Draft Outlook
When the Sixers lost in the conference semifinals in 2018, it felt like the start of something big. When they lost in the conference semis in 2021, it felt like a real crossroads moment. This team has an elite defense, one of the biggest matchup advantages in the league in Joel Embiid, and championship potential. But it also has some questions to answer, especially on the offensive end of the floor. The biggest of those is if they can win big with Ben Simmons.
A Stat That Matters
87.0 — In the regular season, the Sixers were a league-best 25-9 (.735) in games that were within five points in the last five minutes in the regular season. In the playoffs, they were 2-5, scoring just 47 points on 54 clutch possessions (87.0 per 100).
The Way To Go
The No. 28 pick is far less consequential than what happens with the players already on the Sixers’ roster (and the three free agents from their playoff rotation). They do already have three young players — Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle — that can be important contributors (especially with the off-the-dribble-skills of Maxey and Milton) with further development and more consistency.
Under Contract
G: Seth Curry
G: George Hill
G: Isaiah Joe
G: Tyrese Maxey
G/F: Shake Milton
G/F: Ben Simmons
G/F: Matisse Thybulle
F: Tobias Harris
F: Paul Reed
F: Anthony Tolliver
C/F: Joel Embiid
Free Agents
G: Danny Green (unrestricted)
G: Rayjon Tucker (restricted)
G/F: Furkan Korkmaz (unrestricted)
F: Gary Clark (unrestricted)
F: Mike Scott (unrestricted)
C/F: Dwight Howard (unrestricted)
> 2021 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2020: Tyrese Maxey (21), Isaiah Joe (49), Paul Reed (58)
— John Schuhmann