Sixers select Ja’Kobe Walter at 16 in SB Nation mock draft sixers,select,ja,kobe,walter,at,in,sb,nation,mock,draft,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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.

2024 NBA Draft: Ron Holland’s talent and fit make him a near-perfect fit for the Sixers if he falls nba,draft,ron,holland,s,talent,and,fit,make,him,a,near,perfect,fit,for,the,sixers,if,he,falls,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 15 games, 30.3 minutes, 18.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 47.4% FG, 23.9% 3P, 68.2% FT

Team: G League Ignite

Year: N/A

Position: SF/PF

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’6.50” | 196.8 lbs

Born: July 7th, 2005 (18 years old)

Hometown: Duncanville, Texas

High School: Duncanville

Strengths

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.

2024 NBA Draft: Philly native Justin Edwards struggled with consistency, but is he worth a flyer? nba,draft,philly,native,justin,edwards,struggled,with,consistency,but,is,he,worth,a,flyer,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 Kentucky’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.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 32 games, 21.4 minutes, 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, 48.6% FG, 36.5% 3P, 77.6% FT

Team: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Position: Wing

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’6” | 209.4 lbs

Born: December 16, 2003 (20 years old)

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

High School: Imhotep

Strengths

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.

2024 NBA Draft: Baylor Scheierman is one of the oldest players in the draft, but he can really play nba,draft,baylor,scheierman,is,one,of,the,oldest,players,in,the,draft,but,he,can,really,play,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 Creighton’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.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 35 games, 36.8 minutes, 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks, 44.8% FG, 38.1% 3P, 87.6% FT

Team: Creighton

Year: Fifth-year senior

Position: Wing

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’6.25” | 201.6 lbs

Born: September 26, 2000 (23 years old)

Hometown: Hastings, Nebraska

High School: Aurora

Strengths

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.

Dare we ask: Should the Sixers take USC’s Bronny James? dare,we,ask,should,the,sixers,take,usc,s,bronny,james,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 USC’s Bronny James.

Most of the talk surrounding Bronny James involves his dad LeBron (who you might have heard of). But let’s address the question at hand: Should the Sixers draft Bronny James with likely no commitment from his dad to join him?

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 25 games, 19.4 minutes, 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks, 36.6% FG, 26.7% 3P, 67.6% FT

Team: USC

Year: Freshman

Position: PG/SG

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’1.5” | 210 lbs

Born: November 27, 2002 (21 years old)

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

High School: Sierra Canyon

Strengths

Bronny James checks a lot of boxes in the intangibles department: he has NBA-level athleticism, a selfless passing ability, and defensive tenacity at his size. James’ time at USC was limited due to health concerns and playing time, but he did show potential on several fronts. He made 43.8 percent of his pull-up jumpers at USC, albeit only on 32 attempts. Defensively, he has a wide, chiseled frame that he uses well. If he’s able to get playing time early, it’ll likely be for his defensive ability. He has quick hands and good reaction time that allows him to rack up deflections. Bronny’s young age and lack of experience could suggest that there’s plenty of room for him to grow.

Weaknesses

Above all basketball skills, Bronny James’ health is a serious question mark — he missed time earlier in the year, going into a sudden cardiac arrest as a result of a congenital heart defect. He’s been healthy since said incident, but heart issues are nothing to joke about. Switching back to on-court ability, and Bronny’s shooting and efficiency leave a lot to be desired. He struggled shooting the ball and shot a measly 19.6 percent on catch-and-shoot threes at USC, per Synergy. Bronny’s shooting woes date back to his high school days, where he only made 33.8 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes. While he is a willing passer, he doesn’t have the skills to be a primary playmaker at the next level.

Positional Fit

Bronny’s age and genetics suggest he could grow in size, but as is he’s almost certainly locked into being a point guard at the next level. USC listed him at 6-foot-4, but his recent draft combine measurements say he’s under 6-foot-2 without basketball shoes. His defensive ability is his best shot at getting quick playing time, with guys such as Davion Mitchell or Norris Cole being the best-case scenario comparisons.

Draft Projection

Second round

Most people across the NBA would agree that Bronny James is far from being NBA ready and that spending a year or two in the G League or at USC would do him some good. He’ll likely be a project player for whichever team drafts him.

