With the Sixers’ first summer league game tipping off on Friday, it is time to break down the players representing Philadelphia in Sin City.
Marcus Lee
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 225 lbs
Age: 24 years, 10 months
Wingspan: 7’3″
Position: PF/C
Strengths: Ideal size for an NBA forward; able to push in transition and receive lobs because of wingspan; athleticism to play in the NBA
Weaknesses: Almost 25, and was a 5-year college player, yet is still very raw in terms of skill; not sure he will ever develop legitimate NBA skills
What He’ll Bring: Lee can provide a team with the athleticism and size to switch onto power forwards or centers. With a 35.5″ vertical jump, he can protect the rim as well. Offensively, with a good passer facilitating the offense, he can be a lob finisher at the rim and leak out for easy dunks in transition. He can provide high-energy play on both ends of the floor.
A.J. Davis
Height: 6’9″
Weight: 215 lbs
Age: 24 years, 3.5 months
Wingspan: 6’11”
Position: F
Strengths: Versatility to play multiple positions; size to be a capable rebounder at next level
Weaknesses: Very inconsistent shooter for a forward at a time when most forwards in the NBA are capable shooters
What He’ll Bring: Davis provides the ability to make plays off the dribble. He can attack the basket, he can use athleticism to finish through traffic, and he has the size to present mismatches on both sides of the ball.
Jalen Jones
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 220 lbs
Age: 26 years, 1 month
Wingspan: 6’11”
Position: SF
Strengths: Capable long-range shooter with ability to create off-the-dribble; strength to finish through contact
Weaknesses: Becomes disengaged when he doesn’t have the ball; needs time and space to be a consistently effective shooter
What He’ll Bring: Jones will bring spacing wherever he goes. His quick first step and perimeter threat make him a difficult player to defend. I believe he could catch some eyes in Las Vegas.
Haywood Highsmith
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 220 lbs
Age: 22 years, 6 months
Wingspan: 7’0″
Position: SG/SF
Strengths: Length to defend 1-4; good hands create deflections and steals; capable long-range shooter
Weaknesses: Ball-handling and off-the-dribble scoring need developing
What He’ll Bring: Haywood Highsmith will be looking to prove himself as a viable option at the NBA level after a 2-way contract with the Sixers last season. I expect him to provide the prototypical 3-and-D ability that scouts are looking for in wings during summer league.
Zhaire Smith
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: 20 years, 1 month
Wingspan: 6’10”
Position: G
Strengths: Elite athleticism; knack for taking advantage of front- and back-cut opportunities for easy baskets; defensive motor to hound opponents
Weaknesses: Not a great shooter for his position, makes it difficult to define what position he plays
What He’ll Bring: Zhaire Smith will be one of the most interesting players in Vegas. He missed significant time due an allergy-related illness and came back to make his NBA debut late in the regular season. Having been around an NBA team, facility, and staff since the early months of 2019, he has had time to work on his body and develop his game. I expect him to burst onto the scene in the summer league and be one of the elite defenders and volume scorers — whether or not that scoring comes from distance remains to be seen.
Sheldon Mac
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: 26 years, 6 months
Wingspan: 6’7″
Position: SG
Strengths: Excellent shooter when feet are set; moves well off the ball
Weaknesses: Defense is a major question mark; gets caught on screens and is disengaged when his man doesn’t have the ball
What He’ll Bring: Sheldon Mac has been around the league for a few seasons. He’s looking for an NBA job and is one of the more polished offensive players in Vegas. He’ll be a volume scorer for the Summer Sixers.
Terry Harris
Height:6’6″
Weight: 215 lbs
Age: 23 years, 4 months
Wingspan: 6’9″
Position: SG
Strengths: Shooting is remarkably consistent in high volumes
Weaknesses: Creating looks for himself
What He’ll Bring: The 6’9″ Harris brother will provide spacing for the Summer Sixers. In 146 attempts as a college senior, Harris connected on 41% of his triples. With a sizable volume, he could be a valuable floor-stretcher in Vegas.
Norvel Pelle
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 230 lbs
Age: 26 years, 5 months
Wingspan: 7’2″
Position: PF/C
Strengths: Defensive IQ; size to switch when guarding and protect the rim
Weaknesses: Inconsistent performance on both ends of the floor; not big enough to be just a rim-runner and dunker on offense, but lacks shooting skill
What He’ll Bring: Fresh off of a 2-way contract with the Sixers, Norvel Pelle will look to showcase himself as a viable option as the Sixers look to pad their depth at the power forward and center positions. Pelle will block shots (both at the rim and away from the basket), disrupt his man, and provide energy on both sides of the ball.
Ronshad Shabazz
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 215 lbs
Age: 23 years, 5 months
Wingspan: ???
Position: 6’5″
Strengths: Elite footwork and ability to create his own shot; very quick and decisive; dangerous scorer
Weaknesses: Tunnel vision, sees one thing on the court — the basket; is he a contributor on a winning team?
