76ers draft profiles: Isaiah Joe

When looking at the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft for the Sixers, they definitely have some options. With picks 34, 36, 49, and 58 they could consolidate them in a trade package or take a few flyers on players they can develop in Delaware.
A name to keep an eye on around 36 and 49 is Arkansas 6’5 Guard Isaiah Joe. Joe has the skillset to develop into a productive = catch and shoot guard in the NBA.
Check out Josh Green and Desmond Bane’s profiles here:
During his time at Arkansas, Joe was highly known for his perimeter shooting. He finished his college career ranked 7th all-time in 3 pointers made in Arkansas history in only two years. Looking at almost every 3 point related stat, Joe’s stats are impressive and is a clear reason why there’s interest in drafting him at the NBA level.
However there are some reasons for concern. Joe’s perimeter shooting hasn’t been perfect. From 2019 to 2020 his 3 point % went from 41.5% to 34% which is a shockingly large drop off. His attempts rose from 8 to 10.6 but the steep drop off is still concerning.
Of course, when looking at players this deep into the draft, their resumes will almost never be perfect. A positive takeaway is he shot 89% from the line in 2020 (up from 75% in 2019). Joe is definitely still developing but the progress is encouraging.
Joe tended to be a streaky shooter at points throughout his college career. Some nights he would be lights out and others he couldn’t hit a single shot. These games came and went without any correlation. That being said, if Joe can get into a rhythm somewhere in the middle he can find a role in the NBA.
On defense Isaiah Joe isn’t great but he has the length to clog up passing lanes and do his part. With his frame and some drive, he can be molded into an average defender. Delaware has done a fantastic job at molding players into being NBA caliber and I think someone like Isaiah Joe can work out great there to begin his pro career.
When drafted, it’s clear that Isaiah wouldn’t have a role in Philadelphia right away. It would take some time and development until he is ready to be a contributor. When he is ready I would expect Joe to purely be a catch and shoot guy with not much else to his game (for now) on offense.
In the right system, he shouldn’t need to do more and can just focus on what he does best. I’m not sure 36 would be the right time to select Isaiah Joe, but if he’s around at 49 I think it is a good selection for the Sixers. I wouldn’t put him over Tyrell Terry but he is still a good option.
Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports