Here are our player scouting reports and 2015-16 projections for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Projected starters
Isaiah Canaan
Position: Guard
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Shoot-first point guard with 3-point range
+ Played largely off the ball in Houston. Poor distributor
+ Undersized. Not a committed defender
Analysis
After dealing starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams at the trade deadline, the Sixers acquired the most biblical name in the NBA from the Houston Rockets as a replacement. Canaan started 12 of the 22 games he played in Philadelphia, averaging 17.6 points and 4.4 assists per 36 minutes, and enters training camp in position to retain the starting job.
In many ways, Canaan is Carter-Williams' negative image. His best NBA skill is shooting the 3, frequently off the dribble when defenders lay off him. Canaan made 37 percent of his tries beyond the arc, taking an incredible 7.4 per game with the 76ers -- a rate that would have tied Wesley Matthews for the league's second-highest mark over the full season. That's not the worst idea, since Canaan has shot just 41.5 percent on 2-point attempts in the NBA. He's made less than half of his attempts inside 3 feet, per Basketball-Reference.com, and has to rely on floaters to score over bigger defenders. Ideally, Canaan would drive with an eye toward setting up teammates, but his court vision is lacking and he looks to score rather than pass. As a result, Canaan may ultimately be limited to a reserve role.
Canaan is also Carter-Williams' opposite in body type. He's short for his position at a listed 6-foot and squatty where Carter-Williams is lanky. Canaan's rebound and steal rates have both been below average for a point guard, and he hasn't shown commitment to the defensive end.
Hollis Thompson
Position: Forward
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Limited 3-and-D role player whose skills would be better served on a stronger team
+ Rarely handles the ball within half-court offense. Spends most of his time in the corners
+ Disciplined defender. Lacks athleticism to stop high-scoring wings
Analysis
Of the 23 players who suited up for the 76ers in 2013-14, Hollis Thompson is one of just two left on the team. (Tony Wroten is the other; Nerlens Noel was on the roster that season but did not play.) Thompson's combination of role-player skills and bargain contract (he's signed for the minimum through next season) are likely to keep him around.
A brutal upper respiratory infection just before New Year's cost Thompson 11 games and caused him to lose 20 pounds. Back healthy after the All-Star break and comfortable with a tweak to speed up his shooting motion, Thompson made 45.8 percent of his 3s in the second half. That's important because Thompson took more than half his shots beyond the arc. He's most comfortable spotting up in the corners and shouldn't be asked to create his own offense. Per SportVU tracking on NBA.com/Stats, Thompson's effective field-goal percentage dropped from 57.8 percent to 42.9 percent when he took at least one dribble.
With the departure of veteran Luc Mbah a Moute, Thompson is probably Philadelphia's best individual wing defender. A lanky 6-foot-8, Thompson has good size for a shooting guard, though he's a bit on the slight side to defend bigger small forwards. He accepts the challenge defensively and can be pesky, blocking the occasional shot. However, Thompson is a poor defensive rebounder.
Robert Covington
Position: Forward
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Big, sharpshooting scorer with the ability to play either forward spot
+ Aggressive player. Must improve his ability to finish on the drive
+ Below-average defensive rebounder for a combo forward. Size an asset defending small forwards
Analysis
Part of the Sixers' rationale for churning through the last spots on their roster is the attempt to find the next Danny Green or Patrick Beverley. Consider Robert Covington the closest they've come thus far. After being waived by the Houston Rockets at the end of training camp, Covington signed a four-year, $4 million contract and immediately became one of Philadelphia's best players. Signed through age 27, Covington has one of the league's most team-friendly contracts.
Don't be fooled by Covington's 39.6 percent shooting from the field: He's not just a volume scorer putting up shots on a bad team. Covington's true shooting percentage was better than league average because he took nearly 60 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, making them at a solid 37.4 percent clip. When the jumper wasn't falling, Covington liked to score off the dribble, and he's not yet as effective there. He made just 26 percent of his 2-point attempts beyond 3 feet, the third-worst mark among players with at least 100 such attempts per Basketball-Reference.com.
Covington also held his own defensively, manning both forward spots. His defensive rebounding is a plus as a small forward and a liability when he slides to power forward. The same is true with Covington's size -- he measured 6-foot-7 and a half in shoes at the NBA draft combine but proved quick enough to keep up with wings. Covington has long excelled at generating steals.
