, it’s become increasingly unlikely that NYK will be able to retain Hartenstein, per SNY sources
A little tidbit: Bogdanovic for Bridges would mean the Knicks taking on money in this trade, which would hard cap them at the first apron. If they found a way to guarantee Diakite and Jeffries and include them in the deal to Brooklyn, they would not be hard capped.
As far as the Sixers are concerned, well, you can figure out the bad news rather quickly. Not only does Bridges’ name go off the trade market, he lands with the very team that just knocked Joel Embiid and the squad out of the playoffs back in May.
In many ways, Mikal would have made a perfect fit playing alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey — and it doesn’t make things any easier to swallow remembering the Sixers once drafted the rangy wing before quickly trading him on Draft Day 2018.
As for Paul George? Well, the Knicks were one team that had been rumored to potentially have interest in PG should the nine-time All-Star opt in to his one-year player option. Brian Windhorst, Marc Stein and other reporters had previously named the Knicks as a team to watch should the Clippers’ former All-NBA forward pass up the chance to hit free agency — where Daryl Morey and the Sixers would almost certainly have a $212M max four-year deal waiting for the Palmdale native… assuming they don’t surprise us between now and July 1 like the Knicks just did.
With this move, George may lose one option he may have had in an opt-in and trade scenario. That is likely the one part of this move that Morey will — at least momentarily — enjoy. But the Golden State Warriors have already been named as another team to keep close watch on if PG doesn’t wind up hitting free agency but rather seeking trade from his native L.A.
The Athletic’s Fred Katz has been reminding fans that Anunoby is likely re-signing with the Knicks. And with this news bomb, Katz doesn’t appear to be changing his tune much:
One thought: A team that thinks it will lose OG Anunoby probably doesn’t trade away four unprotected first-round picks before free agency begins.
Told that Knicks’ trade for Mikal Bridges does not change their hope that they can re-sign free agent OG Anunoby. That remains a priority for the club.
If the Knicks really started to feel a cap crunch, in the instance they do keep Anunoby on a deal somewhere in the (rumored) $35M annual-range, perhaps Hartenstein would ultimately become New York’s casualty of this Bridges blockbuster.
The Nets were not done either.
More fro Woj on X:
“Another massive deal: Brooklyn has a deal with Houston to return the Nets’ 2026 first-round pick for a 2027 Phoenix Suns first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Rockets also acquire 2025 right to swap Houston/OKC first for 2025 Suns first-round pick. More details coming on picks deal.”
Most importantly in the deal, per sources: Houston relinquishes the right to swap a Houston/OKC first-round pick for Brooklyn’s 2025 first-round pick. The Nets control their own pick as they go into a full rebuild — especially important in talented 2025 draft. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
So not only do the Nets “make up” for some of the picks they lost in that Harden deal by moving Bridges to the Knicks, they recouped some of their own picks they once moved in 2020-2021.
That means… wait for it… you guessed it… the Nets can finally tank and “improve” their own picks — something they couldn’t do back when the Boston Celtics possessed Brooklyn’s lottery picks — helping Danny Ainge and subsequent execs like Brad Stevens begin building the current 2024 champs back in 2016.
On the Rockets side of things, Woj had this to add:
The implications of the Rockets landing the Suns’ picks? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant and that becomes far easier if they can return the Suns’ picks that they gave up in the Durant deal to the Nets. Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change…
Rockets possess a pick swap with Suns in 2025, Suns’ pick in 2027 and could end up with the Suns’ pick in 2029 based on contingencies. If the Suns are ever faced with breaking up team, Houston’s also in prime position to pursue a younger Devin Booker. For now, Phoenix is trying… https://t.co/p29C3XSpe2
So now Morey and co. can keep watching the clock hoping that there isn’t a news bomb that PG has opted in; unless of course the Sixers have one of these shockers brewing themselves.
And oh right, maybe Kevin Durant could be available too, I guess? Add Durant to your wish list along with PG, Jimmy Butler, Anunoby and Brandon Ingram.
Must be nice….
