Grading the Sixers Draft Day Transactions
With so much excitement surrounding this off-season, the Sixers wasted no time making moves, below we give grades for each of the new front office’s transactions on draft day.
Al Horford’s Salary Dump
The transaction: Philadelphia trades Al Horford, the No. 34 pick in the 2020 draft, the Sixers’ 2025 first-round pick (top-six protected), and the draft rights to Vasilije Micic to the Thunder for Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson.
Photo: Zach Beeker/NBAE/Getty Images
This trade is not yet official as the teams are waiting on the Thunder finalizing a previous trade involving Danny Green moving from the Lakers.
Bobby Marks of ESPN estimates this trade will save Philadelphia $7.7 million in salary this upcoming season as well as $18 million in luxury tax. The Sixers will also save $42 million over the long term as Danny Green’s $15 million contract expires after the upcoming season.
Considering where Horford’s trade value appeared to be at the end of the season the Sixers front office has done well to only give up one future first-round pick to get off of his contract. That is essentially what this trade boils down to, what did it cost to get Al Horford’s contract out of Philadelphia. Danny Green has been a floor-spacing shooter over the course of his career but he seems to be nearing the end and Terrance Furguson could see some minutes in a bench role but the real value for Philly was the financial savings.
Ben Simmons will is the only current Sixer under contract for 2025 when the first-round pick will be conveyed. Either players like Joel Embiid will re-sign and the Sixers will still be making playoff appearances or the team will be re-building in which case that top 6 pick protection may prove vital.
This trade gives the Sixers financial flexibility to make further moves this off-season and if Green and Furguson can provide some perimeter shooting they will be a much better fit around the team’s two stars. The Sixers did give up assets to move a player out rather than in but this trade is the best outcome they could have hoped for considering their limited leverage.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Selects Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed in the Second Round
The transaction: Philadelphia picks Isaiah Joe at 49 and Paul Reed at 58
Second-round picks rarely turn into valuable players in the NBA. With that being said both players the Sixers drafted in round 2 have skills that could allow them to get on the court.
Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports
Isaiah Joe could be one of the best 3 point shooters in this year’s draft. Joe shot 41.4% from deep during the 2018-19 college season but his shooting percentages dropped last year which could be why he fell so far in the draft. Best case scenario Joe could be similar to what Landry Shamet was for the Sixers.
Paul Reed on the other hand struggles with shooting from any significant range. His jump shot could improve but at this point in his career, his most valuable skill is his interchangeability and playmaking on the defensive end of the court. Reed averaged 10.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game last season for DePaul and could be a draft steal but at pick 58 it is unlikely.
If either one of these two can play at all over the next couple of seasons it would be a big win for the team.
Grade: B+
Sixers Get Gravity Shooting
The transaction: The Sixers send Josh Richardson and the draft rights to Tyler Bey (No. 36 pick) to Dallas for Seth Curry.
Daryl Morey suggested in his post-draft press conference that Seth Curry could be considered the best shooter in the NBA. Considering Seth’s career 3 point percentage of 44.3% is good for second in league history, Morey may have a point.
This trade gives the Sixers more of the shooting they desperately need to surround Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Curry is a ‘gravity’ shooter meaning he drags defenders away from the paint because they can not leave him open to help teammates, this will open up the floor significantly for Simmons and Embiid to operate. Curry may not move as well as J.J. Redick off the ball but he will be an exceptional drive and kick option for Ben Simmons and should prevent some of the double teams Joel Embiid saw in the playoffs last season.
Josh Richardson is a good player but would be a free agent next season if he declines his $11.6 million player option. If Richardson plays well this year he would probably be looking for a raise on that number which would’ve limited the Sixers’ financial flexibility even further. Seth Curry meanwhile has two years remaining at just over $8 million a year.
Richardson is the superior defender of the two but Curry does at least provide effort on that end of the floor and considering Philadelphia will also have Simmons and Matisse Thybulle patrolling the perimeter they should be able to cover for any shortcomings Curry may have.
Grade: A
Sixers Select Tyrese Maxey in the First Round
The transaction: Philadelphia drafts Tyrese Maxey with pick 21 in the first round.
The Sixers had two major needs entering this off-season, perimeter shooting and shot creation off the dribble. Philadelphia addressed the first through trades mentioned above and addressed the second by drafting Tyrese Maxey.
Maxey was a 5-star recruit out of high school and had been projected to be picked somewhere in the lottery. Many analysts were concerned by Maxey’s ability as a primary ball-handler and that could account for his drop to pick 21 but as a secondary option with Ben Simmons on the floor, he may have found the perfect situation.
Photo: Julie Bennett/AP
At Kentucky, Tyrese was forced to play predominantly off-ball when sharing the floor with the Wildcats’ other star guards Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley. Despite most of his offense coming from spot-up jump shots last year, Maxey was more effective in the pick and roll and in transition.
The now-former Wildcat put up 0.93 points per possession in the pick and roll showing nice touch on pull-up jumpers from deep and mid-range as well as some nice-looking floaters in the lane. Maxey did only shoot 29.3% from range at Kentucky but he should get much easier looks with Simmons and Embiid on the floor and his 83.3% free throw percentage is a good sign for possible improvement.
At 6’3” and 200 lbs Tyrese has good size for a guard and has shown good signs defending multiple positions on the ball.
It is rare for late first-rounders to turn into All-Stars but it is also rare for guards from Kentucky to be busts in the NBA. From John Wall and Eric Bledsoe to De’Aaron Fox and Jamaal Murray, John Calipari has had success recruiting guards who translate to good players in the league and Tyrese Maxey could be the next in line.
Grade: A
Philadelphia addressed both needs on draft night and seemingly got good value in every transaction they were involved in.
2020 continues to be one of the most promising off-seasons in recent memory.
Featured Image: Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports
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