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Sixers 2024 NBA Draft grades roundup: Rating the Jared McCain and Adem Bona picks sixers,nba,draft,grades,roundup,rating,the,jared,mccain,and,adem,bona,picks,liberty,ballers,front-page,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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Well, after plenty of build-up and speculation over who the Sixers could draft or what trades they could make, the 2024 NBA Draft is in the books. The Sixers kept both their picks in the end, opting to select 6-foot-2 sharpshooting guard Jared McCain from Duke with their 16th overall pick, and the super athletic UCLA big man Adem Bona at 41 in the second round.

As the draft came to a close, the Sixers didn’t wait around on the undrafted market either. They quickly agreed to a two-way deal with Philly native Justin Edwards, a 6-foot-8 wing with a smooth shooting stroke who’s well worth taking a shot on. They’ve also agreed to sign Memphis wing David Jones on a two-way deal, and big man Max Fiedler to an Exhibit-10 deal, per Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress.

There’s a lot to like about the skills and upside the Sixers’ two picks are bringing to the team, so let’s see what different draft experts think of McCain and Bona, and how they grade the Sixers’ draft.

(Spoiler alert: it’s very good.)

ESPN

Grade: A-

We’ll start things off on a high note, with ESPN’s Kevin Pelton’s A- for the Sixers’ draft overall. Pelton even had McCain ranked as his eighth-best prospect, making the sharpshooter a bit of a steal at 16:

The stat-minded Sixers landing McCain, my eighth-ranked prospect, at No. 16 is no surprise. McCain’s shooting (41% on nearly six 3-point attempts per game) should fit well on a team that needs to space the floor for Joel Embiid. I do wonder how much McCain (6-2 barefoot) will be able to play alongside 6-2 Philadelphia starter Tyrese Maxey. However, getting value is more important in the long term than questions of fit.

Bona wasn’t quite as strong by my projections, but there’s a lot to like about his defensive potential after he blocked 2.7 shots and came up with 1.7 steals per 40 minutes as a sophomore. Compare those with Sixers backup Paul Reed, who averaged 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per 40 when he was a sophomore at DePaul.

SB Nation

Grade: B+ for first round, A for second round

Here at SB Nation, Ricky O’Donnell’s first round analysis made a fair comment regarding McCain’s smaller build and limited athleticism, but had high praise for the shooting skillset he brings:

McCain lacks ideal NBA size and athleticism for a guard, but he makes up for it with shooting. He has a deep range and fantastic accuracy as a three-point shooter, which should be a good fit around Tyrese Maxey’s drives to the rim and Joel Embiid’s interior creation. I worry that McCain might be a too small to be a long-term backcourt partner for Maxey, but his shooting is so good that this is a perfectly fine selection.

As for O’Donnell’s second round grades, he was even higher on Philly picking up Bona:

Bona was one of my favorite second round bets as a long, strong, and explosive center. Bona crushed the glass and hammered dunks throughout his sophomore year at UCLA, and showed off his physical gifts by jumping 40-inches at the combine. He’s short for a center and doesn’t have much perimeter skill, but Bona is a freak athlete and that’s worth betting on.

Sporting News

Grade: A

Kyle Irving at Sporting News was a big fan of both of the Sixers’ selections:

The 76ers addressed two needs with their two picks: McCain provides backcourt depth as a playmaking combo guard who can shoot the 3 and disrupt opposing ball-handlers on defense while Bona gives Philadelphia a much-needed physical interior presence behind Joel Embiid. The Sixers went 2-for-2 in this draft.

The Ringer

Grade: B for first round, B- for second round

Danny Chau, grading the Sixers’ 16th overall pick, said Jared McCain has shades of somewhere between Steph and Seth Curry, which certainly isn’t a bad spot to fall on for a scale of undersized yet highly talented shooters.

A team with the gravity that Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey command will always need release valves on the perimeter. That’s the value that McCain brings. He was one of the best 3-point marksmen in college basketball as a freshman at Duke. He is elite on catch-and-shoot attempts and has great energy transfer in his mechanics pulling up in transition. The Sixers may look to develop his ability to shoot off movement because McCain’s apparent lack of burst will put a strain on the kind of playmaking he was able to accomplish at the NCAA level…

As for picking Bona in round two, Chau was slightly cooler on the selection, giving the Sixers a B-, partly due to need concerns. But there’s still no denying how impressive Bona’s explosiveness, speed and lateral quickness are. He’s one of the very best athletes in the draft with serious defensive talent, even if Chau questions the Sixers’ need for this kind of player:

Though a bit undersized at the 5, Bona’s remarkable 7-foot-4 wingspan and seamless ability to change direction laterally make him one of the easier projections as a switch big. Outside of the occasional P.J. Brown–esque midrange jumper, Bona’s offensive game is mostly limited to explosive rim runs, but a pathway to success in the modern NBA has been paved for a player of that archetype. Bona is a real defensive talent, but it’s fair to wonder how much Philadelphia needed this type of player specifically.

However, as Daryl Morey continues to make clear, he’s going to take the best player available, regardless of fit. And if the Sixers aren’t happy with Paul Reed at backup 5 long term or if he gets moved at some point, having Bona onboard for his athleticism, versatile defense, energy and simple yet effective finishing gives them another interesting option.

Bona is still only 21 years old and started basketball late too, which bodes well for how quickly he’s developed already and could continue to do so. For instance, with skills like the face-up ability he’s flashed thanks to his speed, quick elevation, and length to rise up and finish over/past opponents.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor is even higher on not just Bona’s ability, but his potential to fit in different lineups for the Sixers.

CBS Sports

Grade: B+ for first round, A- for second round

Apart from knocking the Sixers’ first-round grade slightly as star Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht was still on the board (and ultimately went to the Lakers next at 17), Kyle Boone and Adam Finkelstein at CBS Sports were still high on the team’s picks overall:

If Dalton Knecht weren’t on the board, I’d bump this up a grade. But I love what McCain brings as a shooter and scorer and personality. Defensively, he and Tyrese Maxey may not be ideal as two smaller guards who focus on offense. But there’s a lot to like, and adding shooting around Joel Embiid makes sense. And his competitive spirit is worth betting on.

As for their thoughts on Bona, they understandably highlighted the rookie’s energy, massive wingspan, and presence he can offer as a finisher and rim protector:

Philly has been trying for years to find viable frontcourt support next to Joel Embiid, and it might have stumbled into something here. Bona’s a high-flier with relentless energy as a big who brings a 7-4 wingspan and can be impactful around the rim on both ends.

Yahoo! Sports

Grade: A

Short and sweet analysis from Yahoo! Sports’ Krysten Peek, but yet another top grade for Philadelphia’s picks:

The 3-point shooting from McCain (42% from deep at Duke) and the physical presence of Bona (6-8, 245 pounds) will pair nicely with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

Well, B’s and A’s across the board is a rather good result!

Now, it’s a time to dig into more analysis of the Sixers’ new rookies. We’ve already got you covered here at Liberty Ballers, with articles like Sean Kennedy’s look at Jared McCain’s fit with the Sixers, with comments from McCain himself and Daryl Morey. Plus Josh Grieb’s piece on how ready McCain is for anything that comes his way in Philadelphia.

2024 NBA Draft: In the second round, Sixers select UCLA big man Adem Bona at pick 41 nba,draft,in,the,second,round,sixers,select,ucla,big,man,adem,bona,at,pick,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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In the first day two of NBA Draft history Thursday, the Sixers took UCLA big man Adem Bona with the 41st overall pick.

He averaged 12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for the Bruins last season. He was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season.

In Bona, the Sixers acquire arguably the best athlete in the draft. He had the highest standing vertical of any player at the NBA Draft Combine. He also has legitimate NBA size at 6-foot-8 (without shoes) and a freakish 7-4 wingspan. He’s a strong rim protector, but also possesses the ability to switch on the perimeter.

Bona is a native of Nigeria, but moved to Turkey at the age of 13 to pursue basketball. He moved to the U.S. to play high school basketball at Prolific Prep in California. He was a five-star recruit and committed to UCLA, where he spent two seasons.

He’s raw, but Bona is one of the most physically gifted players in the draft class. As Daryl Morey has made clear, he’s going to take the best player available, regardless of fit or age.

A side note: this is the pick the Sixers acquired in the deal that sent Jaden Springer to the Boston Celtics at the trade deadline.

On Wednesday night, the Sixers selected Duke’s Jared McCain 16th overall. While there are still plenty of moving parts ahead of the start free agency Sunday, we might have some roster clarity. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey will be here. For now, so are McCain and Bona.

