NBA Draft 2020: 5 teams who most needs a Small Forward/Wing player
Philadelphia 76ers
Although an absent Ben Simmons certainly factored into it, the Philadelphia 76ers watched the Boston Celtics sweep them out from the NBA Playoffs this year with ease, materializing as a massive disappointment after coming as close as one can to the Eastern Conference finals without actually making it just a season ago.
The difference? Just look at the potentially NBA Finals bound Miami Heat right now, who acquired Jimmy Butler from Philadelphia during a sign and trade deal last offseason.
To save “the process” from becoming a historically embarrassing failure, the 76ers must draft an immediate star to help recreate the assistance formerly provided by Butler which Simmons, Embiid, and Tobias Harris clearly require. Unfortunately, this comes as an incredibly difficult task though, as the Sixers own 21st overall pick, separating themselves substantially from any sure-fire home-run type players.
However, finding a hidden Kyle Kuzma-type gem with their pick still remains a possibility for Philly. Hampton warrants the team’s immediate attention as a player with an incredibly high ceiling having shown off his freakish athletic skill set while playing overseas last year. Nesmith might come as a safer option for a team looking to add immediate firepower though, as the Vanderbilt stud averaged 23.0 points per game while shooting 52.2% from beyond the arc.
With the entire league at least partially bought into the growingly popular three-point based offense, Nesmith might not fall to the Sixers, but if he does, watch for Philadelphia to waste little time while calling in to select him.
One final candidate for the Sixers to select hails from out west, as former Arizona Wildcat Josh Green turned some heads during his freshman year averaging 12.0 points per game while shooting 42.4% from the field.
He may lack the pop or swagger maintained by both Nesmith and Hampton, but if those two come off the board early or some potential red flags arise above them during the next month and a half, Green might just need to punch his next plane ticket for the city of brotherly love.