With the 2021 NBA Draft just under two weeks away, it is time to start breaking down some Sixers prospects, starting with Florida guard Tre Mann. Before we disect Mann himself, let’s talk about the Sixers position in the draft. Finishing with the number one overall seed netted Philly the 28th overall pick in this years draft. While no players at that range are franchise altering, there are some intriguing prospects, especially Tre Mann.

Tre Mann is a 6’4, 177-pound shooting guard coming off his second season with the University of Florida. In his final year with the Gators Mann averaged 16 points with impressive shooting splits from three (40-percent) and the stripe (82.3-percent). Tre also started all 24 games for the Gators this season, with no injury concerns. Mann is currently listed as the ninth best point guard in the class, but I believe he’d fit the Sixers scheme beautifully at shooting guard.

There are a couple key elements to what makes Mann’s game exciting. For starters, Tre Mann has already shown to have a great jump shot, especially from deep. For a team that could easily lose two of their best shooters in Danny Green and Furkan Korkmaz to free agency due to cap restraints, the Sixers desperately need help from beyond once again. Tre Mann could be that answer.

What really takes his shooting strength over the top and makes him such a tantilizing prospect for the NBA is his ability to shoot off the dribble. In fact, Tre Mann seems to be even more comfortable shooting off the dribble than in catch-and-shoot situations. Even coming off screens away from the ball Tre Mann punishes lazy defenders that try and cut under screens with a simple one dribble pull-up. While there are certainly a ton of prospects in this year’s draft with great shooting upside, few have shown the unique ability to get shots up from deep off the dribble like Mann.

With good handles and great shooting off the dribble, Tre Mann also possesses a unique talent of scoring when set offenses are busted with the shot clock nearly expiring. Florida’s offense heavily relied on getting the ball in Mann’s hands in isolation situations where he could punish defenders with his range off the dribble. Mann’s handles and vicious step back to his left routinely got him open looks in one-on-one situations, something few players this low on draft boards can do.

Another piece to Mann’s game that is really exciting for Sixers fans is his playmaking ability off ball screens. Tre Mann rountinely punished defenders who tried to slip under ball screens with his deep range. Pair that with an MVP-caliber center like Joel Embiid and defenses will have a very hard time stopping that offensive set. If a defender sneaks under the screen Mann gets a wide open look from three, and fighting over the screen allows Joel Embiid to slip to the basket with ease where he is nearly unstoppable. Thankfully Mann likes to involve the roller whenever teams begin to double him off pick-and-roll.

But the true cherry on top? Tre Mann has even developed a reliable floater he uses when given space in the middle of the court. I can already recall a certain newer member of the Sixers organization who dazzled the Philadelphia sports fandom with his own tear-drop floater. While outside and mid-range shooting is his strong suit, it is nice to see Mann is working on a shot he can go to once defenses try and shut down his jumper.

Now, for all his strengths Tre Mann does have his fair share of weaknesses. Before I break those down, I want to make sure that everyone knows Mann played as point-guard for Florida which forced him to be a primary creator on offense. Mann’s weaknesses with ball carrying and turnovers stem from situations where he has to facilitate for others. Mann routinely got pick-pocketed when hesitating and dribbling in cluttered spaces trying to get the Gator offense going. Which is why I believe he is much better suited as a shooting guard who gets the ball in isolation situations.

Past that Mann struggled with on-ball defending. He routinely has trouble getting his chest on drivers, making it difficult to disrupt his man when driving to the basket. Mann’s not great wingspan also means he has trouble disrupting shooters on the perimeter. If Mann is going to succeed at the higher level, he needs to work on his defensive skill set.

All in all, Tre Mann’s unique skillset shooting the ball off-the-dribble and in isolation situations makes him a great candidate at pick 28. While Mann has played most of his ball at the point guard position, I believe his weaknesses can be minimized and strengths bolstered at the shooting guard position for Philly. With many dark clouds surrounding the future of the Sixers roster for next season, who knows what Daryl Morey’s strategy is going into draft night. One thing is for sure, picking Mann at 28 would be another good decision from the President of Basketball Operations.

Mandatory Credit: Mark Humphrey.