2024 NBA Draft: 5 prospects the Sixers could target in the second round nba,draft,prospects,the,sixers,could,target,in,the,second,round,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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We’ve made it to the first ever second day of the NBA Draft.

On Wednesday night, the Sixers somewhat surprisingly stood pat at 16 and took Duke’s Jared McCain. McCain is an intriguing prospect with a great story that should fit well.

On Thursday, Daryl Morey and company hold the 41st pick. While the 2024 draft doesn’t feature much in the way of star power, there are a lot of intriguing role players — even in round two.

Let’s look at five prospects that could make sense for the Sixers.

KJ Simpson

With the Sixers taking an undersized guard in the first round, would they take another in the second? Much like McCain, the only true knock on Simpson is his size. He was awesome for Colorado last season, averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Like McCain he was lethal three-point shooter (43.4%) on high volume (4.9 attempts).

What he lacks in size Simpson makes up for by being an absolute dog on the defensive end of the floor. Unlike McCain, Simpson is a floor general, capable of setting up the offense and facilitating at a high level. He has that bulldog mentality that Nick Nurse seems to covet in his point guards. After getting some late first-round buzz pre-draft, Simpson would be a steal at 41.

Bobi Klintman

Another player that some thought would go in the first round, size is not an issue for Klintman. The Swedish wing stands at nearly 6-foot-10 and has an intriguing skillset. Though his shooting numbers weren’t elite during his year at Wake Forest or his season spent in the NBL, Klintman has a smooth stroke and can easily fire over the top of defenders with a high release.

He’ll need to refine the rest of his offensive game to survive on the wing, but there are flashes. He’s also not an elite athlete, but his length can make up for a lot of that defensively. He has the makings of a hyper versatile 3-and-D player.

Harrison Ingram

Ingram spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Stanford before transferring to North Carolina. He almost feels like a throwback power forward, measuring at 6-foot-6 and 233 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan. Ingram has a multi-faceted offensive game, at times serving as a playmaking hub. He also shot the ball really well last season, hitting 38.5% on 4.6 threes per game.

While he isn’t the most athletic player, his length and strength make him viable in different defensive matchups. He’s also a strong rebounder, pulling down 8.8 boards per game last season. He’s savvy player that could fit on just about any team if the shooting translates.

Pelle Larsson

Larsson is a player we didn’t actually get the chance to profile at LB (sorry, only so much bandwidth!), but that I really enjoyed watching. His shot was sort of inconsistent during his time at Arizona, but he hit 42.6 from deep last season on over three attempts a game. The Swedish guard has a pretty diverse offensive skillset. He’s a legit 6-foot-5 and can dribble, pass, shoot and finish at the rim.

He tested well athletically at the combine and held his own defensively at the collegiate level. He slides his feet well and isn’t afraid to stick his nose in there physically. The biggest thing with Larsson is there aren’t many holes in his game. The only knock is he’s a little older at 23. Frankly, I’m a little surprised he’s not being talked about more.

Jalen Bridges

Bridges started his career at West Virginia before transferring to Baylor. During his redshirt senior year, he emerged as a terrific 3-and-D wing. Standing at 6-foot-7 with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, Bridges possesses the size and athleticism to be a terrific NBA wing defender. While his three ball wasn’t great for much of his collegiate career, he knocked down 41.2% on over five shots per game from deep. He’s always been a good free throw shooter, so the improvement seems real.

Like Larsson, one of the knocks on Bridges will be his age. There might not be a ton of upside for him as a playmaker or creator, but 3-and-D wings are hard to come by and he has all the makings of one.

Whether it’s love or hate, Jared McCain is ready for whatever comes his way in Philadelphia with the Sixers whether,it,s,love,or,hate,jared,mccain,is,ready,for,whatever,comes,his,way,in,philadelphia,with,the,sixers,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-features-profiles,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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Kicking off a crucial offseason, Philadelphia stayed pat in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, using the 16th pick on Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain. The combo guard at Duke became known for his 40% three-point percentage, the TikToks he posts, his painted fingernails, and the shared journey he’s gone on with his brother.

Only minutes after his selection, McCain spoke to Sixers reporters for the first time. Spoiler alert: he mentioned cheesesteaks in his first answer.

McCain, who comes with a reputation of being a hard worker, thinks coming to Philadelphia should be an easy transition after playing off a big man during his freshman year at Duke.

“Obviously playing through [Kyle Filipowski], I learned to create space for him and just be able to let him do his work and find gaps and find ways to get open,” he said. “So I think it’s a great transition for me.”

