draft

Top 5 NBA draft prospects for Philadelphia 76ers with 16th overall pick

The Philadelphia 76ers will make their highest draft pick since 2018 as the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft begins on Wednesday.

The 76ers hold the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. It’s their highest selection since 2018 when they managed to (incorrectly) alter the course of the organization by swapping Mikal Bridges for Zhaire Smith.

Here is my official Top 5 draft prospects that the 76ers should take at 16, assuming they keep the pick. 

BetMGM Sportsbook: Bet $5, Get $150 Instantly

  • Sign up for a new BetMGM Sportsbook Account
  • Make Your First Deposit
  • Bet $5+ On Any Sport
  • Receive $150 In Bonus Bets Instantly

Claim your free $150 now >>

Honorable draft mentions for 76ers with 16th overall pick

Yves Missi, a 7′ 0, 230-pound center, impressed during his first year at Baylor with his abilities as a rim runner and shot-blocking big, similar to Atlanta’s Clint Capela. He achieved per-game averages of 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, with a 62.2% true-shooting percentage.

The 76ers hosted a pre-draft workout with Missi, who is a quality prospect but was only an honorable mention. This was because the 76ers are seeking a reserve center with more experience and reliable postseason contributions.

Kyshawn George, a 6’8″ and 210-pound forward, completed his freshman season at Miami and is heading into the NBA draft. He is considered a project-based selection with potential as a point-forward, known for his versatile facilitating skills and multi-level scoring similar to veteran Joe Ingles.

George’s productivity was subpar, as he only averaged 7.6 points and 2.2 assists per game with a 58.2% true-shooting percentage while starting in 16 of his 31 games with the Hurricanes.

Devin Carter: 6’3″ combo guard, finished junior season at Providence with per-game averages of 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, on 59.7% true-shooting.

Carter has strong potential as a two-way guard, drawing comparisons to Boston’s Derrick White. He is an honorable mention on the list due to a reported promise from a lottery team to select him with their pick. More details can be found at Hoopshype.

Top five draft prospects for 76ers with 16th overall pick

Number Five: Isaiah Collier

Isaiah Collier, a 6’ 4, 205-pound point guard, is entering the draft after a successful freshman season at USC, where he averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 assists per game with a 56.7% true shooting percentage. He is projected to be selected in the mid-first round of the NBA draft.

Collier’s intrigue stems from his remarkable ability to attack the rim off the bounce, utilizing his broad physical frame to power through isolation defenders with his explosive first step and finish at the basket, while also excelling at drawing contact and averaging nearly six free throws per game with USC.

Collier is effective at running the fast break with his ability to beat defenders in the open floor. Although passing in transition is not his strongest skillset, he has displayed glimpses of instinctive passing, commanding defenders with penetration and creating open looks for cutters.

Defensively, Collier has loads of potential with his frame that could mold him into a great perimeter defender and is already gifted at reading passing lanes and picking off passes to initiate a fast break that he runs so well. 

Collier is undoubtedly a talented isolation scorer/slasher, but his subpar perimeter shooting (33.8% from three this past season) and inability to make consistent playmaking reads in half-court situations rank him at fifth due to him being rather one-dimensional compared to the other guards above him.

Still, it’s worth noting that Collier participated in a pre-draft workout with the 76ers this past Friday via PHLY Sports’ Kyle Neubeck. 

Number Four: Jared McCain

Infamously known for his TikToks, 6’3″, 205-pound combo guard Jared McCain is headed into the draft after a successful freshman season with Duke, where he was a key contributor to the Blue Devils’ March Madness run that resulted in them falling to NC State in the Elite 8 round.

McCain averaged 14.3 points per game and 5.0 boards per game on a surreal 41.4% from beyond the arc (5.8 nightly three-point attempts) and an efficient 61.1% true-shooting. The Duke guard is expected to have his name called right at the end of the lottery or very early in the mid-first round via NBA Draft Net. 

McCain’s bread and butter is his perimeter shooting as he can get it done both off the dribble and spotting-up/curling off of pin-down screens. That alone should spark the 76ers’ interest, but McCain is also a pesky on-ball defender, despite his size, and is capable of sniping passing lanes. 

