On October 17, the 2020 NBA Draft will take place. This draft will feature top prospects such as James Wisemen, Anthony Edwards and even the NBL’s own LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton.
Despite Philadelphia’s recent collection of high draft picks, including the number one overall in 2017 and 2016 and the number three overall in 2015 and 2014, their highest pick in this year’s draft is number 21 in the first round. If the Sixers want to be contenders for next year’s season, this pick is vital.
At time of writing, the Sixers are 0:3 to Boston in the first round of the playoffs. Although Ben Simmons is injured, many other problems within the team have been playing a part in this unsuccessful playoff campaign. One of which is that the Sixers lack a 3-point shooter who doesn’t clog up the lane for guys like Joel Embiid and who can finish games off strongly.
Last season, the team had JJ Redick and Jimmy Butler who did just this. However, since their exits, no one has filled their spots as well as the team would’ve liked. Their most recent game in particular highlighted this with many players performing well, but as a collective, not nearly well enough.
Who should the 76ers recruit in the draft? (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
In Game 3 of the series from the three-point line, Josh Richardson shot 3-11, Shake Milton got 3-9, Joel Embiid 2-5, Tobias Harris 0-5, Alec Burks 1-3 and Furkan Korkmaz 0-3. As a whole, the team shot 23.1 per cent from three and 29.5 per cent from the field.
This is compared to Boston’s 25.8 per cent from three and 41.4per cent from the field. This is why the Sixers need to aim at shooters at this year’s draft.
With the 21st pick, Philadelphia’s next highest pick is the 34th. With these two picks, I think that they should draft Tyrell Terry (Stanford University) and Sam Merrill (Utah State University).
Tyrell Terry is projected to be drafted anywhere between the 15th and the 45th places this year. Tyrell is a 19-year-old one-and-done player from Stanford University at a listed height of 1.88 metres. In the most recent season for Stanford, he averaged 3.2 assists, 32.6 minutes and 14.6 points per game.
As well as this, Tyrell averaged 89.1 per cent from free throws, 44.1 per cent from the field and 40.8 per cent from 3. These statistics earned him a spot on the 2020 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and attention as a serious prospect in the upcoming draft.
Sam Merrill is a 1.95 metres tall 24-year-old shooting guard from Utah State University. Sam has played for Utah State for the last four years, where he averaged 9.4, 16.3, 20.9 and 19.7 points per game. Also, in his time with Utah State, he averaged 42.6per cent from three for his entire NCAA career.
On top of this, Sam is a game-closer and proved this in the Mountain West Tournament Championship Final against San Diego when he drained a three with 2.5 seconds left of the game. This shot caused his team to win 59:56 and helped him to become Mountain West Tournament MVP for the second year in a row.
Despite all this, Sam is projected to be left undrafted this year by both ESPN and NBAdraft.net.
If Philadelphia want to be a serious contender in next year’s season, drafting at least one of these two players (if not both), would help them strengthen their shooting line-up dramatically.
Ben Gray
Roar Rookie
Although I reckon the outside shooting is gonna help the team until they figure out how to fit Embiid and Simmons together it won't really matter what you put around them. You also have to think about the fact they have all those huge contract players still on the cap that need minutes. It makes me think there won't be enough time for rookies coming in.
Alex Hudson
Roar Guru
As well as Mitchell at Pick 13, Bam Adebayo was at Pick 14. To think that that draft class has already produced 3 all-stars who were selected at 3, 13 and 14 is extraordinary.
Davico
Roar Pro
They traded up with the Celtics to take Fultz as well!
Davico
Roar Pro
Agreed, don't think they will find much help in a pretty weak draft class and a 21 pick. The Horford and Harris contracts are diabolical and if they can somehow get out of 1 or both it will be a blessing but not sure who would take them. The team is built terribly and does not take advantage of the skills of either Embiid or Simmons. I realise that you need spacing, but Embiid should be just getting in the post and dominating rather than pulling up for 3's. The more I see the more I agree with Jalen Rose, that I just don't see the combination working unless they change their style of play. If a new coach can't get it to wok they may have to trade one of Embiid or Simmons.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
Simmons and Embiid can work together - they just need the right supporting cast around them - and losing Redick and Butler (who gave them perimeter presence) and replacing them with Harris and Horford has been a monumental mistake I reckon. Too many big bodies, and then relying on sketchy shooters like Alec Burks and Josh Richardson. After all, they went within a Kawhi Leonard miracle of making the Eastern Conference Finals last year!
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Until they decide which one of Simmons or Embiid they are going to keep, it's not relevant.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yeah, sometimes you wonder what the hell the scouts are doing. Seriously though, if the 76ers had taken Mitchell over Fulze it would be a very different competition in the East.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
D-Mitch slipped (thankfully for my Jazz boys) to Pick 13 - Philly weren't alone in missing out on him!
JGK
Roar Guru
To think they could have drafted Jayson Tatum or Donovan Mitchell in 2017.
astro
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure anyone drafted at 21, who is a 20-odd yr old rookie will do much to help Philly go to the next level... I agree that in principal, the Sixers need shooting, but that's pretty much true for every NBA team bar Houston...and even then, Morey would probably be happy to take on more shooting! The problem on the court starts with Embiid. He's a star, but his attitude is terrible. I thought the tears after last years loss, might be an indication he would take his game more seriously, get in better shape, and lead the franchise, but he came back the same guy with the same silly attitude. That, and two of the worst contracts in the league in Harris and Horford, put Philly in a tough spot.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
Agreed - 76ers need outside shooters to have any chance - last year they almost knocked off the Raptors, at the moment there's not much to celebrate. Al Horford's gone backwards - I dare say they regret that pick-up - and their best young player (Matisse Thybulle) is pretty much a defense-only player at the moment.