Not only does he believe the on-court transition will go well, but he thinks his experience as a Duke Blue Devil and the reputation that comes with that will help his transition as a Philadelphian as well.

“Obviously that comes with a lot of hate and a lot of scrutiny wherever you go,” he said, “but I think that’s preparing for where I’m at, especially with Philly, so I think I’m ready for it.”

He was already asked about his TikToks and fingernails, and isn’t worried about how people will perceive him in a hard-nosed city.

“Yeah, you know I do the social media, the nail painting, I do all that stuff, but basketball is my main focus and this has been my dream since I was 4 or 5 years old,” he said. “So I’m going to do whatever I can just to win and bring a positive attitude and just have fun, man. I’m joyful with life and I try to bring that everywhere I go.”

McCain credits his family for his positive personality. He repeatedly mentioned that whatever hate he may face, he’s going to fight it with positivity.

“It’s gotten me this far, so I won’t stop now,” he said. “And even if there’s a bunch of hate coming my way, I try to be as positive as possible and just continue to work and trust my work.”

He’s essentially seen the draft process as a journey he’s gone on with his brother. Jayce McCain had to stop playing basketball due to blood clots, and went to Duke to become a grad assistant to be at the same school as his brother, Jared.

“It was our dream to get drafted, and so we both did it,” he said.

Report: ‘Jimmy Butler plans to be back with the Miami Heat’ even if no extension this offseason report,jimmy,butler,plans,to,be,back,with,the,miami,heat,even,if,no,extension,this,offseason,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-trade-rumors,76ers-free-agency-rumors-news

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It appears the options are flying off the board for the Sixers in a hurry.

Former Sixer Jimmy Butler will reportedly not seek a trade this offseason despite not yet coming to an agreement on a max extension with the Miami Heat. ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst discussed Butler’s situation on The Pat McAfee show Wednesday.

As Windy notes, Butler has a player option for the 2025-26 season, so he will be in a similar spot to James Harden last summer and Paul George right now. If he leads Miami on another deep playoff run, he could very well still cash in another big payday at age 35.

It’s also been reported that All-Star Bam Adebayo is planning to sign a three-year maximum extension with the Heat, locking in Butler’s primary running mate.

Butler never totally seemed like a realistic option, but with more clarity there, along with the increasing likelihood George doesn’t leave the West Coast, the options are getting slimmer for the Sixers.

The Sixers’ top trade candidate after the Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges from the Nets Tuesday night is likely the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram. Several reports have mentioned New Orleans shopping the one-time All-Star and he has been linked to the Sixers. Beyond that, it feels like the Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen is a pipe dream — though there was no real sense Bridges would get moved either.

In free agency, it seems like OG Anunoby could still be in play despite reports suggesting that the Knicks would like to keep him, even after the Bridges trade. The Sixers have also been linked to the Nuggets’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Could Daryl Morey look to add Anunoby and KCP to give head coach Nick Nurse elite tools for his defensive schemes?

The are still lots of possibilities for the Sixers ahead of the NBA draft and the start of free agency, but it appears a Jimmy Butler reunion is not one of them.

2024 NBA Draft: Will the Sixers make a pick? Check out our full list of prospect profiles nba,draft,will,the,sixers,make,a,pick,check,out,our,full,list,of,prospect,profiles,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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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.

76ers Reacts Survey: Has the Sixers’ interest in Paul George really waned? ers,reacts,survey,has,the,sixers,interest,in,paul,george,really,waned,liberty,ballers,front-page,reacts,nba-reacts

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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Philadelphia 76ers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Just as it felt more and more realistic that the Philadelphia 76ers could pry Los Angeles Clippers’ star Paul George away from the SoCal native’s home, Shams Charania tweeted last week that the Sixers’ interest in the nine-time All-Star has “significantly waned.”

Did the price of someone like Pelicans star Brandon Ingram, Jazz star Lauri Markkanen or Knicks’ star OG Anunoby suddenly drop? What would cause PG to go from Philadelphia’s “Plan A” (as had been previously speculated by insiders all offseason) to a consolation prize — just days away from both the 2024 NBA Draft and free agency period?

In the several days since that Shams bomb, we’ve heard numerous bits of intel suggesting that some rival teams or insiders are not quite convinced Daryl Morey and the Sixers’ front office has cooled on the PG plan A — and that PG may opt into his one-year player option and seek a trade.

