Tag: nba-draft

Don’t let the nail polish and TikTok videos fool you — Sixers’ Jared McCain is a killer on the court don,t,let,the,nail,polish,and,tiktok,videos,fool,you,sixers,jared,mccain,is,a,killer,on,the,court,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-features-profiles,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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Tyrese Maxey might be the most positive person to ever put on a Sixers uniform.

His smile lights up a room. He makes his teammates — and even curmudgeonly reporters — laugh. With the Sixers selecting Duke’s Jared McCain with the 16th overall pick Wednesday night, Maxey might have a little competition in the sunshine and rainbows department.

But just like Maxey, don’t mistake the kindness for weakness. McCain is a stone-cold killer on the court who will bury a three in your face — with a smile on his.

By now you’ve likely seen that McCain paints his fingernails and has a massive TikTok following. While a bunch of old, insecure men clutch their pearls over it, it shows McCain is comfortable in his own skin — a strong statement to make about a 20-year-old.

While McCain enjoys doing things off the court, he is a fierce competitor on it. Watch just about any game he played at Duke last season and you’ll likely see some trash talk and fiery celebrations after a big shot.

“I think it’s a good balance I have,” McCain said Friday at the Sixers’ practice facility. “Being on social media and doing all this stuff outside of basketball, it comes with a lot of hate. And when you get a lot of hate, you kind of want to prove yourself that you can be one of the best players in the world in college.”

And McCain did just that, shining all season long for the Blue Devils, especially in the NCAA Tournament.

One of the elite skills that helped McCain realize his NBA dream is shooting. He knocked down 41.4% of his threes on a healthy 5.8 attempts per game in his lone season with Duke.

As we’ve seen, Daryl Morey is an executive who highly values three-point shooting, especially when building around a player like Joel Embiid.

“He’s already putting up a high volume of threes,” Morey said after the draft Wednesday. “And being able to shoot threes at a high volume and be in the high 30s, low 40s (percentage-wise) is maybe the most valuable skill in the NBA. It’s on the list of the top few, so that’s a big, big part of the calculus with Jared. One hundred percent, absolutely.”

McCain is far from a one-dimensional player though. He’s plenty crafty off the bounce, able to knock down midrange jumpers, floaters, fadeaways and finish with both hands at the rim. He’s a smart offensive player that understands spacing and is a good connective passer. What he lacks in size and athleticism on the defensive end he makes up for with his basketball IQ and desire to win.

He’s made numerous big shots, he’ll dive for loose balls, he’ll get in there and fight for rebounds. Simply put, he’s a winning basketball player.

“Frankly, he sort of checked every box,” Morey said, “that’s why we were so high on him — in that he not only is someone who has a skill and the work ethic to get out there on the floor, and also playing in high-level games … He’s been a top-10, top-15 guy in the country in his class the whole way across. So he’s a combination of a guy we think could get out there a little quicker and, at the same time, a lot of upside given he’s very young and has a great work ethic.”

Every competitive athlete feels like they have something to prove. For McCain, he said he focused on his ability on the ball during the pre-draft process. At 6-foot-2, the ability to operate as a ball handler could be critical to his development. McCain doesn’t have to go far to find an example of a player that’s had success in this area.

Maxey came to the Sixers as an explosive off-ball guard. He thrived in that role next to Ben Simmons and James Harden. After The Beard was dealt to the Clippers, the ball was in Maxey’s hands. He took some lumps along the way, but the increased role led Maxey to his first All-Star appearance and being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

After learning so much from guys like Harden and Kyle Lowry, Maxey will become the teacher — and he has a willing pupil in McCain.

“For me, in college I obviously played more of an off-ball role,” McCain said. “So I think being able to learn on-ball stuff from Tyrese and being able to show that I can be on the ball, make reads in pick-and-rolls. … I think the mind is something a lot of people undervalue in the draft — just being able to figure out stuff, the IQ. I think I’m good at that, so I’m going to try to show that as much as I can in my rookie season.”

The moment has never been to big for McCain. He starred at Centennial High School in Corona, California, being named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year as both a junior and senior. He was a McDonald’s All-American and a consensus five-star recruit.

He committed to Duke and had a monster one-and-done season. He was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team and was an All-ACC Honorable Mention. He set a Blue Devil freshman record by hitting eight threes in a game — and he did it twice (one of those times in the NCAA Tournament). His season-high 35 points has only been matched by Zion Williamson in school history for a freshman. He had three 30-point games — including two in the NCAA Tourney — which was most among all Division 1 freshman.

