10 Players the 76ers Should Target In the 2024 Draft w/ Steven Bagell
1- Jaylon Tyson
I am on the higher end of the Jaylon Tyson spectrum. He’s firmly in my (Steven’s) lottery. However, because most draft analysts have Tyson closer to the 20-25 range, he’ll likely be on the board for pick 16. The Sixers can’t seem to get over the hump, as they’ve only made it to the conference finals once since 1983. In the modern NBA, wing depth and 3 and D players are essential, and that’s where the Sixers have lacked in the post-process years. Despite rumors of the Sixers adding either Paul George or Jimmy Butler, there’s no such thing as two much big wing depth. Tyson is 6’7”, switchable on defense, and he’s a pass/dribble/shoot wing. He has a versatile skill set and brings three level scoring in between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
2- Tristan Da Silva
Da Silva is a 3 and D prospect, a hair bit bigger than Tyson, with the 3 aspect of his game more developed than his D. Either way, he’d be an excellent stretch four or big wing to slide in a lineup wherever the Sixers need him to. Additionally, he should be ready to contribute as soon as his rookie season. After seeing the impact Nico Batum made for the Sixers after the James Harden trade, Da Silva can play a similar role. Given the Sixers lofty expectations for both the roster moves this offseason as well as their championship aspirations, Da Silva is an excellent fit.
3- Ja’Kobe Walter
While Walter is only 6’5”, his 6’10” wingspan makes him an intriguing defensive prospect as well. But the aspect that’s most intriguing with Walter’s game is the shotmaking and scoring repertoire. Walter can score in a variety of ways, including movement, giving the Sixers an element they’d hope Buddy Hield would provide alongside Joel Embiid when they traded for Hield at the deadline. While Walter isn’t quite the shooter that Hield is, Walter should be able to provide a scoring punch off the bench, where the Sixers offense was often stagnant with their bench units.
4- Jared McCain
The biggest issue the Sixers had early on in the year was the lack of dynamic ballhandlers. They often played Patrick Beverly as the primary backup to Tyrese Maxey. However, once the Sixers shipped Pat Bev to Milwaukee for Cam Payne and signed Kyle Lowry in the buyout market, the non-Maxey minutes went a lot more smooth. While Payne and Lowry may both be back next season on team friendly deals, McCain has some untapped upside as a playmaker, while also being a tough shotmaker and versatile scoring threat as well.
5- Tyler Smith
The Sixers have missed the element of a stretch four after letting Georges Niang go to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Niang shined in his two years with Philly, evidenced by the 3/$25.5 million contract he signed after his time as a Sixer. Not only is Smith a stretch big, but he’s far more athletic than Niang is. Smith also has an excellent post game and he’s evolving as a passer. He’s another dynamic player that can even play the small ball five, similar to the role Paul Reed has played for the Sixers the past few seasons. Smith’s stock is also all over the place, so there’s a strong possibility he is taken before the Sixers pick at #16.
6- Ryan Dunn
Ryan Dunn is arguably the most intriguing and confusing player in the draft. At 21, he is arguably already one of the best inside-out defenders on the face of the planet.
It’s not just his 6’8”, 216 lbs frame, with a 7’2” wingspan, elite explosiveness, athleticism, and ability to legitimately guard one-through-five that has teams salivating (quite the mouthful, I know). Dunn is currently averaging 6.2 stocks (per 36 minutes), but shockingly even that doesn’t tell the full story of his defensive impact.
His ability to stay in front of the ball handler off the dribble, both laterally and vertically, is among the best I’ve ever seen from a prospect. One of my favourite things to watch in basketball is a guy shuffling his feet to stay in front of the ball handler. Something about it is so satisfying (as someone who loves good defence), hence why he has fast become one of my favourite prospects to watch. He even manages this as his opponent drives towards the rim, allowing him to shut down just about anything the offense tries.
His defensive awareness is unparalleled, with an IQ that will allow him to fit into any system or defensive scheme. He can move, switch, and rotate at a moment notice, almost as if it’s second nature. He also has an elite motor that allows him to stay thoroughly attached to an offensive player off the ball, giving them little-to-no space.
If the game of basketball was played one-way, Dunn would be a generational prospect. Unfortunately; it isn’t. Dunn is bad on the offensive end. No other way to put it. However, there is some hope the three point shot can develop, as Dunn knocked down 36% of his threes on decent volume in high school.
7- JaeDon LeDee
It’s largely LeDee's versatility that has led to his success this season. He has the ability to bully and conquer smaller opponents around the basket, but he is also capable of scoring from the mid-to-high-post, courtesy of his face-up and pull-up prowess. Furthermore, his ball-handling abilities enable him to efficiently attack from the outside, frequently drawing fouls and resulting in trips to the free throw line.
He possesses an innate ability to read the floor, run plays and hit players in their stride. He’s like a guard trapped inside the body of a dominant low-post big; and that’s because he is.
As LeDee's ball-handling and passing abilities have grown in his new role, the foundation of his court awareness can be traced back to his time as a point guard, prior to moving to the frontcourt as a result of a growth spurt.
8- Alex Toohey
Because of his guard ability, Toohey will most likely play on the perimeter in the NBA, despite his preference for forward play. As a result, he can play practically any position and complements the NBA's modern aesthetic.
Toohey is a high-IQ player who moves well off the ball and often finds himself in advantageous situations. When he goes outside, his shooting is smooth, and he has a good touch near the rim. His shooting is currently unpredictable, but it appears that it will become more consistent in the future. He promptly releases the ball and confidently shoots from outside.
Toohey's ability to pass the ball has improved the more he plays with the ball in his hands. He's a reliable facilitator, especially considering his size. Going ahead, it will be interesting to watch him play in transition.
9- Dalton Knecht
Knecht is a consistent three-point shooter with great volume. He’s not a great perimeter shooter, but he’s clearly capable and consistent, shooting just below 40%. He is tall and can shoot over defenders. He is also very efficient at the free-throw line and has strong shooting mechanics. Knecht’s next phase could be to improve his passing and assist production.
He’s already an effective connector (one might even say he’s an effective Knecht-or), but has yet to show the ability to be the primary facilitator. He has a solid assist rate, but genuine assist output might boost his stock. However, he already takes excellent care of the ball.
10- Devin Carter
Son of NBA coach Anthony Carter, Devin Carter is a dangerous ball-screen and spot-up shooter who can play both on and off the ball. He’s still more wired to score than to make plays, and NBA coaches will be hesitant to use him as the primary decision-maker. He’ll play as a combo guard from the second spot.
Given his late development and physical/athletic limitations, the big question is how much of his game will transition to the NBA. If the scoring outbursts do not continue, he will play a versatile role comparable to Brandin Podziemski, with shot making, secondary creation, outlier rebounding, and defense. He could resemble Derrick White if he provides a more consistent scoring punch and emerges as a perimeter defender.
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