Everybody’s attention in the basketball world has turned to the offseason and the NBA Draft with the league in suspension due to the global coronavirus pandemic. We here at Sixers Wire have been highlighting 10 of the more realistic draft options for the Philadelphia 76ers who hold the 22nd pick in the draft and this edition is part 9 of the series.
If you have missed any earlier parts, you can check it out here.
[lawrence-related id=29564,29510,29437]
This edition focuses on a speedy point guard from Alabama who would fill plenty of needs on this team whether it be scoring off the bench, an ability to push the pace, and another capable shooter.
Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama
As mentioned in plenty of other draft posts for the Sixers, they need a competent backup point guard option behind Ben Simmons. The Raul Neto experiment hasn’t been what the team expected and that opens up a need for that spot right now. Lewis Jr. averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 36.6% from deep.
He got to the free-throw line 4.2 times per game and that is an aspect that Philadelphia needs off their bench. They need a guy who can adequately run their offense, but also give the team an offensive option as well. He is not afraid of getting to the basket and his speed can be a difference-maker. Philadelphia plays at a pace of 98.8 which is good for 19th in the league and that is with an athlete like Simmons running things.
Bryan Kalbrosky, our draft expert over at Rookie Wire, has Lewis Jr. going 19th in the draft to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee is playing with the fastest pace (105.4) of any team in the NBA this season. They need players who are capable of playing fast, and there are few, if any, better in this class than Alabama point guard Kira Lewis. His team played at the fastest tempo among all top-100 teams, per KenPom. Lewis also scored 5.1 points per game in transition, according to Synergy, which ranked among the top 20 of all Division I players. Only the Raptors, meanwhile, finish offensive possessions in transition more often than Milwaukee. Lewis could be the point guard of the future for the Bucks, and he could reach new heights playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
That speed can be huge for this team. Neto is not exactly a speedster when he is out there on the floor. When Simmons heads to the bench, the team could throw Lewis Jr. out there and have him run things and the team won’t miss a beat in terms of speed. He can also play in tandem with Simmons as the team intends to use the All-Star point guard more as a roller in the pick-and-roll game.
In terms of his defense, he averaged 1.8 steals per game. He has length out on the perimeter to bother opponents and that can trigger a fastbreak for Philadelphia. There, of course, is a chance that he is not there at 22, but if he is, the Sixers can’t let him slide. [lawrence-related id=29598,29591,29575]