Nets surely didn’t want to trade Mikal Bridges to NYK but Bridges’ side was prepared to force the issue by telling teams he wanted to be w/NYK, per SNY sources. Bridges’ side made it clear to BKN that he wanted to be w/NYK, reunite w/Villanova teammates Brunson, Hart, DiVincenzo
The Sixers’ vibes are a little different this season ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.
At this time last year, we didn’t know what would happen with James Harden. The Sixers also had zero draft picks. Well, Harden is a Clipper (for now) and thanks to the trade that sent The Beard to L.A., the Sixers now have a decent chunk of draft capital.
Going into Wednesday night, the Sixers own a first-round pick (No. 16) and a second-round pick (No. 41). They also have one player on a guaranteed contract (Joel Embiid) and another that is about to receive a max contract (Tyrese Maxey). That means Morey could potentially have 13 roster spots to fill before the start of the 2024-25 season.
But what will the Sixers do? Take a player at 16? Trade back to acquire more future picks and provide more cap flexibility? Trade it in a package for a player? This is likely the type of optionality Morey envisioned when he enacted his cap space plan. Wednesday night’s draft will reveal the first phase of that plan.
Below are all the draft profiles we published at Liberty Ballers over the last month.
Every year, the folks at SB Nation put together a community mock draft, where people around the network take part. For us at LB, I (Paul Hudrick) took up the mantle for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Firstly, it’s been super exciting to break down prospects with the Sixers having two picks this year (Nos. 16 and 41). Last year was brutal — though Daryl Morey and co. did quite well post-draft in signing a pair of undrafted players: breakout rookie Ricky Council IV and microwave scorer Terquavion Smith.
Harrison Grimm and I have been doing our best to break down as many prospects as possible. It’s been arduous, but it’s also been a labor of love for the two of us.
Anyway, here’s what went down with the mock draft:
Sixers select Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter
In this mock draft, several of the players you would hope could fall to the Sixers do not. The five picks directly in front of them went: USC’s Isaiah Collier, Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham, Providence’s Devin Carter, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht and Duke’s Jared McCain. Any of those five might’ve been the pick had they fallen.
Let’s be transparent: if the board falls this way, I’d expect Morey to trade back. He might do that anyway if a player slips that other teams would covet. But understandably for this exercise there were no trades allowed. So, we move.
There were a few options that were really intriguing, even if not as spectacular as the ones above. Walter, Pitt’s Bub Carrington and Colorado’s Tristan Da Silva were all under serious consideration. Carrington’s creation ability is undeniable, but his inability to get all the way to the rim and questions about his defense have me concerned. Da Silva is an ideal glue guy, but he’s also 23 years old. It wouldn’t line up with previous Morey drafts to select a plug-and-play player this high.
Carrington would’ve been the upside pick. Da Silva would’ve been the safe pick. In Walter, you land right in the middle.
Walter’s floor is a 3-and-D wing that plays like an absolute dog. Though he hit a shooting slump during the middle of the season, he confidently fired from deep at a high volume all year long. Over his first 15 games, he hit over 40% from deep on 5.7 attempts per game. Over his last nine games, he made 38.5% on 7.2 attempts per game. But for 11 games in the middle of the season, he hit a wall. Still, 24 games of elite, high-volume shooting vs. 11 games of poor shooting.
Defensively, this guy plays like a maniac. He slides his feet well and hounds guards and wings in point-of-attack defense. He uses his 6-10 wingspan to his advantage in multiple ways, on and off the ball. He gets steals and deflections, and should easily be able to guard up at the next level because of his length and physicality. He has an excellent motor, never giving up on plays and going after loose balls.
If you’re talking “star potential,” perhaps someone like Carrington has more, but Walter is still only 19 years old and was five-star recruit. Walter doesn’t have Carrington’s ability to break people down off the dribble, but who’s to say he can’t improve there? It doesn’t look like Walter will ever be a high-level playmaker, but an elite movement shooter with slashing ability — that could turn into an elite defender — sounds pretty damn good playing next to guys like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Walter just feels like a winning player. Yes, you need stars in the NBA, but star role players are also important. Walter seems like a guy that can contribute to winning early on and possibly scale up as he gains NBA experience. The 3-and-D wing is a sacred jewel in the modern NBA. The Sixers get an elite starter kit here — with the potential for more.
