In one month, the Sixers will have the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Here are some of the top prospects that could be a good fit for the team.

Markelle Fultz (PG/SG) – Washington

Overview:

Markelle Fultz is regarded by many to be the best player in the draft. The 6’4’’ guard averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in his lone season with the Huskies, despite his team finishing 9-22. He excels in the pick-and-roll, being able to drive and finish, shoot from three, and pull up from mid range. Fultz would be a great addition to a Sixers team that is lacking of talent at the guard position. Although Ben Simmons will run the point for the majority of plays, Fultz can ease that burden by running the offense as well. Likewise, Fultz is also a great off-the-ball player, meaning that he doesn’t need the ball in his hands in order to be successful on the offensive end.

Likelihood of being drafted by the Sixers:

As stated before, Fultz is thought up to be the most talented player in this 2017 draft class. It seems very likely that Fultz will be taken by the Celtics with the 1st overall pick, but this is not a guarantee. With the Celtics set at the guard positions, they may go with SF Josh Jackson from Kansas, and with the Lakers seemingly destined to take Lonzo Ball, Fultz would fall to the Sixers in this dream scenario. This is the only instance that I see Fultz going to the Sixers, as I do not believe that they should trade up for the 1st overall pick. While they may have the assets to do such (2018 Lakers’ 1st round pick and 2019 Kings’ 1st round pick), I think keeping these picks will give them more flexibility in the future when they are ready to compete in the playoffs.

Lonzo Ball (PG) – UCLA

Overview:

Lonzo Ball is probably the most well known prospect in this draft, partly due to the popularity of his father, Lavar. Ball averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game with the UCLA Bruins. While the numbers are impressive, many people look at the fact that Ball took a Bruins team that finished 15-17 (6-12 in conference play) the year before to a 31-5 record and a three seed in this year’s NCAA tournament. Expert’s argue that Ball’s ability to turn a team around so quickly, while not all on his own, separates him from Fultz as a better player.

Likelihood of being drafted by the Sixers:

While things may change in the coming weeks, it seems certain that Ball will be drafted by the Lakers with the 2nd overall pick. Whether it be the big national spotlight that comes with playing in his hometown of Los Angeles or the fact that Lavar Ball stated that his son will only work out for the Lakers and no other teams, it would be a big surprise to see Ball fall to the Sixers at the 3rd pick. That being said, the Sixers already appear to be set with their primary ball handler in Ben Simmons, so acquiring another player that thrives by constantly running the offense may not be a good thing for Philadelphia.

Josh Jackson (SF) – Kansas

Overview:

In what many people are calling the best two-way player in the draft, Josh Jackson has a wide variety of skills that makes him an intriguing pick for many teams. While listed as a small forward, Jackson’s size and athleticism gives him the ability to play at shooting guard and both forward positions. While not much of a shot creator, Jackson’s tenacity on defense and heart for the game makes him a great fit for nearly every team. However, Jackson’s off the court issues could hinder teams like the Sixers and Suns from taking him high in the draft. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game with a Jayhawks team that made it to the Elite Eight in this year’s NCAA tournament.

Likelihood of being drafted by the Sixers:

In this moment, Jackson is projected to be selected 3rd overall by the Sixers. Recent reports about his diversion agreement, which includes taking anger management classes, being on probation, and refraining from drugs and alcohol for one year, may hurt his draft stock in the coming weeks. On the court however, I believe Jackson will fit in nicely with a defensive-minded Sixers team. He would primarily play small forward and can slip in at the two guard occasionally. The duo of Jackson and Embiid on the defensive end could be a nightmare for teams for many years to come.

Jayson Tatum (SF) – Duke

Overview:

Standing at the same height as Jackson, Jayson Tatum has a stronger offensive game than Jackson and shows potential to be a good defender. Tatum’s advanced footwork and plethora of offensive moves make him especially effective in isolation, creating separation with larger forwards and backing down those that are undersized. He has also shown flashes of being a reliable outside shooter (34.2% from three last year), but that will need to develop as his career goes on. Tatum would be more suited as a small forward early in his NBA career, but as his body grows it would seem natural for him to shift to power forward, unlike Jackson. He averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals with the Duke Blue Devils.

