2018 NBA Mock Draft: Luka Doncic could accelerate the Hawks’ rebuild
16. player. 93. . G. Kentucky. Hamidou Diallo
When the Sixers traded Nik Stauskas early this season, it quietly marked the departure of yet another Philadelphia shooter. The team simply needs more of them after losing Sergio Rodriguez and Ersan Ilyasova in the offseason and now Stauskas. Diallo is the rare shooting prospect with athletic upside.
The problem for Diallo has been shot selection, and he’s currently in the middle of a yucky 3-12 slump and coming off a Kentucky loss to South Carolina. However, the redshirt freshman is shooting 36 percent from 3 overall and taking a huge role in the Wildcats’ offense. His 24.5 usage rate is up there with the better offensive players in college basketball, which means Diallo is getting plenty of opportunities from which to grow as a player.
In Philadelphia, JJ Redick is on a one-year deal with an uncertain future, and the Sixers are going to get more expensive soon. Diallo gives them support at a position of need, much like Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has done this season. He also eventually could move into a secondary ball-handler role next to Ben Simmons.