The 2024 NBA Draft is set for this coming Wednesday. We can guess that Daryl Morey, Elton Brand and the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers front office are busy investigating pretty much every option under the sun.
We’re also less than a week away from what could become a Philly-legacy-shaping free agency period for the Joel Embiid era. No biggie. Let’s jump right in.
All-Star and Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey’s big option
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
According to Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, Tyrese Maxey, expected to sign a five-year max deal at some point in time this summer, could receive a player option for the final year of his pending deal.
Per Scotto:
“The most certain thing for Philadelphia is Tyrese Maxey re-signing on a max extension, league sources said. However, after having to wait a year and being patient with Philadelphia’s front office as it prioritized max cap space, keep an eye on Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul wanting a player option on the final year of Maxey’s new contract and the full 15 percent trade kicker he’s eligible for in negotiations, HoopsHype has learned.”
Maxey could have inked himself a max extension one year ago. The constantly evolving combo guard deferred for 12 months in a win-win player-team maneuver. Maxey rolled the dice to bet on himself both to grant the team more cap-flex this summer as well as Maxeymize his own potential earnings.
After falling short of the votes the Garland, Texas native needed to make an All-NBA team, his max earnings will come in around $205M on a five-year deal (it would have been a substantially higher figure if he made any of the three All-NBA teams).
But as a your welcome for deferring, it sounds like Maxey’s Klutch Sports agent, Rich Paul, is gunning to negotiate Maxey an option for the 2028 summer. In a perfect outcome for Morey, one can guess the Team President would have preferred to lock up the first-time All-Star, still just 23-years old, for as long as humanly possible. But he probably won’t quibble much here.
Whatever you want, Tyrese. We love you, we value you dearly, you’re essentially untouchable, and we want you to retire with No. 0 hanging in our future new arena’s rafters one day next to Joel’s No. 21 and a new championship banner or five.
Draft intel
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
According to ESPN’s resident NBA draft guru, Jonathon Givony, the Sixers are still widely expected to shop their upcoming pick at No. 16. But there are a couple of names to keep an eye on if they opt to retain their selection.
Jared McCain is a deadly shooter, fueled by precise shot preparation, exceptional balance, a strong lower body/core, and a compact release. In his freshman season at Duke, he shot 41% from 3-point range on 215 attempts, shooting at a blistering 57% clip in transition. pic.twitter.com/5znS84rUBM
“The Sixers are known to have conducted only a handful of workouts, possibly the fewest of any team drafting in the first round. That info has caused some speculation that this pick could be on the move, depending on which player falls to No. 16.
Regardless of who is picking, [Jared] McCain has an easy niche he can fill in the NBA with his scoring versatility, basketball instincts, competitiveness and smarts, making him an attractive option for teams drafting in this range.”
Givony also noted that one of the few players the team hosted was PacomeDadiet, a soon-to-be 19-year-old out of France.
18 Year Old 6’8 NBA Draft Prospect Pacome Dadiet @pacomedadiet has been climbing mock drafts and is projected be selected in the 1st round. Measured just under 6’8 without shoes with a 36inch vert. Spaces the floor and can get his own shot @ratiopharmulmpic.twitter.com/lzzjBNYwMH
Scotto also threw Ja’Kobe Walter, a shooter from Baylor’s name out there, in the event the 76ers cannot re-sign free-agent-to-be, sniper Buddy Hield:
“Lastly, with sharpshooter Buddy Hield entering unrestricted free agency, Ja’Kobe Walter offers a cheaper 3-and-D replacement and a much better perimeter defender with a 6-foot-10 wingspan in the draft.”
Paul George
Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Of course, no rumor roundup is complete without some of the latest on Los Angeles Clippers’ star Paul George. Is he the Sixers “Plan A?” Has their interest “significantly waned?” Liberty Ballers analyzed that in-depth, processing loads of intel over the weekend.
But Monday offered us even more slop to feast on.
Per Brian Windhorst on ESPN’s “Get Up:”
If Paul George decides to opt-in and request a trade, it could happen as soon as THIS WEEKEND per @WindhorstESPN.
“He could opt-in and get traded by this weekend. That is something that is going to come to a head in the next day or two.”