McCain’s downside is his underdeveloped playmaking and his lack of athleticism, which has prevented him from forming a consistent inside game, but instead forces him to settle for pull-up jumpers off the point-of-attack. That won’t fly against NBA-level defenses but still, McCain’s high volume, but efficient perimeter shooting and sturdy man defense draws comparisons to former 76er Seth Curry, with added defensive capabilities. 

Number Three: Terrence Shannon Jr.

Assuming Terrence Shannon Jr. is innocent of the rape allegations, the 6’7″ guard, who weighs 225 pounds, finished his senior year at Illinois with impressive per-game averages of 23 points and 4 rebounds on an elite 62.2% true shooting, making him an intriguing prospect for the 76ers.

NBA Draft Net projects Shannon Jr. to be chosen in the late lottery or near the end of the first round. Shannon Jr. is an exceptionally athletic three-level scorer, known for his rapid slashing and finishing in the paint while adeptly drawing contact from defenders, as evidenced by his high average of 8.6 foul shots per game in the 2023-2024 season.

Shannon Jr. is a strong point-of-attack defender with a lengthy wingspan, making him effective on the perimeter. The 76ers have not had a three-level scoring wing like him since the Julius Erving era, making him a compelling option for the team’s 16th pick.

Shannon Jr. is akin to Isaiah Collier with a score-first approach and limited playmaking skills, averaging only 2.3 assists in his senior year. Despite this, his athleticism and driving ability provide the potential for him to evolve into an elite guard, with Nick Nurse seen as the ideal coach to help him reach that level.

Number Two: Carlton “Bub” Carrington

Pittsburgh’s freshman combo guard Carlton Carrington, at 6’ 5 and 195 pounds, is a promising 18-year-old prospect with high potential. He recorded 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game last season, but his true shooting percentage was relatively low at 53%.

Carrington is considered a promising all-around guard who displays incredible playmaking/passing instincts for his age, similar to Boston’s Jrue Holiday.

The freshman guard showcased an ability to command an offense as a floor general and manipulate pick-and-roll coverages to create easy offense for the roll-man and weak-side shooters/cutters.

Carrington also had no issue creating offense for himself, especially in one-on-one scenarios and off of ball-screens where he utilizes quick dribble penetration to find his spots outside the paint and drill pull-up jumpers. On the defensive end, Carrington is a skilled on-ball defender with quality lateral movement that deterred dribble penetration.

However, Carrington will have to work on attacking the rim to unleash his full potential as a dynamic guard. He somewhat lacks explosiveness and speed when getting to the paint, which could be a product of his size. Carrington was fairly inefficient in his freshman season as well, but at just 18 years old, both of these issues can be resolved with proper development. 

Carrington is projected to be a lottery pick via NBA Draft Net, but there’s a chance he could slip out of the lottery according to various mock drafts. 

Number One: Tristan Da Silva

Tristan Da Silva, a 6’ 9, 215-pound senior forward from Colorado, is considered one of the most NBA-ready prospects in the draft. His successful 2023-2024 season saw him average 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, with impressive shooting percentages.

Da Silva, a versatile player, has the skills to make an impact on and off the ball. His ability to cut back-door and shoot spot-up makes him an ideal fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Additionally, he excels as a ball-handler, finishing at the rim and creating opportunities for weak-side shooters with his rim gravity.

Da Silva is a strong defender with a long wingspan, making him intimidating at the point of attack. He is successful at switching off ball screens and can defend guards and forwards. Additionally, he has a good instinct for providing weak side help and defending drives in the paint.

Da Silva’s game is generally strong, but he needs to improve his ability to create shots outside the paint and move without the ball consistently. However, his two-way talent and four-year experience suggest he could contribute immediately to the 76ers, much like Jaime Jaquez Jr. did for the Miami Heat.

Mandatory Credit: (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Freshman journalism major at Temple University, NBA/76ers contributor for The Liberty Line, and owner of Sixercountry on Instagram, which has over 40,000 followers. I am aspiring to be a credentialed 76ers reporter and top NBA personality.

Read More

Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Back To Top

Discover more from The Liberty Line

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading