Philadelphia 76ers: Writing’s On Wall For Isaiah Canaan In Crowded PG Rotation

March 24, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) dribbles the basketball against Sacramento Kings guard Nik Stauskas (10) during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

If the offseason was any indication, the Philadelphia 76ers are stocking up on possible point guard options heading into the 2015-16 season. Lead guard was a detriment to the starting lineup last season and rightfully so, general manager Sam Hinkie addressed the position, giving head coach Brett Brown a plethora of options.

It’s the most the third-year coach can ask for as he was forced to start, count it, seven different players at point guard in the team’s second rebuilding season.

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Two of them remain, if you count combo guard Tony Wroten as such, one is in a precarious situation. Isaiah Canaan‘s Sixers’ future remains shrouded in uncertainty. The Murray State product came over via Houston in the K.J. McDaniels deal at the trade deadline and had an avid supporter in Hinkie:

"“I suspect he’ll play quite well,” Hinkie said. “I don’t want to oversell him after trading our starting point guard. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him. He’s an interesting prospect and he’s anything but a throw-in. He’s a player we chased in the draft with a similar zeal we had in chasing other players.”"

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It’s easy to pull for Canaan. He helped transform Murray State into a mid-major powerhouse during his four collegiate years. Small school dynamos are enticing commodities. His appeal also was apparent delving into his stats. A career 41.9 percent three-point ace who averaged 21.9 points a game his senior year, Hinkie’s pursuit of Canaan was warranted and palpable.

The opportunity to shine as a second-round rotational piece on a contender is a rare occurrence, but on the Sixers, Canaan was given the keys to jump start the offense as a lead guard. If anything, the offense stalled like a naive shift driver hopping into a Lamborghini.

Few teams clamor for ball-dominant playmakers who fail to set up teammates and create off the dribble. Canaan displayed the detrimental tendencies early in his starting stint, which happened to phase out his capabilities as a spot-up shooter.

The 6’0″, 188-pound guard converted on 38.8 percent of his looks from deep in his first 10 starts, but his backup quietly was outplaying the younger, higher-upside talent. Ish Smith‘s craftiness carried more weight than Canaan’s shooting prowess.

Nerlens Noel called Smith “the first true point guard I’ve ever really played with.” Not a ringing endorsement for Canaan, who shared point guard duties late in the season with the journeyman. It’s failing to capitalize on a given opportunity and then getting outplayed by a career backup that’s worrisome for Canaan’s future outlook.

Canaan now has competition for the starting gig against a more touted guard in Wroten, who is seemingly locked into the starting point guard position to open the year. But that’s not his primary burden to open the season. It’s convincing Brown for playing time over incumbents like Pierre Jackson and Scottie Wilbekin, who have a fresh slate entering the season.

Jackson gives Philadelphia a player with tendencies and abilities similar to Canaan and is a popular addition after missing last season with a ruptured Achilles:

Pierre Jackson can flat out ball
— Matt McGinty (@matt_mcginty) July 17, 2015

With two years left on his team-friendly contract, Canaan’s time to lock on to a prominent role with the team is paramount to occur this season.

It’s getting back to winning the one-on-one battles (27.8 percent score frequency), knocking down spot up jumpers (35.3 percent), and formulating positive and effective looks for teammates (3.1 assists per game, 8.0 points created by assists per game) that will significantly boost Canaan’s stock.

The points per game (12.6) won’t and hasn’t stood out in a rotation whose premise has recently been efficiency and fluidity. Canaan doesn’t have to completely shed his playing style, just focus on what the team needs at the point and when to effectively pick his spots as a shoot first lead guard.

Canaan isn’t the erratic type whose me-first style and attitude derail offensive and rotational stability. Last year was the product of a new environment with few offensively gifted players surrounding him. The Sixers might have drafted the most suitable player to fit Canaan’s needs in Jahlil Okafor.

https://twitter.com/SiP03/status/614221185073610752

Okafor’s magnetic-like ability to draw in double teams plays favorably in Canaan’s catch-and-shoot tendencies as a first instinct move. Canaan led all Philadelphia point guards in catch-and-shoot percentage from deep (33.3 percent) and shooting percentage on wide open shots (42.9 percent).

The numbers delve into Canaan’s positive traits, but also reflect the impact and added tick of production Caanan could have this season as a floor spacer. It’s the early stages of what is looking to be another transition year for Philadelphia that could decide who receives a share of the backup point guard minutes.

Canaan needs to ace this test at the start. Jackson and Wilbekin are right behind him, hungry for their opportunity.

All stats are from espn.com and nba.com player and team tracking technology.

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