“Well, let’s remember that Paul George has three options. One is to re-sign with the Clippers. Two is to enter free agency and go somewhere else like Philly or Orlando. Three, he can opt into his contract and get traded by this weekend. That is something that is gonna come to a head in the next day or two if he wants to go with that option. ’Cause obviously you’d have to negotiate a trade and then the team wouldn’t necessarily need salary cap space. So the Paul George sweepstakes is gonna come to a head, at least that aspect of it, faster than those other players who are gonna be free agents like Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan. So Paul George has a different menu of options and we’re gonna see some action in that probably coming up very quickly after the draft.”
When Windhorst says that the sweepstakes is going to come to a head faster than players who are more definitively set to hit free agency on July 1, it’s my belief that he expects that to happen — even if he is not certain.
I’m also basing this opinion off what he said a few days ago on a similarly themed ESPN appearance:
“If Paul George changes teams, it’s very likely going to be a situation where he opts into his contract and requests a trade. The Clippers have an offer on the table that is believed to be similar to what they gave Kawhi Leonard, which is a 3-year deal at just below the max.”
Windhorst has bandied the idea that PG could land up with the New York Knicks. And Marc Stein, via Substack newsletter, over the weekend mentioned that possibility as well:
Per Stein:
“Another trusted source has advised me to keep the Knicks on the list as a potential trade suitor for George if the All-NBA swingman indeed opts into the final season of his current contract at 48.8M. That would position George to push for a trade to another team.”
And Scotto on this one too:
“As Marc Stein reported, the Knicks have interest in Paul George, who can opt into his $48.8 million player option to facilitate a trade.
New York’s interest dates back to last year at the NBA Draft when the Knicks discussed a package featuring Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, and three first-round picks in exchange for George, as previously reported by HoopsHype.
The George interest surfaced at a curious time, after the Knicks low-balled forward OG Anunoby during early free agent discussions on a potential new deal, as Brian Windhorst first reported, and league sources confirmed to HoopsHype.
When the Knicks first acquired Anunoby, the belief was that he’d land a deal in the $30-35 million a year range annually, league sources told HoopsHype. Now, however, that value has gone up, starting at $35 million annually to his maximum starting salary for next season, sources said.”
“I expect Knicks to go to whatever lengths they need to retain OG Anunoby. They know what they gave up…Max from another team 4/$182m…Knicks max 5/$245m; so Knicks don’t have to offer him max…Situation rigged to help Knicks. I think it will”
Boiling this down, if the Clippers are not willing to offer George more than a three-year $150Mish extension (as has been reported from numerous sources now), then he could earn substantially more by changing teams.
He can opt out and net up to $212M from both Philly and Orlando.
If he opts in and is traded, any acquiring team then possessing his Bird Rights, can offer him 8 percent raises (as opposed to 5%) on a four-year total deal, approaching near $221M.
So if Windy thinks PG opting in and being traded is the most likely scenario, and the Knicks have been most commonly mentioned as the team to watch in that hypothetical, then perhaps Knicks’ President Leon Rose is looking for yet another CAA All-Star client for his already well-rounded team.
But of course, the Knicks must also handle their OG Anunoby situation noted above. It feels like a game of chicken between George, the Clips, Sixers, Knicks, Magic, and perhaps even the Golden State Warriors— as has been speculated too.
It’s been rumored that the Knicks are hoping to come in with a $35M annual deal for the former Raptors wing, Anunoby. And that the Sixers still have interest there.
Scotto continues:
“Despite a recent report that Philadelphia’s interest in Paul George has cooled amid uncertainty about whether he’d go across the country and sign with Philadelphia in free agency, there remains significant interest from the 76ers in signing him as a free agent, league sources told HoopsHype.
Should the Sixers whiff on George, trying to trade for Jimmy Butler or sign OG Anunoby to a short-term, higher market average annual salary free agent deal are also options.”
When Scotto mentions that last scenario, we’ve already learned names like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Klay Thompson may remain fall back free agent options for Morey and co.
Scotto echoes the sentiment once more: “Another backup contingency free agency plan is the possibility of giving Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a similar two-year deal to Bruce Brown with a higher first-year salary and team option in the second year, league sources told HoopsHype.”