What He’ll Bring: Shabazz will be a wildcard in Vegas. His ability to score at three levels makes him a candidate to be one of the most electric players in the Sin City Circuit. He’ll bring just that to the Sixers, spacing the floor and scoring in high volumes.
Shake Milton
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 205 lbs
Age: 22 years, 10 months
Wingspan: 7’0″
Position: G
Strengths: Excellent shooter; size and athleticism allow him to matchup 1-3; length to hold his own defensively; trustworthy leader with a year of 2-way experience
Weaknesses: Lacks bulk, unsure if he’s strong enough to play at the NBA level yet
What He’ll Bring: Shake Milton was one of the most dominant scorers in the G-League last season. Having just inked a 4-year NBA deal with the Sixers, Milton is looking to establish himself as a viable rotation player on a championship contender. Not only will he score for the Sixers in the summer league, but he’ll provide leadership to the less-experienced players on the roster as well as some ability to facilitate an offense. Defensively, Shake will look to prove that he can be trusted just by being able to contain whoever is in front of him and understanding switches.
P.J. Dozier
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 205 lbs
Age: 22 years, 9 months
Wingspan: 7’0″
Position: G
Strengths: Excellent size and athleticism to defend multiple positions
Weaknesses: Hard to see which guard position he can play in the NBA due to his lack of a jump shot; ball-handling and court vision are not polished
What He’ll Bring: Dozier will provide energy on defense and playmaking on both sides of the ball. Look for him to put a hand in the passing lane and disrupt half-court offenses and create transition opportunities for the Sixers by deflecting passes and creating steals.
Christ Koumadje
Height: 7’4″
Weight: 270 lbs
Age: 23 years exactly
Wingspan: They don’t make tape measures that long
Position: C
Strengths: Exactly what most 7’4″ basketball players are good at; capable scorer on the move; surprisingly good athleticism and motor for his size
Weaknesses: Very raw offensive skill; lacks a low post game; lacks playmaking ability
What He’ll Bring: Koumadje will play the Boban role in Las Vegas. He’ll protect the rim and be an incredibly efficient scorer. He will make his presence known in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Matisse Thybulle
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: 22 years, 4 months
Wingspan: 7’0″
Position: SG
Strengths: Length to disrupt passing lanes and create steals; athleticism and size to switch 1-3 (in Vegas; he likely doesn’t have the discipline to stay with point guards or the body to defend small forwards yet); 4 years of college — NBA-ready prospect
Weaknesses: Shooting is consistent, needs to work on staying above 36% from distance in order to be a 3-and-D wing in this league; body does not have NBA muscle mass yet
What He’ll Bring: Thybulle is looking to establish himself as one of the more promising prospects from this summer’s draft. He’ll provide spacing on the offensive end and engagement on the defensive end. Thybulle will stay active in help defense and create opportunities for steals by disrupting passing lanes. I imagine he’ll spark a lot of transition opportunities for the Sixers of Summer.
Zach Hankins
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 245 lbs
Age: turns 23 this month
Wingspan: 7’2″
Position: C
Strengths: Mass to bang down low with other bigs; good footwork under the basket; polished low post game
Weaknesses: No offensive game outside of the paint, but not big enough to just plant under the rim for easy finishes; watches the ball in the high post; very predictable offensive moves
What He’ll Bring: Hankins will bring energy on both ends of the floor. I expect him to be a rim-protector who will not hesitate to use his body to establish his presence against smaller players. If he receives minutes in summer league, he’ll likely get some opportunities to work out of the low post. I would imagine a lot of his scoring will come from positioning in the dunker’s spot.
Deshon Taylor
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 185
Age: 23 years, 4 months
Wingspan: 6’9″
Position: PG
Strengths: Excellent speed allows him to beat the man in front of him; reliable ball-handler; strength and athleticism to finish through contact
Weaknesses: Release point on jumper is too low, will have to create significant space to get off his shot at the next level; not convinced he can defend bigger guards, might have to be hidden on defense
What He’ll Bring: Deshon Taylor will make a case as the heart and soul of the Summer Sixers. He’ll undoubtedly provide highlight reel scoring if given minutes. It is easiest to imagine him excelling when pushing the pace in transition, as he’ll be able to put pressure on the defense and find open teammates.
Marial Shayok
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: turns 24 this month
Wingspan: 6’11”
Position: SG
Strengths: Skilled shooter; capable scorer off-the-dribble; underrated athleticism
Weaknesses: Defense needs work; burst off-the-dribble is inadequate; irresponsible shot selection; not sure if ceiling is much farther from what he currently is
What He’ll Bring: Shayok will be a very interesting prospect to watch. At 6’6″ with a 6’11” wingspan, he fits the bill of a floor spacer with good size. I expect him to take advantage of spot-up looks from distance or, if he has a lane, to attack the basket. He’ll look to prove that his defense can be trusted in the NBA, but his shooting should catch eyes.