The Corner Three: Zo's Draft Guys and Spike's Boston Finals Take

This is gonna be the longest June ever.

Zo’s Guys at No. 16 (If They Keep the Pick)

Devin Carter (G, Providence)

An absolute stud, and honestly plug-and-play if you lose D’Anthony Melton to free agency. Sturdy, 6’7 wingspan, gets around the perimeter easy on defense. Offensively, shoots it really well and is comfortable playing either guard spot. Rumors are swirling that he got a promise already, so it should be an interesting next few weeks for him.

Jared McCain (G, Duke)

Another tweener combo guard. Less athletic than the aforementioned Carter, and there’s some questions about whether he truly can play off the ball or not but still would be worth the risk for his offense. Dependent three-point shooter and also 80% from the stripe, not too shabby.

Ja’Kobe Walter (G, Baylor)

Probably a tad too high to take him, but when you’re past pick number 12 there’s not really such a thing as “too high.” Ja’Kobe is a little bigger than the other guards, but I think personally not as heralded, because he had a few down moments on defense last year. I think there’s a lot of reason to be hopeful there though, since the ability has at least flashed a few times. And offensively, you probably won’t see a better catch-and-shoot/movement guy in this draft. His prospects as a three-and-D creator would be enough for me to pull the trigger. 

Tristan da Silva (F, Colorado)

One of my absolute favorites, and a slam dunk if he even sticks around that late. Dog of a defender, athletic enough to stick to his man but smart enough to operate really well in a switch-heavy scheme. 37% from three, 78% from the free-throw line, about as three-and-D as it gets. Will struggle a bit to create his own shot – and there’s concern over if he’ll ever just be more than a slasher/finisher – but honestly, for a team that got neither shot creating nor slashing and finishing from Tobias Harris last season, you could surely do a lot worse. 

Yves Missi (C, Baylor)

I watched a ton of Baylor last year, and man do I love this guy. Not perfect, but also not as raw as some think. Only 19, but so smart as it pertains to where his strengths are. Superbly athletic rim runner, finished 65% (!!!) at the rim and has probably dunked the ball three times since I began writing this. I wouldn’t ask him to attempt a jump shot – but lob threat, dunker position, athletic shot blocker, running the second unit with maybe Kyle Lowry, hell yeah. 

The irony of this is of course is that I think this pick will wind up being traded or the Sixers will draft someone more senior who can eventually be flipped for a veteran or more play-now young guy so this is probably all moot anyway. Three weeks!

SPIKE’S CORNER - WHY I’M ROOTING FOR BOSTON IN THE FINALS

The NBA Finals start tonight, and I will be cheering for the Boston Celtics. 

It is not because I’m trolling, and it’s not because I don’t want to be wrong about Luka (I have already been proven wrong). It’s not because I need a bit for the pod or because I want to drive Mike crazy.

I will not find joy in this. I’m not going to be watching the games and pumping my fist.

I’m cheering for the Celtics because the Sixers organization deserves it after how the last decade has been handled. It’s truly the final insult, and I hope it causes at least a little bit of shame and self-reflection for all concerned.

Since Joel Embiid started playing in the NBA, the Boston Celtics have been to six Eastern Conference Finals. They’ve been to two Finals. They had to replace their longtime GM and didn’t miss a step as they replaced him with their coach. Their next coach got caught in some weird sex scandal and they replaced him with some weirdo who still coached them into winning more than 60 games. This is all while we have been begging for a team to simply either not quit in the playoffs or get to the Conference Finals just once. 

Five Ways I'm Pre-Coping With the Celtics Possibly Winning the Championship

Until now, the organization (and us) have had some comfort in the fact that “at least the Celtics didn’t win.” LOL Jayson Tatum! But to be honest, I don’t really get any comfort in that fact. I’m never comfortable when I’m thinking about the Sixers. So if I’m going to be miserable, I’ll take every chance at them being miserable too. They should feel ashamed at how poorly they’ve handled the Embiid era. From firing Hinkie, to replacing him with their adviser’s son, to letting the coach and a minority owner who isn’t even here anymore run the draft and trade Mikal Bridges, to then hiring Elton Brand but really let all of the other leftover Colangelo guys run the team, to firing them and letting Elton do it, and hiring Doc Rivers, and then saying well maybe Elton shouldn’t do it and hiring Daryl. All the while never. getting. past. the. second. round. 

I need ownership to know the opportunity that they have wasted so far. 

I want to be clear, Embiid isn’t blameless here. I want him to see the Celtics win the title too. I want him to feel the shame too. The embarrassment he felt when Jokic went and won a title, I’d like that return this summer and push him to come back determined. 

You’ve forgiven me before, and I believe you’ll forgive me this time. Deep down you know I’m doing this for all of us.