Oh, and for whatever it’s worth, Udonis Haslem, former Heat lifer and current Miami Vice President of Basketball Development, thinks PG would fit best in Philly.
Per the UD the OG of Heat Culture OG’s:
“I would go to Philly if I’m Paul George….so he can definitely help that team, if he wants to win, ’cause I know he said ‘I ain’t ring chasing,’ that’s a damn lie. Everybody wants to win. Everybody ring chasing nowadays….you want a ring and you ain’t got one… you’re gonna have to go to the East, you ain’t gonna get one out West.”
Haslem was also asked on the “First Take” guest spot if he thinks there are questions around the league about the risk of joining forces with Embiid, given his health history. Haslem said there have been questions there but a player like PG should show up and have an authentic conversation about Joel’s “habits,” and the idea of forming a Big Three with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey that can defeat the Boston Celtics would appeal if he were in PG’s shoes.
Udonis “light years” Haslem. I guess this could even mean the Miami Heat are not a team to watch then for a Paul George trade.
An Alex Caruso ‘what if?’
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Finally, Scotto leaves us with one last what-if regarding Alex Caruso, recently traded by the Chicago Bulls to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Josh Giddey:
“While Philadelphia was also linked to a potential trade for Bulls guard Zach LaVine, the 76ers have less interest in taking on the remaining $138 million on his contract with Alex Caruso no longer able to be attached in trade talks, league sources told HoopsHype.”
So I guess Philly would have considered adding LaVine more seriously if it also included the stud defensive guard, now with the Thunder.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series is the G League Ignite’s Ron Holland.
Ron Holland was one of several prospects who opted to play with the G League Ignite rather than playing overseas or in the NCAA. After one year at a professional level, he’ll now make the jump to the NBA, where several analysts predict he could fall on draft night.
Athleticism, athleticism, athleticism. Holland is an explosive finisher around the rim and can hang in the air and score through contact. With the Ignite, he also showcased an ability to hit floaters as well. He’s a decisive attacker, often cutting to the rim, driving against closeouts and recognizing when backdoor cut opportunities are available. From a playmaking perspective, he’s a selfless passer that is capable of making fast decisions.
Defensively, he’s versatile with the mobility to switch onto a multitude of players. He hustles consistently and has good timing on chasedown blocks. Holland is one of the youngest players in this draft and will actually be 18 on draft day, but has plenty of experience with the G League and with USA Basketball’s junior teams, winning two gold medals.
Weaknesses
Holland’s biggest weakness revolves around his shooting. When spotting up, he has a stiff shot that doesn’t convert consistently. His free throw shooting, which is typically a good indicator on where a prospect’s shot is, is lackluster at 68.2 percent. I wouldn’t say his shot is fully broken, but there will definitely need to be some refinement in the coming years. Holland also struggles to convert when isolating; he’s better as a straight-line driver rather than creating his own shot.
Positional Fit
Ron Holland’s size, agility and playmaking should allow him to slot into several positions over time— especially if he can refine his shooting. For the first few years, I’d expect him to mainly slot in as a forward. Holland’s game has shades of a more skilled Gerald Wallace, or for younger fans Houston’s Tari Eason, or a younger Andrew Wiggins.
Draft Projection
SB Nation Mock Draft: No. 9, Memphis Grizziles
Many mocks have Holland going comfortable within the lottery, but there’s smoke out there that he could slide into the late lottery or out of it completely. If he’s available at 16, it’s hard to find a better talent that’ll still be on the board. Holland would also slot in nicely alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
For more on Holland, check out this feature from SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series isKentucky’s Justin Edwards.
Justin Edwards was named Pennsylvania’s Mr. Basketball in 2023 after leading Imhotep to a second straight state championship. The Philadelphia native, joined by Camden’s D.J. Wagner, was part of yet another impressive recruiting class for Kentucky. Though Edwards was one of the top recruits in the country, he had an inconsistent lone season with the Wildcats.
Edwards has legitimate NBA wing size at 6-foot-6 and a 6-10 wingspan. His lefty stroke is smooth. He has a quick and high release with the ability to shoot over defenders. After a slow shooting start, he hit over 46% from deep over his last 18 games (albeit on just 2.6 attempts a game). Though he didn’t test great at the combine, he looks athletic on the court. He showed legitimate slashing ability and good touch around the rim. He also displays decent instincts as a cutter and off-ball mover.
