NBA Draft 2017: 5 targets for the Philadelphia 76ers

3. Jayson Tatum, F, Duke

In the interest of adding scoring and shooting on the wing, the 76ers could be wise to look the way of former Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum. Throughout his one year in Durham, the forward showed tremendous prowess on the offensive end of the floor, able to attack defenses in any manner that he saw fit with great effectiveness.

Tatum showed that he can fill it up in whatever way he’s asked to. He has solid ball-handling and the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim to try and finish. Additionally, he also showed that he’s able to catch-and-shoot on the perimeter and knock down 3-point attempts with great effectiveness. He’s a weapon on that end that’s ultimately hard for any defense to contain because of the versatility he offers, something that should translate easily to the NBA.

Though it wasn’t always showcased while in college, the blend of size and athleticism with Tatum gives him a great amount of potential as a defender. He needs to further develop his footwork and mental acuity on that end of the floor, but his physical profile suggests he can offer similar versatility as a defender as well.

For Philly, the one drawback with a player like Tatum is that he doesn’t wholly answer their issues when it comes to backcourt play. However, if they believe in his two-way potential and the versatility that he’d bring to the table, it’d be hard to advise the Sixers against bringing in a player with his level of talent.