93. THE PICKS SWAPPED! Do yourself a favor and praise Sam Hinkie. Now, Ball and Fultz seem to be the consensus top-two prospects, so No. 3 with Philadelphia is where things get interesting. The team is in dire need of backcourt scoring and a point guard, but plans on letting Ben Simmons run the show.
<p>Therefore, the best complements to Simmons are Malik Monk and Frank Ntilikina. Reaching for either player at No. 3 would be too high, though. Philadelphia could trade back, pick up assets and get that perfect guard. If they stand pat, they’re likely to have to choose best player available over fit.</p>
<p>When it comes to this debate, Philadelphia’s roster is still very unknown. Simmons hasn’t played a game and Joel Embiid has yet to play more than 31 games in one season. Yes it would make sense to find a 2017 draft pick that fit with those players, but best player available also gives the Sixers an insurance policy on their injured duo. That’s where Josh Jackson comes in. Where other point guards and Jayson Tatum are too ball dominant, Jackson is both the best fit of the remaining prospects and the best player available.</p>
<p>Jackson does not need the ball and if he figures out his jump shot, we’re looking at a two-way All-Star similar to Andre Iguodala. Even if Jackson stays a non-shooter, he provides secondary playmaking, tremendous potential on defense, an electric motor and a solid cutter. Jackson allows the Sixers to both swing for the fences and commit to a prospect that would fit well between Embiid and Simmons if everything goes right. At the very least, who exactly is scoring on a Jackson-Embiid-Simmons-Robert Covington defense?</p>. SG/SF. Kansas. Josh Jackson. 3. player