So, do you think McCain is ready for his opportunity in the NBA with the Sixers?

“Since high school, I’ve felt like I’ve always wanted to be on the biggest platforms, be on the biggest stages, and that’s why I chose Duke,” he said. “Now to be in Philly, to have those championship aspirations, I feel like I’m ready for it.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the big games and I feel like when the lights are the brightest, I want to show out and be myself out there on the court. I’m excited. It’s something I’ve looked forward to my entire life and now I’m finally here.”

He’s going to keep painting his nails. He’s going to keep making TikTok videos. He’s going to keep smiling.

But don’t let any of that fool you. Jared McCain wants to hoop.

“Obviously, now being a rookie, I’ve got a lot to prove, so I’m just willing to take on that challenge,” he said. “And once I set a goal, I’m going to put my mind to it and work as hard as I can to keep going. I think that mindset of always wanting to be the best always motivates me.”

Like Maxey before him, he has the chance to make a lot of people look silly for doubting him.

2024: NBA Draft: Sixers reportedly agree with Memphis’ David Jones on two-way deal nba,draft,sixers,reportedly,agree,with,memphis,david,jones,on,two,way,deal,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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The Sixers made out well in the 2024 NBA Draft, selecting Duke’s Jared McCain 16th overall and UCLA big man Adem Bona 41st. They also moved quickly to sign Philly native and Kentucky product Justin Edwards to a two-way deal.

Daryl Morey and company aren’t quite done yet. The Sixers are reportedly signing Memphis wing David Jones to a two-way deal. The news was first reported by Keith Pompey of The Inquirer.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Jones moved to the United States to attend high school in West Virginia and play basketball. He spent parts of two seasons at DePaul before transferring to St. John’s, but his final season playing for the Tigers was his best collegiate season.

In 2023-24, Jones averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He also averaged 2.2 steals per game. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well at the start of his college career, but hit 38.0% on over six attempts per game from three last season. His free throw percentage went up each year, meaning the improvement could be real.

After taking an undersized guard in McCain and a big in Bona, Morey scooped up two wings on the open market. It’s surely a coincidence, but Jones is a lefty like Edwards. Jones is an interesting prospect with his shot improvement plus his rebounding and steal numbers on the wing.

The Summer Sixers should have a fun roster with the players that have been added over the past couple days in addition to Ricky Council IV and Terquavion Smith.

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: Sixers sign Philly native, UDFA Justin Edwards to two-way deal nba,draft,sixers,sign,philly,native,udfa,justin,edwards,to,two,way,deal,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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Now that the 2024 NBA Draft is complete, the Sixers turn their attention to the undrafted free agent market.

The team moved quickly, agreeing to a two-way deal with Philly native and Kentucky product Justin Edwards, a source confirmed to Liberty Ballers. Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to report the news.

Edwards was named Pennsylvania’s Mr. Basketball in 2023 after leading Imhotep to a second straight state championship. Joined by Camden’s D.J. Wagner, he was part of yet another impressive recruiting class for Kentucky. The 6-foot-8 wing was a consensus five-star recruit with multiple outlets considering him a top-three player in the country.

Though Edwards came to college with much fanfare, he had an inconsistent one-and-done year with the Wildcats. In his lone season in Lexington, the 20-year-old Edwards averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with 48.6/36.5/77.6 shooting splits. He was overshadowed by fifth-year senior Antonio Reeves and a pair of top-10 picks in Reed Sheppard (No. 3 overall, Houston Rockets) and Rob Dillingham (No. 8 overall, Minnesota Timberwolves (via trade)).

In Edwards, the Sixers get a long wing with a smooth lefty shooting strike. He’ll have to refine the rest of his game, but he’s absolutely the type of player worthy of a two-way spot. At this time last year, Daryl Morey and the front office landed Ricky Council IV and Terquavion Smith as undrafted free agents. Council earned minutes as a rookie and Smith shined in the G League for the Delaware Blue Coats.

This should add even more intrigue to the team’s Summer League team. Expect Council and Smith to join the newly-acquired Edwards, Jared McCain and Adem Bona in Vegas and Utah.

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.

