Four Sixers Summer League Takeaways
Mike is drinking the Summer League Kool-Aid.
Mike O’Connor is the best O’Connor in basketball writing. Previously of The Athletic, you can find Mike on Twitter @MOConnor_NBA. Mike’s writing is brought to you by Body Bio, supplements based on science, focusing on your gut and brain health. Get 20% off E-Lyte and all Body Bio products with promo code RTRS20 at Body Bio’s website.
Ah, Summer League. It’s hard to get much better than a whole bunch of meaningless, low stakes basketball where the biggest thing on your mind is whether Isaiah Joe can be an eighth man at some point in the next couple years. It beats the hell out of watching a high stakes playoff collapse in which you have to wonder when the next passed up Ben Simmons dunk is coming, and what it all means for the team’s future.
With that in mind, it’s important that we enjoy Summer League while we have it. Here are five of my takeaways from the Summer Sixers so far.
#1: B-ball Paul is my preferred backup center when it counts
On Wednesday night’s podcast that I did with Mike Levin, I posed him a hypothetical question that may have sounded absurd, but I genuinely believe was worth asking: if the Sixers were playing the Warriors in the Finals, would you rather play Andre Drummond or Paul Reed as the backup center?
We likely will never have to worry about this hypothetical, but my point is this: I see almost no chance that Drummond is playable in that type of series, and I see some chance that Reed is.
In my mind, the best choice in this scenario is clearly Paul Reed, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Drummond is nothing but a walking bullseye on the defensive end in those types of matchups, and I have zero trust that he can make up for it offensively against small-ball lineups -- a couple of offensive rebounds do not outweigh the downside of his defense.
There are other matchups where I’d likely prefer Drummond. The Bucks, for example, don’t put as much pressure on big men to defend in space, and you may want Drummond’s size to bang around down low against the Bucks’ bigs. But against most other teams? I’m rolling with B-ball Paul.
The Nets’ trio of stars would feast against Drummond’s defense. Trae Young would foul out Drummond in five minutes. The Celtics would pick and pop him to death with Al Horford. Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler would obliterate Drummond on switches, and it’s not like he’s going to dominate Bam Adebayo on the boards.
I truly believe that in high stakes matchups, Reed is their best option. In these two Summer League games, Reed has showcased his ability to make a defensive impact both at the rim and on the perimeter, as well as perform some basic finishing and straight-line drive responsibilities on offense. So long as he stays within his role and limits his negative plays, I genuinely think he will be the Sixers’ backup center in most matchups in the playoffs.
#2: Tyrese Maxey might deserve a starting spot
The biggest thing that I’ve been impressed about with Maxey is the mindset he’s displayed to establish himself as a jump shooter. After launching just 5.3 3s per 100 possessions last season, Maxey is coming out firing from deep in all types of different ways -- pull-ups, step backs, and catch and shoot situations.
Somehow, it feels completely bizarre to be watching a Sixers player attack their own weaknesses and improve this fast; it feels like we’ve spent years begging every single Sixer to just get better at that one thing. It’s been years of asking Ben to shoot, Tobias to shoot more, and before this season, it was years of asking Embiid to get into career-best shape. To see a Sixer look to improve their one area of weakness with such insistence and focus, without years of prodding from fans and media, is a shock to one’s system.
In addition to the shot, Maxey looks to be even more comfortable attacking downhill in ball screen situations. His stop-and-start game looks as fluid as ever, and he’s playing extremely under control. Early on last season, it looked like the game felt too fast for him, and he’s clearly stepped beyond that by now.
Maxey should be in contention for a starting role next year, if he isn’t traded. His all-around play is likely worthy of it already, but it’s also worth considering how much he could benefit from the confidence boost and increased reps that come along with being a starter.
#3: Isaiah Joe is a playable NBA player
I don’t see any massive areas of improvement from Joe over last year -- perhaps he’s a bit more willing to fire after running around screens -- but I still feel confident in saying that he’s worthy of a rotation spot right now.
It seems a bit unlikely that he’ll get it, as the roster stands now. The Sixers have a fistful of players who are likely ahead of him in the totem pole. But Joe is an excellent shooter who is passable in all other areas. I would have no hesitation in playing him 15 minutes or so per game, if there were space for it.
One thing Joe has flashed a bit in these couple of games is an ability to put the ball on the floor and playmake for others. I don’t ever expect Joe to be a shot creator by any means, but he’ll be competent at attacking closeouts, maintaining the advantage, and keeping the offense humming.
He will be a no-brainer rotation player at some point, and he may already be there.
#4: Jaden Springer’s defense is special, but he is a long way away offensively
I am not sure I’ve seen Jaden Springer get beaten off the dribble defensively through two games. He has been truly astonishing on that end -- he tracks offensive players step for step in a way that is reminiscent of a young Avery Bradley. Springer is ready to contribute defensively from day one. If called upon, he could make very good NBA players sweat immediately.
The problem, of course, is the other end. Springer’s offense is an abject disaster. He hit the side of the backboard twice on corner 3 attempts. He has thrown up some hideous floater/runner type shots from 8-12 feet. His passing is a very mixed bag. He lacks the burst to get by most defenders one-on-one. And while he’s strong and can absorb contact around the rim, his height will always limit him from that perspective.
Simply put, I don’t see how he provides any offensive value whatsoever on an NBA floor. He is years away from being passable on that end, if ever.
Throughout the pre-draft process, I dropped the name Zhaire Smith as a comparison for Springer a couple of times. The distinctions I would make between Springer and Smith are twofold: 1) I think Springer has even more promise than Smith as a one-on-one defender. Smith was jumpy, and wasn’t able to track step for step in the same way that Springer is. 2) Springer is capable of handling the ball in a manner that’s a bit more under control. Smith too often looked like he was going to fall over when he was dribbling in a straight line, whereas Springer holds up just fine.
There is certainly a world where Springer becomes a passable jump shooter. In that event, the Avery Bradley comparisons are very much on the table. But what concerns me is just how far away the jump shot is, as well as the lack of comfort and intuitiveness with the ball in his hands. Springer is extremely young, and should improve with time, but I’m essentially arguing that it might be 2023 before he is a real rotation player.