2024 NBA Draft: Jalen Bridges has the makings of a 3-and-D player with upside at the next level. nba,draft,jalen,bridges,has,the,makings,of,a,and,d,player,with,upside,at,the,next,level,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 Baylor’s Jalen Bridges.

After starting his collegiate career near home at West Virginia, Jalen Bridges transferred to Baylor for his final two seasons. As a redshirt senior in 2023-24, Bridges was a huge part of the Bears’ success, showing off the type of skillset that makes him an ideal 3-and-D wing prospect — and possibly more.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 35 games, 31.7 minutes, 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks, 46.6% FG, 41.2% 3P, 82.3% FT

Team: Baylor

Year: Redshirt senior

Position: SF/PF

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’6.75” | 213.4 lbs

Born: May 14, 2001 (23 years old)

Hometown: Fairmont, West Virginia

High School: Fairmont Senior High School

Strengths

Jalen Bridges has developed into a dynamic shooter with clean mechanics, capable of shooting off of screens or off the dribble. He displayed some level of shot creation in some of his pull-up jumpers, showcasing in-out dribbles on drives and spin moves. He likely won’t ever be a full-time ball hander, but he can at least attack closeouts or take the ball up the court on fast breaks. Bridges is a smart player and moves well off the ball often relocating on the perimeter for threes or cutting at the right time for opportunities at the rim. Defensively, Bridges uses his 6-10 wingspan well and is able to switch onto a variety on positions. He slides his feet well, along with disrupting passing lanes. Baylor liked to use zone defense, with Bridges being effective within it.

Weaknesses

Bridges is one of the more refined prospects slated to go in the second round, meaning there aren’t too many holes in his game. Prior to this year, he was an inconsistent three-point shooter — shooting 34.4 percent from three throughout his first three collegiate seasons. Compared to other multi-year prospects, he was a low-usage player which suggests he’ll never be able to be a full-time creator.

Positional Fit

Bridges has the size and quickness to guard anywhere from 1-3; even capable of guarding smaller fours. On the court, he’ll be best optimized as a true wing next to a traditional point guard. He has a lot of Royce O’Neale to his game — a wing who can guard most players, hit threes at a high clip and provide secondary playmaking.

Draft Projection

Second round

The Sixers currently are slated to pick at 41st overall, which falls right into the range most expect Jalen Bridges to go. Bridges’ age makes his ceiling lower, but most label him as a surefire second-round pick that should be able to help teams fast compared to other prospects.

2024 NBA Draft: Is Virginia’s Ryan Dunn the next Herb Jones? nba,draft,is,virginia,s,ryan,dunn,the,next,herb,jones,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 Virginia’s Ryan Dunn.

Ryan Dunn was a defensive menace at Virginia, racking up steals and blocks last season on his way to being an ACC All-Defensive Team pick. Though there are offensive limitations, Dunn could very well be the most impactful defensive prospect in the draft.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 34 games, 27.5 minutes, 8.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.3 blocks, 54.8% FG, 20% 3P, 53.2% FT

Team: Virginia

Year: Sophomore

Position: SG/SF

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’6.25” | 213.6 lbs

Born: January 7th, 2003 (21 years old)

Hometown: Brookville, New York

High School: Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, PA)

Strengths

Ryan Dunn is considered by many analysts to be the best defender in this draft. He has speed in general; able to close out under control and rotate on defense. He’s able to switch onto a variety of positions with ease, using his 7-foot-1.5” wingspan. He’s an elite rim protector given his position, with great timing and instincts on when to help. Albeit limited, Dunn also plays within his offensive role well, limiting turnovers and other mistakes. Dunn uses his athleticism well offensively and is great at attacking closeouts in a straight line. Capable of using both hands when finishing.

Weaknesses

Dunn is a limited shooter behind the arc, shooting 23.5 percent from three over his two collegiate seasons on less than an attempt per game. Doesn’t have any midrange game, either. Has shown very little, if any, shooting improvement. Barring significant shooting improvements, Dunn will need to be used closer to the rim or as a screener in the NBA — which could potentially limit his playing time. Offensively, he hasn’t shown any ability to create his own shot outside of the transition game or straight-line drives.

Positional Fit

Due to his lack of perimeter shooting, Dunn will likely be used as a power forward at the next level. Fortunately, he does finish well at the rim and rebounds well for his size — both of which should allow him to play around the rim at the dunker spot. Think of Andre Roberson if he was a better finisher around the rim and had a bit more size.

Draft Projection

Second round

Multiple contending teams will be looking at Dunn once the second round comes, however recent reports suggest that he might be gone well before then. HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto reports that some NBA executives say Dunn could be gone by pick No. 25. Teams are always in need of wing defenders and Dunn’s defense is arguably the realest in the entire draft. His limited offensive game will likely keep him from going really high, but it sounds like he might be one of this draft’s late risers.

2024 NBA Draft: Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II could be the exact type of combo big the Sixers need nba,draft,dayton,s,daron,holmes,ii,could,be,the,exact,type,of,combo,big,the,sixers,need,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II.

In his sophomore year, DaRon Holmes II built upon an excellent freshman season by becoming the focal point of Dayton’s offense. In his junior year, he dominated for the Flyers and was named the Atlantic 10’s Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and a Consensus All-American.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 33 games, 32.5 minutes, 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.1 blocks, 54.4% FG, 38.6% 3P, 71.3% FT

Team: Dayton

Year: Junior

Position: C/PF

Height & Weight: 6’8.75” | 236.2 lbs

Born: August 15, 2002 (21 years old)

Hometown: Goodyear, Arizona

Strengths

Standing over 6-foot-9 with shoes and boasting an impressive 7-1 wingspan, Holmes has ideal NBA size. He’s built solidly at over 236 pounds and his strength shows on the court. When you couple that with Holmes’ improving skill, you have an intriguing prospect.

The two biggest improvements in Holmes’ offensive game were his shooting and court vision. After attempting just 26 shots from deep in his first two seasons, Holmes hoisted up 83 threes in 2023-24 with impressive results (38.6%). His post-up game was once again strong, but he showed better feel as his usage rate went up and he saw constant double teams. He was outstanding in the pick-and-roll, both rolling to the rim and popping for threes.

Holmes also features a face-up game and ability as a straight line driver. He was able to line up opposing post players and either hit midrange jumpers or short fadeaways over them. He uses long strides, a nasty spin move and his strength to get downhill and finish at the rim. It’s this type of versatility that makes you see why NBA folks believe he can play the four.

Holmes was the anchor of Dayton’s defense, taking home the A-10’s Defensive Player of the year last season. He’s an outstanding rim protector, reads the pick-and-roll well and flashes a little switchability.

Weaknesses

It’s easy to see why Holmes is rising up draft boards. There really aren’t many holes in his game and there’s intriguing upside.

But his age will be a factor — he’ll turn 22 before next season begins. While there is belief he can succeed as a four at the next level, he’ll need to prove his shooting uptick wasn’t a fluke and improve his handle a bit.

Respectfully, it’s also worth noting that the A-10 isn’t exactly a powerhouse, but Holmes did play well against Nevada and Arizona in the NCAA Tournament.

Positional Fit

Holmes is definitely an NBA five. He has the size and proper skillset to succeed at that position. What’s more intriguing is envisioning him playing minutes at the four. A player like the Timberwolves’ Naz Reid is an interesting comp. Holmes is a different player from the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year, but both players provide legit combo big versatility.

Draft Projection

SB Nation mock draft: No. 16, Sixers

I can hear the collective groans at the idea of the Sixers selecting a center at 16, but Holmes feels like a unique player. If you look at the way Chris Finch — a close coaching friend of Nick Nurse — utilized Reid, there could be a similar path for Holmes with a team like the Sixers. With Joel Embiid on the floor, Holmes could space the floor in the corner or hang in the dunker spot where he can catch lobs and crash the offensive glass. When Embiid is off the floor, Holmes — who excelled as both a roller and popper last season — provides an intriguing pick-and-roll partner for Tyrese Maxey while also providing strong rim protection on the other end.

2024 NBA Draft: Is Kevin McCullar Jr. the next good role player hiding in plain sight? nba,draft,is,kevin,mccullar,jr,the,next,good,role,player,hiding,in,plain,sight,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 Kansas’ Kevin McCullar.