Likelihood of being drafted by the Sixers:

With Josh Jackson’s draft stock currently sitting a bit higher than Tatum’s, it seems as if the Sixers would prefer Jackson over Tatum. Tatum possesses a greater offensive game that could make his floor higher than Jackson’s, but Jackson’s overall skillset and potential puts him over the top for me. Tatum’s playstyle and body size will likely lead to him receiving a portion of his minutes at power forward, a position that the Sixers seem to be set at with Dario Šarić. I feel that Tatum would be a good fit for the Sun’s with the 4th overall selection in the draft. Phoenix could use a forward, especially a shot creator that could lighten the scoring load for Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe.

De’Aaron Fox (PG) – Kentucky

Overview:

De’Aaron Fox’s draft stock has risen of late, highlighted by a 39 point performance in the Sweet Sixteen, as his Kentucky Wildcats defeated UCLA and fellow lottery-bound point guard Lonzo Ball. His confidence and expressiveness separates him from the other point guards in the draft, as he believes that he should go 1st overall come June 22. Fox shares a similar playstyle to Fultz and Ball, and while the numbers may not be as flashy (16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game), he takes great pride in his ability to defend at a high level. Another aspect of his game that is different than Fultz and Ball is that he relies more on his speed and ability to drive rather than his jump shot.

Likelihood of being drafted by Sixers:

I’m sure that Sixers fans wouldn’t mind having De’Aaron Fox on the team, it’s just that there are better players available at the 3rd pick. Obviously things may change before draft day, but as it stands right now, the Sixers would be better off taking Jackson with the 3rd pick. Fox would be a good fit for the Sacramento Kings, a team that is simply looking for any young talent, regardless of position. While they possess both the 5th and 10th pick in this draft, I see Fox being selected 5th overall by the Sacramento.

Malik Monk (SG) – Kentucky

Overview:

The second member of Kentucky’s backcourt is Malik Monk, the sharpshooter who averaged 19.8 points (39.7% from three), 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. Monk is best known for being a prolific jump shooter, but that’s not the only part of his game. While slightly undersized for a shooting guard (6’3’’, 190 lbs) he makes up for it with above average athleticism and great leaping ability. Monk is hoping to develop into not just a shooter, but someone who could create a shot off the dribble. While De’Aaron Fox mainly played point guard for Kentucky last year with Monk at shooting guard, Monk is also capable of playing the point when needed.

Likelihood of being drafted by the Sixers:

While probably not the most important need the Sixers are looking to fill this offseason, a reliable shooter is something that Malik Monk could certainly offer the team. I think Monk can play nicely alongside Embiid and Simmons, as he won’t have to be the first option when it comes to scoring. However, Monk will most likely fall outside the top five, meaning that Sixers could be wasting their high pick on him. While maybe not as popular, one realistic option for the Sixers could be trading down in the draft instead of up, which would allow them to pick up a player like Monk while collecting more assets, whether it be players or picks. If this doesn’t happen, Monk can blend well with the Magic (6th overall pick) or Timberwolves (7th).

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG) – NV State

Overview:

Dennis Smith Jr. has bounced around the rankings of top prospects in the draft this year, which is also representative of his season: up and down. While averaging 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game this season with NV State, the team as a whole ranked last in the ACC in defense. Obviously, not all of the blame can be placed on Smith, but his effort has been questioned at times. Smith tore his ACL in August of 2015, but he has showed that GMs shouldn’t be too concerned about it after showcasing his explosive speed all throughout his season with the Wolfpack, good enough to be named the ACC Rookie of the Year.

Likelihood of being drafted by the Sixers:

Similarly to Monk and Fox, the only way I see Smith going to the Sixers is by way of trade. Otherwise, the New York Knicks may be in need of a point guard if Derrick Rose leaves the team this summer. They are slated to pick 8th in this year’s draft, making New York a likely destination for Dennis Smith Jr.

The NBA Draft takes place on Thursday, June 22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.