2018 NBA Mock Draft: If need were all that mattered

This one is fun, the first situation in which our “Need Only” considerations land us upon a sizable reach (though Utah is reportedly interested in Allen at No. 21). The Sixers, purely and simply, need a replacement for both JJ Redick and Marco Belinelli, who were key parts of their run to the second round of the playoffs. Grayson Allen is about as close as you can possibly get to replicating the style and skill set of those two veterans.

Playing Ben Simmons at point guard brings complications to an offense. It requires an extra dose of shooting, not only because of the spacing problems that sprout when the ball is not in Simmons’ hands, but because of his dominance driving to the rim. He needs to have the ball in his hands to manipulate the defense effectively, but what he does with the ball in his hands also requires an offense shaped much like those of LeBron James’ best teams. All shooting everywhere.

So Allen becomes a clear candidate to come in and play right away, if he’s the Sixers’ pick at this spot. He shot 38 percent on over five attempts per game during his four-year college career, and there’s no reason to believe his shooting won’t translate. He can make shots on the move, off the catch or pulling up, and his free-throw indicators are solid as well.

Offensively, you know what you’re getting. Philadelphia knows what they need. Maybe this one actually happens?