But we’re curious what our readers think….

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

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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.

Having Nick Nurse should widen the Sixers’ offseason options this summer having,nick,nurse,should,widen,the,sixers,offseason,options,this,summer,liberty,ballers,front-page,76ers-analysis

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Sixers head coach Nick Nurse became increasingly nihilistic by the end of the first-round series against the New York Knicks, but his impact was otherwise felt up and down the roster this year.

Joel Embiid averaged more than a point per minute this season and might have cruised to his second straight MVP had he met the NBA’s new 65-game minimum requirement. James Harden’s departure opened the door for Tyrese Maxey to flourish as the Sixers’ starting point guard, and he seized the opportunity with his first All-Star nod and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

Nurse’s impact wasn’t just limited to the Sixers’ two stars, though. During the playoffs, Kelly Oubre Jr. described Nurse as a “basketball genius” who was giving the team energy and motivation by being so “locked in.” Meanwhile, Nicolas Batum credited the Sixers’ coaching staff for his game-saving block against the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, telling reporters that they had showed him the exact play that Miami wound up running “literally like a minute before.”

Not only should that give the Sixers confidence that they have the right coach in place, but it could also widen their options this offseason as they ponder how to spend up to roughly $65 million in salary-cap space.

Take Brandon Ingram, for instance. According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the New Orleans Pelicans have already contacted the Sixers about a potential Ingram trade, and Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports reported the Sixers do have interest in him.

To some extent, it’s easy to see why. Ingram is one of only 10 players who averaged at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game in each of the past three seasons. Standing 6’8” with a 7’3” wingspan, he has the physical tools to wreak havoc defensively, even though that’s never been one of his strong suits. (His 190-pound frame doesn’t help in that regard.)

Ingram would also bring some major fit questions with him to Philadelphia. He shot 38.6 percent from deep on 6.2 attempts per game across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, but he knocked down only 35.4 percent of his 3.9 long-range shots per game over the past three years. He’s also missed at least 18 games in each of the past three seasons and hasn’t topped 65 games since his rookie year in 2016-17 (!), which is hardly ideal for a team built around an injury-prone center.

Oh, and Ingram is fresh off a horrific playoff showing—he averaged only 14.3 points on 34.5 percent shooting as the Oklahoma City Thunder swept him and the Pelicans out of the first round—and is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. According to Christian Clark of the Times-Picayune, the Pelicans aren’t keen on handing him the four-year, $208.5 million max extension that he’ll be eligible for this summer, which explains why they’re shopping him around.

So, why are the Sixers reportedly interested in Ingram? They might be less concerned about his perceived fit issues with Maxey and Embiid thanks to Nurse.

Ingram has long been a dismal pull-up three-point shooter, but he’s far more potent on catch-and-shoot attempts. He shot a blistering 42.5 percent on those looks between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, whereas he knocked down only 29.5 percent of his pull-up three-point attempts across that span. If Nurse could coax Ingram into cutting down his pull-up jumpers and taking a higher volume of catch-and-shoot triples each game, he might be able to unlock some untapped upside in the 26-year-old forward.

DeMar DeRozan is another potential Sixers target this offseason who’d come with major fit questions of his own. He’s an even lower-volume three-point shooter than Ingram, and his on/off splits were a glaring red flag throughout most of his tenure in Toronto. However, he’s been one of the NBA’s kings of crunch time over the past few seasons.

Nurse might be able to devise an offensive scheme that mitigates the spacing concerns DeRozan would bring to Philadelphia. By introducing foreign concepts such as off-ball movement this past season, he helped Embiid take a major leap as a passer. Who’s to say he couldn’t have a similarly positive effect with DeRozan, who has averaged 25.5 points on 49.6 percent shooting, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds over the past three seasons with the Chicago Bulls?

The Sixers should keep Nurse and the rest of their coaching staff in mind while evaluating their offseason options. He doesn’t seem keen on offensive-minded players who are traffic cones on defense, which should give the Sixers pause before they spend major resources on someone who fits that mold. If they don’t have organizational alignment between their front office and coaching staff, they’ll be drawing dead from the jump.

But if Nurse believes he’d be able to get the best out of a particular player, fit issues be damned, that should give the front office more confidence as well. Acquiring that player might still be a gamble, but it might be an educated one thanks to Nurse and the rest of his coaching staff.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

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

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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.