Kansas’ Kevin McCullar played four seasons with Texas Tech, later transferring to Kansas and playing two seasons with the Jayhawks. McCullar excelled last season, putting up career highs in minutes, three-point percentage, assists and points. Now he’ll have a chance to pop at the next level.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 26 games, 34.2 minutes, 18.3 points, 6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 45.4% FG, 33.3% 3P, 80.5% FT

Team: Kansas

Year: Senior

Position: SG

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’5.25” | 205.8 lbs

Born: March 15, 2001 (23 years old)

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

High School: Karen Wagner

Strengths

Kevin McCullar spent his five years in college well, dramatically improving as a perimeter scorer with a recent shooting resurgence. McCullar’s three-point percentage doesn’t jump off the page at a lackluster 33.3 percent, but he did take a career-high 4.5 attempts per game and refined his form for the better. His free throw shooting (typically a good indicator of where a prospects shooting is) also crept up into the 80s. McCullar has great offensive IQ, timing his cuts well and finding the defensive weak spots with ease. He thrived as a playmaker with Kansas, rarely turning the ball over and facilitating pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs. He’s a capable scorer from most areas on the floor, and finished well within the three-point arc. Defensively, he brings intensity, effort and focus as a defender and rebounder. He defends well off-ball and offers some size as a helper at the rim.

Weaknesses

McCullar is one of the older prospects in this draft, which means he’ll likely have a high floor compared to most prospects in his range while also having a limited ceiling. Most causes for concern revolve around his shooting and how real his resurgence was/is. Prior to this year, McCullar failed to shoot above 30 percent in three of his four seasons, averaging a rough 29.8 percent from three in his first four collegiate seasons. Outside of shooting concerns, McCullar doesn’t project to be a dynamic ball hander who can lead an offense. Look for him to play a role similar to Joe Ingles, Nic Batum, Kyle Anderson — someone who can complement the offense and move the ball well, while not being the prime playmaker.

Positional Fit

McCullar’s defensive versatility, length and playmaking ability should allow him to play multiple positions at the next level — most notably at either forward spot. McCullar’s game has shades of Bruce Brown — a defensive-minded forward, that’s capable of slashing to the rim and getting teammates involved with his playmaking ability.

Draft Projection

Late first round, early second

McCullar is one of the more seasoned prospects in this draft, with his floor likely being drafted in the second round as contending teams look for players who can contribute fast. Although, some drafts do have him going in the late first round, where contenders will be looking for players who can provide skills day one.

2024 NBA Draft: KJ Simpson looks like a Nick Nurse point guard nba,draft,kj,simpson,looks,like,a,nick,nurse,point,guard,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news


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 Colorado’s KJ Simpson.

KJ Simpson was already an All-Pac-12 performer, but he took a huge leap during a stellar junior campaign. The Buffs point guard saw a steady increase in efficiency in each of his three seasons, making him a possible first-round pick.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 37 games, 35.1 minutes, 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 47.5% FG, 43.4% 3P, 87.6% FT

Team: Colorado

Year: Junior

Position: PG

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’0.25” | 187 lbs

Born: August 8, 2002 (21 years old)

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

High School: Chaminade College Prep

Strengths

Simpson had an outstanding junior year. He’s a quintessential lead guard, putting his teammates in their proper place and distributing the ball. He’s also a great scorer for a point guard, using a strong handle and plenty of craftiness around the rim. He took a huge leap as a shooter, knocking down 43.4% from three. What gives you confidence that the improvement is real is that he also made 87.6% from the line. That’s an elite number. His efficiency grew across the board without sacrificing playmaking for others.

Despite his size, Simpson is a strong point-of-attack defender because of his strength, athleticism and absolute bulldog mentality. He’s strong off-ball as well, averaging over 1.5 steals the past two seasons. He’s also an excellent rebounder for his size, averaging nearly six a game last season.

Weaknesses

If Simpson were 6-foot-4, you’re probably talking about a lottery pick. The shooting improvement looks real, he has a high basketball IQ and he tested extremely well athletically at the combine. His height will be the only thing that scares teams off.

Positional Fit

Simpson is a pure point guard. There’s a chance he’ll be able to guard up because of his strength and athleticism, but that will probably take time.

Draft Projection

Late first, early second round

Again, the only real knock on Simpson is size. With Tyrese Maxey already locked in as the Sixers’ starting point guard, it’s fair to wonder if Simpson makes sense. Then again, Simpson looks every bit like a Nick Nurse point guard. Might as well call him KJ VanLowry. He would be tough to pass up in a trade back scenario or if he somehow falls all the way to 41.