He showed flashes as an off-ball defender, getting into passing lanes and racking up deflections. His point-of-attack defense looked good in certain matchups, using his length well to bother smaller opponents.
Weaknesses
For such a high recruit, there was a lot of inconsistency from Edwards. It’s fair to wonder if it was a product of Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham — both projected to go high in the first round — outshining him or a bigger issue. Either way, he got lost in the shuffle a lot last season. He’s very left-hand dominant on drives and there wasn’t much as far as playmaking for others.
Defensively is where you wonder if that lack of elite athleticism will show up. While he did have moments as an on-ball defender, he did look stiff against shiftier players. It’s something that could potentially improve, but he’ll have to work at it.
Positional Fit
Edwards is clearly a wing. What type of wing remains to be seen. His shooting stroke should allow him to stick in the NBA. How he develops the rest of his game — ball handling, playmaking, defense — will determine his role at the next level.
Draft Projection
Second round
This does sort of feel like the type of player Daryl Morey would draft. His draft record suggests he won’t take players because of positional fit or whether they can help right away. He’s going to take the best player available, likely with the highest upside. Edwards is a guy you can talk yourself into because big wings that can shoot will likely never go out of style in the NBA.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series isCreighton’s Baylor Scheierman.
Baylor Scheierman destroyed the Summit League during his time at South Dakota State, becoming the conference’s Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season. That led to a transfer to Creighton, where he changed from being a jumbo-sized point guard to more of a playmaking — and high-volume shooting — wing.
Scheierman fit right into Creighton’s offense as a high-volume three-point shooter. He hit a preposterous 45.6% from deep in his sophomore and junior seasons at South Dakota State. His efficiency went down in a tougher league on a higher volume, but he still hit 38.1% on over eight attempts per game last season. He’s not just a shooter though. His experience as a point guard showed as a secondary playmaker for the Bluejays. He has a methodical style with the ball in his hands, but he often makes good decisions and delivers crisp passes.
He’s not the greatest athlete, but he fights on defense. He often took on difficult defensive assignments for Creighton and acquitted himself well against stiff competition in the NCAA Tournament. He’s also an excellent rebounder, pulling down over nine a game last season.
Weaknesses
Scheierman is one of the oldest players in this draft. He’ll turn 24 before the 2024-25 season begins. He was excellent for the Bluejays, but was also playing at 23 years old. The other concern is going to be a lack of elite athleticism. He actually tested decently at the combine, but there could be concerns when it’s time to go against NBA athletes.
Positional Fit
Scheierman’s experience as a point guard at 6-foot-6 makes him intriguing. The player I see the most is Joe Ingles — a big lefty that can handle, pass and shoot the hell out of the ball. Ingles has never been an explosive athlete, but he fights on defense and uses his savvy to make up for those limitations. It’s easy to see a similar NBA path for Scheierman.
Draft Projection
Late first, early second round
Bottom line, Scheierman can really play. He can shoot, has high-level feel and plays his butt off on defense. He doesn’t have any type of star ceiling, but he projects as a really intriguing role player. If he’s still there at pick 41, he should absolutely be in play for the Sixers.
’Tis the season for NBA mock drafts! ESPN’s Draft Analysts, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, posted their latest mock which includes updated intel from around the league — including your Philadelphia 76ers. Givony linked the Sixers to two prospects: Duke’s Jared McCain and Colorado’s Tristan Da Silva.
Starting off with McCain, who Givony mocks to the Sixers at No. 16 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, now just one week away:
“McCain appears to be firmly inside the top 20 at this point, earning a green room invitation and having enjoyed a positive pre-draft process. There’s interest in him from teams in the late lottery, and the Heat, 76ers and Lakers are all possibilities, creating what looks like a narrow range.
As an excellent shooter with impressive intangibles that have bolstered his case in the short and long term, McCain is well-prepared for an NBA adjustment and could be on a faster track to making an impact than your typical freshman. His ability to play both backcourt spots intelligently and provide immediate spacing has plenty of appeal to any team in need of shooting or guard depth.