Nerlens Noel
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Athletic big man who can protect the rim and is agile enough to defend on the perimeter
+ Coming back from ACL surgery, grew more comfortable and confident on offense as season went on
+ Finishes above the rim. Middling outside shooter. Likes to face up slower defenders
Analysis
If perhaps not the superstar the Sixers want to build around, Nerlens Noel demonstrated plenty of potential during his delayed rookie season to suggest he'll be a valuable player for years to come. Noel, who turned 21 in April, is already one of the league's better defenders and showed growth on offense during the course of the season.
When Noel made his NBA debut, it was more than 20 months after tearing his ACL during his last competitive game while at Kentucky. Rust was inevitably evident early in the season, as Noel struggled to finish anything but dunks. He shot just 57.6 percent inside 3 feet through December, per Basketball-Reference.com, before improving to 70 percent the remainder of the season. Noel also got more comfortable facing up slower defenders and beating them off the dribble to try to get to the rim. His jumper remains a work in progress. Noel shot 29.1 percent beyond 3 feet, and must improve his accuracy to keep defenders from sagging to Jahlil Okafor in the post. On the plus side, Noel is already a capable entry passer from the high post.
Concerns about Noel playing with Okafor defensively are probably overstated. He spent much of last season playing alongside 7-footer Henry Sims, and Philadelphia defended better with Noel at power forward than center, per NBA.com/Stats. As good as Noel is protecting the rim -- SportVU tracking ranked him in the top 10 in shooting percentage allowed within 5 feet -- he's also mobile enough to defend out on the perimeter so long as he stays close to dangerous shooters. Even more than his shot blocking, what sets Noel apart statistically is his high steal rate. His 2.4 steals per 36 minutes after the All-Star break would have ranked him fourth among players with at least 1,000 minutes.
Jahlil Okafor
Position: Center
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Throwback post scorer with polished footwork and a variety of counter-moves
+ Good touch around the basket. Willing passer. Surprisingly poor free throw shooter
+ Half-hearted defender. Must improve defensive footwork dealing with pick-and-roll
Analysis
The consensus top freshman in the country, Jahlil Okafor led Duke to the national championship before declaring for the draft yet slipped to the third pick. Okafor got surpassed by fellow freshmen Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell because of their potential and concerns that his traditional game is better suited to college hoops than an evolving NBA.
To some extent, such worries are surely overstated. There's always a place for high-percentage post scorers with Okafor's ability and willingness to pass out of double teams. The question is in part whether Okafor will be a high-percentage post scorer. He certainly was in college, making 66.4 percent of his 2-point attempts. But Okafor struggled to generate the same looks using his well-honed post moves -- almost exclusively right-handed -- in NBA summer league action, shooting just 44 percent from the field. That suggests there could be an adjustment period as Okafor learns to deal with bigger, longer opponents capable of blocking his shot. Okafor will have to shoot a high percentage from the field to be efficient, since he does tend to turn the ball over frequently and barely made half his free throws at Duke. Okafor's shot tends to flatten out from distance, robbing him of his natural soft touch.
The larger questions about Okafor center around the defensive end. He's a below-average shot blocker for a center who often tends to arrive about a half-step later than he needs to be in help position. Okafor was also challenged by pick-and-roll defense, one reason Mike Krzyzewski took the unusual step of playing regular zone defense last season. As a pro, Okafor must improve his conditioning and spend as much energy on defense as he does battling for post position.
Reserves
Kendall Marshall
Position: Guard
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Pass-first point guard who had developed 3-point range as a set shooter before suffering torn ACL
+ Good court vision. Gets more joy out of setting up a teammate than scoring himself
+ Poor lateral quickness. Could become a major defensive liability after injury
Analysis
Just as Kendall Marshall was settling into a regular role on a strong Milwaukee Bucks second unit, he tore the ACL in his right knee in mid-January. After being included in a deadline deal back to the Phoenix Suns, who originally drafted him in 2012, Marshall was waived since his contract was up at season's end. In September, Philadelphia signed him to a four-year contract worth $8 million that is only guaranteed this season.
The 76ers' Marshall plan could include him challenging for starting minutes at the point when healthy. His skill set is a good fit for what the Sixers need from the position offensively. He's a fine, creative passer who loves to play in transition and averaged an excellent 11.0 assists per 36 minutes playing for Mike D'Antoni in 2013-14. Marshall elevated his game by developing the ability to make a set-shot 3 when left open. He's made 39.7 percent of his 3s the last two seasons, good enough to keep defenders honest when Marshall is entering the ball to Jahlil Okafor. The biggest downside to Marshall's offensive game is his proneness to turnovers; he's coughed the ball up on a quarter of the plays he's used during his career to date.
Besides shooting, Marshall has also had to overcome his poor lateral quickness. He's always had a tough time containing the ball on the perimeter, and if his ACL tear cost him any athleticism, Marshall didn't have much to spare. The possibility that Marshall is now a defensive liability is surely part of the reason Philadelphia protected itself with non-guarantees in his future salaries.
Nik Stauskas
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Lottery pick suffered crisis of confidence during ineffective rookie season with Sacramento Kings
+ College sharpshooter was unable to shoot accurately from 3-point range, making it tough to keep him on the court
+ Was target for opposing offenses as soon as he checked in. Slow-footed and weak defensively
Analysis
As soon as Nik Stauskas entered the game during his preseason debut, the Toronto Raptors went right at him with a series of screens. Stauskas never showed enough resistance to change that reputation, and his difficulty on defense bled over to the other end as his confidence suffered. Add in a chaotic situation in the locker room and Stauskas' rookie season was a painful one. He's seeking a fresh start -- possibly as his new alter ago "Sauce Castillo" -- after an offseason trade to the 76ers.
A Stauskas turnaround starts with making shots. His lights-out shooting at Michigan -- 44.1 percent beyond the arc -- was the key reason Sacramento made Stauskas a lottery pick. That dropped to 32.2 percent as a rookie, and while the longer line and better defense were factors, confidence is the best explanation for how Stauskas shot just 33.3 percent on 3s marked as "open" (closest defender between 4-6 feet), according to by SportVU tracking. He has to do better because he contributes little else offensively. Eventually, Stauskas could be dangerous passing out of situations where the defense overcommits, but he has to make shots to draw that kind of attention.
Stauskas never stood a chance defensively. Between bigger opponents posting him up and teams running him through screens, Stauskas' slight frame got beat up. Adding strength, something Stauskas did between his freshman and sophomore years at Michigan as part of his breakthrough as an NBA prospect, is imperative. Stauskas also has to settle in on defense. He was always playing on his heels, worried about what might go wrong next.
Tony Wroten
Position: Guard
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Talented, erratic, shoot-first shooting guard coming back from ACL surgery
+ Terrible outside shooter. Good at getting to rim but below-average as finisher. Improved playmaking
+ High steal rate because of willingness to take chances on defense. Can defend either guard spot
Analysis
During the first half of his third season, Tony Wroten made necessary progress toward converting his athletic potential into performance. Including 15 starts at point guard in place of the injured Michael Carter-Williams, Wroten averaged 20.4 points and 6.3 assists per 36 minutes. Now the question is whether Wroten can maintain that improvement after missing the last three months of the season following surgery to repair his ACL. He'll need to with more competition at point guard.
Wroten's ability to score has never been in question. He's difficult to contain off the dribble and can create shots for himself and others almost effortlessly. The challenge has been scoring efficiently. More than half of Wroten's shots came within three feet, per Basketball-Reference.com, but he made just 55.5 percent of them in part because he can't finish with his right hand. And while Wroten improved marginally as a 3-point shooter, his 26.1 percent accuracy doesn't justify the 5.7 attempts he averaged per 36 minutes. On the plus side, Wroten did a much better job of finding teammates as a point guard, averaging 6.3 assists in his starts. But Wroten's predilection for risky passes also resulted in 4.5 turnovers per 36 minutes -- the league's third-highest mark.
Perhaps Wroten's real issue is defense. ESPN's real plus-minus rated him in the league's bottom 10 in defensive impact last season. While Wroten's steal rate (a career-high 2.7 percent) was excellent and his size allows him to match up with both point guards and shooting guards, he tends to take bad gambles and get out of position, hurting his team.
JaKarr Sampson
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Athletic wing in search of a way to contribute offensively
+ Non-shooter. Sixers tried him as a point guard with mixed results
+ Showed promise defensively, particularly against smaller opponents
Analysis
Undrafted rookie JaKarr Sampson stuck with Philadelphia and played more than a thousand minutes, starting 32 games. The Sixers are clearly enamored of Sampson's tools. He's an excellent athlete with good size for a wing -- he's listed at 6-foot-9 with a wingspan measured at 7-feet. Now Sampson just needs to find a way to contribute on offense.
During two years at St. John's, Sampson went 1-of-13 from 3-point range. Philadelphia still gave him the green light beyond the arc, and Sampson shot 24.4 percent, the league's fifth-lowest mark among players with at least 100 attempts. He didn't show much ability as a cutter, so to make some use of him the Sixers tried him at point guard. Surprisingly, their offense actually improved, though largely due to offensive rebounding rather than Sampson setting up his teammates. His assist rate was only average for a small forward.
Defensively, Sampson's tools are ahead of his performance at this point. He's a bit too active defensively to serve as a stopper against elite wings who demand his attention at all times. Sampson's strength was matching up with point guards, which allows him to use his wingspan to block their vision and make life difficult. Still, the 76ers allowed more points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, per NBA.com/Stats.
Jerami Grant
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Undersized power forward who was expected to convert to the wing in the NBA
+ Showed unexpected competence from 3-point range. Surprisingly poor finisher
+ Long arms make him a dangerous weak-side shot blocker. Weak defensive rebounder
Analysis
While now-departed K.J. McDaniels got all the attention thanks to his decision to take a one-year contract, there's a case to be made that Jerami Grant was the best Philadelphia second-round pick as a rookie. Grant averaged 20-plus minutes per game and showed the potential to be a useful role player.
Grant slipped on draft night because teams expected he would have to convert to small forward in the NBA. A skinny 6-foot-8, Grant seemed too small to play inside. The Sixers tried him there anyway, and remarkably they were outscored by just 3.6 points per 100 possessions with Grant at power forward, according to NBA.com/Stats -- as compared to minus-13.0 with Grant at small forward. His long arms (measured at more than 7-foot-2) at the NBA draft combine allow Grant to make it work. As poor as he was on the glass, posting a below-average defensive rebound rate for a small forward, Grant was a major shot-blocking presence, swatting eight shots in a January game. His 4.0 percent block rate was above average for a center.
After making just six 3-pointers in two years at Syracuse, Grant made 49 at a respectable 31.4 percent clip. He made 35.6 percent of his corner 3 attempts, per NBA.com/Stats. As a power forward, Grant can also face up slower defenders and beat them off the dribble. However, he struggled to convert against bigger opponents in the paint, shooting just 54.0 percent inside three feet, according to Basketball-Reference.com. That will have to improve.
Richaun Holmes
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Shot-blocking post player with the ability to step away from the basket
+ Occasional threat from college 3-point line. More comfortable just inside NBA line for now
+ Athletic enough to defend power forwards and still contribute as rim protector
Analysis
Of the Sixers' five choices in this year's second round, only 37th pick Richaun Holmes earned a guaranteed contract. The Bowling Green product, aka Rich Holmes Quan, was a late riser to the point where he was considered a possible choice late in the first round. Before suffering a fractured elbow at the Utah Jazz Summer League, Holmes showed he can complement Philadelphia's other young big men.
During his summer action, Holmes played primarily as a stretch four. He shot 35.3 percent on college 3s, making 18 as a senior, and looks more comfortable at this point from that 20-foot range. He went 3-of-13 (23.1 percent) from the NBA line over the summer. Expect the Sixers to work on stretching Holmes out, which would make him a good partner for Jahlil Okafor in the frontcourt.
Holmes also fits well next to Okafor because of his ability to protect the rim. He led the MAC in blocks per game each of the past two seasons and is good enough as a shot blocker to play center. At shorter than 6-foot-10, Holmes is more likely to settle in as a power forward. He should have the athletic ability to handle most matchups on the perimeter, and his rebounding will not be a weakness playing the four.
Carl Landry
Position: Forward
Experience: 8 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Undersized big man with an effective midrange game
+ Scores efficiently despite reliance on long 2-pointers. Finishes well over bigger defenders
+ Weak rebounder and defender. Ineffective protecting the rim
Analysis
Two years after signing Carl Landry to a four-year, $26 million contract, the Sacramento Kings shed his salary to the Sixers so they could sign new free agents because time is a flat circle. After missing much of his first season in Sacramento due to injuries, Landry was healthy in 2014-15 but played just 17.0 minutes per game, his lowest average in a full season since he was a rookie.
Landry remains a useful offensive player because of his outside touch. He shot 41.5 percent on 2-pointers beyond 16 feet, per Basketball-Reference.com, getting those opportunities both out of pick-and-pops and isolation plays. Despite the inefficient diet of shots, Landry still scores with an above-average true shooting percentage because he's great at the free-throw line (82 percent last season) and a high-percentage finisher (70 percent inside three feet) near the basket.
Defensive shortcomings limited Landry's minutes with the Kings. He's never been even average on defense, and the injuries he battled in 2013-14 took a toll on Landry's athleticism. Undersized for a power forward at a listed 6-foot-9, Landry can't affect shots around the rim and was also poor on the defensive glass. At 32, that process is unlikely to reverse itself and Landry will likely be a high-priced reserve the rest of his contract.
Furkan Aldemir
Position: Center
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Awkward Turkish big man who provides energy and hustle
+ Unskilled offensive player. Good finisher. Attempting to add 3-point range
+ Excellent offensive rebounder. Solid on the defensive glass as well. Can block a shot
Analysis
Turns out "Furkan Aldemir" is Turkish for "Lou Amundson." The Sixers brought over the 2012 second-round draft pick in December, signing him to a four-year contract that is non-guaranteed in 2016-17 and 2017-18. Aldemir supplied energy and rebounding off the bench but little potential beyond that.
One way Aldemir could increase his ceiling is by adding 3-point range. After going 0-for-5 beyond the arc in his rookie season, Aldemir made three in seven attempts during the Utah Jazz Summer League. Given how poorly Aldemir shoots free throws (48.1 percent last season, albeit on just 27 attempts; his European track record is slightly better), it would be surprising if he became a credible outside shooter. More likely, his value on offense will continue to be generating second chances. His 14.9 percent offensive rebound rate ranked sixth among players with at least 500 minutes of action.
Defensively, Aldemir is better cast as a power forward. He can block a shot but isn't really a rim protector and is small for the position. Aldemir will struggle defending smaller, more athletic fours on the perimeter.
Pierre Jackson
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2013 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Energetic, high-scoring point guard who is working back from ruptured Achilles
+ Capable outside shooter. Good at creating his own shot. May struggle to finish over bigger defenders
+ Undersized defensively. Athleticism may suffer after injury
Analysis
A year after rupturing his Achilles playing summer league, Pierre Jackson will get his chance to make the 76ers. Philadelphia signed Jackson to a four-year contract that is fully guaranteed this season for more than the rookie minimum.
Before the injury, Jackson showed potential as an instant-offense player off the bench a la the similar Nate Robinson. Like Robinson, Jackson is an undersized point guard with great athleticism and 3-point range. Because he can create his own shot using quickness, Jackson has been a big-time scorer, including a record 58-point game in the D-League in 2013-14. But he's also a willing passer who averaged 7.1 assists per game as a senior at Baylor.
The key to Jackson's NBA future will be whether he regains his quickness after the injury. He needs it defensively, where he's giving up size to most opponents at a listed 5-foot-10. Jackson compensates with his strength and a low center of gravity, making him tough to push around.
Scottie Wilbekin
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2014 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Effective college point guard with ability to shoot the 3 looking to stick in the NBA
+ Not a creative playmaker. More of a steady hand at the point
+ Decent physical tools defensively. Posted excellent steal rate in college
Analysis
After spending his first year out of Florida playing in the Australian NBL and briefly in Greece, 2013-14 SEC Player of the Year Scottie Wilbekin has an opportunity to make the 76ers' roster. He'll be part of a crowded competition at point guard after signing a four-year contract for the minimum with $200,000 guaranteed this season, per BasketballInsiders.com.
Wilbekin could fit what Philadelphia is trying to do at point guard. His shooting ability would be useful playing with Jahlil Okafor, and while he's not a big-time playmaker Wilbekin can get the Sixers into their offense. He was also a favorite of many statistical draft projections because of his terrific steal rate at Florida. Ultimately, Wilbekin's chances may depend on how healthy fellow point guards Pierre Jackson, Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten are as all three come back from serious injuries.
Christian Wood
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Promising raw power forward with upside if a team is willing to see his development through
+ Frequent, though not accurate, college 3-point shooter. Good free throw shooter
+ Excellent shot blocker for a power forward. Athletic with long arms. Must add strength
Analysis
When he declared for the draft, UNLV sophomore Christian Wood projected as a first-round pick. After a disastrous series of pre-draft interviews, Wood went unselected. He agreed to a four-year minimum contract that is guaranteed for just $50,000, per BasketballInsiders.com, but gives him a chance to make the Sixers.
If Philadelphia or another team commits to developing Wood, who turns 20 on the first day of training camp, he's got the potential to be a stretch 4 who can also protect the rim. He shot just 26.1 percent on 3s in college, but his 74.7 percent foul shooting suggests the necessary touch is there. And Wood blocked an incredible 8.2 percent of opponent 2-point attempts as a sophomore.
J.P. Tokoto
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ High-jumping wing whose draft stock collapsed because of poor outside shooting
+ Most effective offensively in transition. Good passer from the perimeter
+ Good steal rate. Not a big-time shot blocker
Analysis
Like K.J. McDaniels, second-round pick J.P. Tokoto decided to accept Philadelphia's required tender offer of a one-year contract at the minimum salary. Tokoto's bet is very different. He may not make the 76ers' roster, which would make him a free agent and give him control of his career -- but also mean no team is invested in his development. Tokoto fits the mold of recent Sixers' second-round picks. He's a good athlete in search of a game. Tokoto is a high flyer with some other intriguing skills, most notably his passing ability. But he won't contribute in a half-court offense unless he improves his shooting, having made 21 3-pointers in three seasons at North Carolina.
Jordan McRae
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2014 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Long wing player with enough ballhandling chops to play shooting guard
+ Has shown NBA 3-point range
+ Competes defensively
Analysis
Chosen 58th overall in the 2014 Draft, McRae originally signed to play in Australia last season before joining the Sixers' D-League affiliate in Delaware. He's in training camp this season on the same non-guaranteed tender offer signed by Tokoto. To force his way onto the roster, McRae will probably have to shoot the ball like he did in the D-League, where he made 37.8 percent of his 3s and averaged 19.4 points per game. Though McRae has the ability to create his own shot, he won't likely be asked to do so in the NBA. McRae must also make his mark as a defender. At 6-foot-6, he's got good size for a shooting guard.
T.J. McConnell
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Steady point guard who looks to pass first
+ Must improve 3-point shooting to be a scoring threat
+ Hard-working defender who really gets into opponents
Analysis
The leader of an Arizona team that came within a game of the Final Four each of the last two seasons, McConnell played with the Sixers this summer and signed a four-year minimum contract with $100,000 guaranteed (per BasketballInsiders.com) just before training camp. A five-year college player because he sat out a year after transferring from Duquesne, McConnell is a polished playmaker. However, he shot just 34.3 percent from the college 3-point line as a Wildcat, suggesting the NBA 3 is probably out of his range. If McConnell sticks, it will be thanks to his defense. He frustrates opponents with his effort and positioning, including holding No. 2 overall pick D'Angelo Russell to 3-of-19 shooting in an NCAA tournament matchup won by Arizona.
Joel Embiid
Position: Center
Experience: Rookie
2014 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Promising center expected to miss second full season after undergoing bone graft procedure
+ Has yet to set foot on an NBA court outside of warmups. Did flash intriguing shooting range in drills
+ On-court development will be set back by time missed due to navicular injury
Analysis
All Philadelphia has to show so far for drafting Joel Embiid third overall in 2014 are tantalizing Vines of his pregame warmups last season, where Embiid powerfully threw down dunks and made 3-pointers. That will likely remain the case this season, with Embiid expected to miss all of 2015-16 after undergoing a bone graft to strengthen the navicular bone he originally injured before the 2014 draft.
Besides the risk of reinjury, which is high among 7-footers like Embiid with navicular injury, the concern is the time Embiid has missed will set back his development. While he was able to work on improving his shooting range, Embiid has precious little experience on the court against high-level competition. The 28 impressive games he played as a freshman at Kansas are pretty much it.