FanSided Network 2018 NBA Mock Draft

The Sixers had a few weaknesses exposed in their second-round loss to Boston, with playmkaing (or a lack thereof) being chief among them. Outside of Ben Simmons and T.J. McConnell, nobody on the roster was capable of putting the ball on the floor and creating offense consistently. That needs to change. Ideally, Markelle Fultz returns to form at some point. Until then, however, prioritizing another legitimate playmaker on the perimeter is smart. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fills that void, giving the Sixers the best point guard propsect in the draft outside of Luka Doncic and Trae Young.

A crafty ball handler with excellent feel in the pick-and-roll, Gilgeous-Alexander gives Brett Brown another option to run the offense in the halfcourt. While not an elite 3-point shooter, GIlgeous-Alexander can spot-up proficiently and drill mid-rangers off the bounce, allowing him to spend time on the floor with Simmons (and perhaps even Fultz). Some of the Simmons’ best moments in the playoffs came off the ball. Giving him more opportunities to leverage his athletic gifts as a cutter and in the post could be beneficial.

On top of the offensive benefits, Gilgeous-Alexander is quietly one of the best defensive prospects in this lottery. His 8-foot-8 standing reach is insane for a point guard, giving him the length needed to shut down two positions once his frame fills out. He reads passing lanes well and fights hard on the perimeter, giving the Sixers another high-end defender to put around Embiid. With Mikal Bridges off the board, Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably the best player and the best fit left on the board. He would give the Sixers a solution to some of the most glaring offensive holes while providing plenty of upside on the other side of the ball.

— Christopher Kline

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