2024 NBA Draft: Jared McCain’s fit with Sixers’ stars a big draw nba,draft,jared,mccain,s,fit,with,sixers,stars,a,big,draw,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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Heading into this year’s NBA draft, one of the bigger questions for the Philadelphia 76ers was whether they would even keep the 16th overall pick, or trade it away for a player perhaps better suited to help the team win immediately. However, with Jared McCain still on the board, Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey decided to stay put, holding the belief that the Duke guard would help infuse the franchise with youth while also being able to contribute during the 2024-25 season.

One of the biggest reasons is how McCain’s game will complement Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, helping make their lives easier. During his press availability, Morey discussed the fit between his newest draftee and those All-Stars, first addressing concerns about a Maxey-McCain backcourt being small:

“I think that’s a valid concern. Obviously your backcourt, in a perfect world, you’d have taller. But I think you have to compensate that with strength. He’s got a strong frame — very strong. Good rebounder. We think he’ll be a solid defender in the league over time. He started off at Duke … he was being targeted at Duke and as the season went on, he became someone that was actually one of their better defenders. He’s got the attitude that Coach Nurse likes to bring, which is just get a little bit better every day. He’s got a 95th percentile approach to the game — teammate, work ethic. We’ve had some good luck taking the kids with a real base of potential and a strong work ethic. We were really happy. I’m excited for Philadelphia to get to know him.”

Morey also mentioned how McCain’s shooting will benefit the team:

“We really value shooting given the rest of the roster — especially Joel. We just think Joel’s unguardable when he has shooting around him. It doesn’t mean we don’t put tough-nosed guys out there. … I mean, early on, obviously Jared’s not going to be playing with Maxey a whole lot. It’s just hard for a rookie, but that elite shooting from two guys out on the floor is pretty hard to guard, and both of them make it really tough on if you try to guard them tight. I don’t have to sell Tyrese Maxey, but Jared can attack a closeout and make a play.”

During his own press availability in Brooklyn after being selected by Philadelphia, McCain also responded to questions about playing alongside Embiid and Maxey (quotes courtesy of NBA Public Relations).

“During all your career, you have been an excellent scorer, catch-and-shoot off the screen, and now you have the opportunity to play alongside one of the best big men in the league right now. Talk about the chemistry with Joel Embiid.”

“Yeah, I’m just excited to learn from him, learn from both Maxey and him. Obviously they are elite scorers, so I think I can space the floor and create space for them. I’m excited to get to know them and learn as much as possible from them.”

“I wanted to ask you about Maxey. He’s an extremely hard worker and I know how hard you work, too. I know you two are probably going to be fighting to go to the gym together. Talk about that, playing with Maxey, being able to space the floor. And was it a surprise going to Philly? I feel like a lot of people had you going here and felt like this was a great fit. Was it a surprise to you as well, too?”

“Yeah, I’m excited. Obviously Maxey, I’ve heard great things (about) him. Watching him on the court, he’s an elite player. Being able to play alongside him and learn from him. On draft night, there’s surprises everywhere. So I didn’t know where I was going. I tried not to get attached to any teams. So yeah, I guess it is a surprise, but I’m happy to be here.”

McCain seems like an easy guy to root for, and if his 41.4 percent three-point shooting at Duke carries over to the NBA level, he’ll certainly help the Sixers this season. We’ll hopefully get a first look at him in a Sixers uniform within the next couple weeks during Summer League action.

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.

2024 NBA Draft: Sixers select Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain nba,draft,sixers,select,duke,sharpshooter,jared,mccain,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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The Sixers on Wednesday took Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain with the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The board fell in Philly’s favor with McCain and Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht both available. Ultimately the Sixers likely favored McCain’s upside at 20 years old as opposed to the 23-year-old Knecht.

In McCain, the Sixers get a player that shot 41.1% on 5.8 attempts from three in his lone season with the Blue Devils. The California native averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

While he’s undersized for a two guard at 6-foot-2, his scoring savvy, feel and defensive instincts make him an intriguing prospect. He’s also known for his hustle, making winning plays all over the court.

The long-term fit with Tyrese Maxey is questionable, but Daryl Morey and company likely felt McCain was too talented to pass up. Looking back on Morey’s draft record, he’s always been more likely to take the best player available — regardless of age or fit.

While it might be a bit surprising that the Sixers chose to keep the pick, perhaps the opportunities available in trades weren’t as good as simply taking McCain. The Sixers hold pick No. 41 in the second round, which will take place Thursday.

Sixers NBA mock draft roundup: Could Rob Dillingham fall? What about Jared McCain? sixers,nba,mock,draft,roundup,could,rob,dillingham,fall,what,about,jared,mccain,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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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.

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.