If the 76ers keep this pick — which they may instead use as a trade chip — that type of skill set would make a lot of sense next to Tyrese Maxey. — Woo”
To get familiar with McCain, check out our draft profile found here.
McCain would be a solid pick for the Sixers, especially if the bigger names don’t fall. McCain is one of the best shooters in this draft and has a well-rounded offensive skillset. He’s more of a shooting guard than a traditional point guard, but he’d be an excellent fit offensively alongside Tyrese Maxey. Defensively, there are some concerns on how that theoretical backcourt would fare in big minutes due to a lack of size but it’s not something that the Sixers would be concerned with in the short-term.
Givony and Woo linked the Sixers to one other prospect in the first round, Colorado’s Tristan Da Silva, who they had going to the Los Angeles Lakers just one pick later:
“Da Silva was a surprising omission from the NBA’s early green-room list, but he may still earn an invitation, with firm interest in inside the top 20. He has interest as high as Memphis at No. 9, but will likely fall into the next range, where an array of playoff-caliber teams, including the Kings, Heat, Sixers, and Lakers, are all interested in his services.
Da Silva’s versatility at either forward spot on both ends and reliable 3-point shooting give him a good pathway to minutes next season, although his ceiling isn’t perceived quite as high as some of the younger players in this range.”
For info on Da Silva, check out our draft profile found here.
Da Silva is arguably one of the safer candidates in the top-20, presenting a higher floor and lower ceiling than other prospects in said range. For his size, he’s a gifted shooter and has drawn comparisons to Cam Johnson. However, he lacks athleticism and defensive tenacity to label him a true 3-and-D forward.
I wouldn’t put Da Silva at the top of my Sixers-centric draft board, but he presents a safe option if the big names go and the Sixers can’t find a deal for a veteran. He’d slot in nicely as a forward next to Embiid, offering floor spacing and a small splash of playmaking.
We’re mere days away from the NBA draft, so expect to get an even better understanding of what the Sixers could do in the near future.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series isCairns Taipans Bobi Klintman.
Swedish native Bobi Klintman had an interesting path heading into the 2024 NBA Draft. He moved to the U.S. as a teenager and went to high school in Kansas. He eventually committed to playing at Wake Forest as a four-star recruit, but spent just one season with the Demon Deacons. In 2023-24, he played professionally in Australia as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program.
The biggest thing that stands out about Klintman is his size. He’s a legitimate 6-foot-9 with shoes on and boasts a 6-11 wingspan. That’s a jumbo-sized wing. Though he didn’t shoot it great in his lone NBL season, he has a pretty stroke and was known for his shooting as a college recruit. With his size and a high release, he’s able to simply shoot over defenders, reminiscent of Marcus Morris, Sr. While he didn’t show much creation ability, there is definitely potential as a slasher. He also has decent feel, understanding spacing and excelling as a cutter. He looks like a nightmare to handle in transition, able to pull down rebounds and start a break.
The size again shows up in a big way defensively. He seemingly uses length to bait opponents into passes before stepping into the lanes for steals. He has flashes as a weakside rim protector, making him a potential fit as a small-ball five down the road. If he really dedicates himself to improving on the defensive end, he can be a really versatile weapon.
Weaknesses
The shot looks good and he fires confidently, but the fact is he shot 33.7% from deep in an inferior league. The free throw percentage is encouraging, but there’s still a bit of a projection there. Offensively, he’ll have to tighten his handle up a bit if he wants to be more than just a spot-up shooter. He shows flashes, but there are inconsistencies.
He tested just OK athletically at the combine. He relied heavily on his length in the NBL, often getting blown by and then recovering. Will he be able to get away with that in the NBA? He’s also a bit skinny at 212 pounds. He’ll need to add functional strength to compete with bigger threes and fours at the next level.
Positional Fit
Klintman’s positional versatility is what makes him so intriguing. He looks like a big combo forward, but if he can capably guard up and down while tightening up his handle, it could open so much more.
Draft Projection
Late first round, early second
Klintman feels like a modern NBA player. He has elite size but enough skill to dream on. As is the case with so many young wings, shooting is going to be the swing skill. If he can hit from deep consistently, the floor is a hyper-versatile 3-and-D wing.
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