2025 Sixers Summer League

[HotelVitale]

To be clear, I think VJ was the right pick before, during, and after draft day. He will have a better career than Ace by a comfortable margin and we will all be happy to have him as a Sixer for a long time.

For Ace, I made the Rudy Gay comparison early and stand by it. He will likely have some seasons in the 20+ ppg range but he will be an empty calories scorer that doesn’t fit on a winning team.

I think Ace will be a better rebounder and defender than Rudy.

Plus a better overall shooter

Just said this a few pages ago but...I get why people think there's better upside than Rudy Gay, but Gay was a top-15 scorer in the league for a while and played starter's roles on solid teams for over a decade. There's really really no guarantee that Ace comes anywhere close to that as a score-first dude. Hard to score big + efficiently when you mostly shoot set shots and catch-shoot, plus a little bit of putbacks and transition rim running. And we haven't seen any reassuring signs re: efficiency from Ace in general. He's going to have to be a really really slick shooter to be a top scorer.

If people are saying they feel good about him as the role playing scorer version of Rudy Gay (when he was no longer a top option), that makes sense. But even then Gay became a solid, disciplined, all-around competent pro at that role, and many many draft picks don't get there.

[Stanford]

I look forward to Ace playing some center. Will be interesting.

Makes me wish for a full return to health for Embiid more than ever.

[sodmoraes]

Probably Ace will be a PF later in his career if he can gain some weight. He´s really thin, but he has the height for it. I think he will be a really good rebounder/ blocker. There´s a good chance his defense will be better than his offense. Anyways, we are team VJ now!

[M2J]

I think Ace will be a better rebounder and defender than Rudy.

Plus a better overall shooter

Just said this a few pages ago but...I get why people think there's better upside than Rudy Gay, but Gay was a top-15 scorer in the league for a while and played starter's roles on solid teams for over a decade. There's really really no guarantee that Ace comes anywhere close to that as a score-first dude. Hard to score big + efficiently when you mostly shoot set shots and catch-shoot, plus a little bit of putbacks and transition rim running. And we haven't seen any reassuring signs re: efficiency from Ace in general. He's going to have to be a really really slick shooter to be a top scorer.

If people are saying they feel good about him as the role playing scorer version of Rudy Gay (when he was no longer a top option), that makes sense. But even then Gay became a solid, disciplined, all-around competent pro at that role, and many many draft picks don't get there.

His mid range iso (no bounce), his catch and shooting were all very efficient, and off ball finishing at the rim... Transition shooting and at rim efficient too. His shooting off the dribble and driving to the rim were terrible

[Phillybul]

Read on Twitter

?s=46

For the record, I never said Ace wouldn’t be good. I said he’d be a very good, 3&D role player. Buying into the C&S role will be key for him.

Nice highlights by Ace. That one dunk was nasty/explosive. Curious if some of those misses were from him attempting to create off the dribble or C & S misses? I didn’t watch the game.

[HotelVitale]

Plus a better overall shooter

Just said this a few pages ago but...I get why people think there's better upside than Rudy Gay, but Gay was a top-15 scorer in the league for a while and played starter's roles on solid teams for over a decade. There's really really no guarantee that Ace comes anywhere close to that as a score-first dude. Hard to score big + efficiently when you mostly shoot set shots and catch-shoot, plus a little bit of putbacks and transition rim running. And we haven't seen any reassuring signs re: efficiency from Ace in general. He's going to have to be a really really slick shooter to be a top scorer.

If people are saying they feel good about him as the role playing scorer version of Rudy Gay (when he was no longer a top option), that makes sense. But even then Gay became a solid, disciplined, all-around competent pro at that role, and many many draft picks don't get there.

Hugs mid range iso (no bounce), his catch and shooting were all very efficient, and off ball finishing at the rim... Transition shooting and at rim efficient too. His shooting off the dribble and driving to the rim were terrible

Right, so the path to him becoming a top 15-20 scorer in the league while not scoring off the bounce very well is pretty rough going. He’d have to get up to 25ppg on todays league to get there—It’s doable but he’ll have to become one hellluva shooter, like KD or Dirk-level stuff.

If you’re projecting him as a solid shoot first role player who scored like 16-18 per night, that’s a little easier. He’d still need to play well and learn NBA defense etc to do that but it feels a lot more realistic as a good outcome for him than the big upside stuff does.

[Jailblazers7]

Honestly, after watching that game last night Klay Thompson was the guy coming to mind as the model Ace should try to follow.

[Phillybul]

Any word on VJ playing tonight?

[Arsenal]

Ace doesn't have a good enough handle to create a lot of offense yet, but he's still only 18. He could develop that in a few years, and be primarily a C&S and cutting threat until then.

[M2J]

Just said this a few pages ago but...I get why people think there's better upside than Rudy Gay, but Gay was a top-15 scorer in the league for a while and played starter's roles on solid teams for over a decade. There's really really no guarantee that Ace comes anywhere close to that as a score-first dude. Hard to score big + efficiently when you mostly shoot set shots and catch-shoot, plus a little bit of putbacks and transition rim running. And we haven't seen any reassuring signs re: efficiency from Ace in general. He's going to have to be a really really slick shooter to be a top scorer.

If people are saying they feel good about him as the role playing scorer version of Rudy Gay (when he was no longer a top option), that makes sense. But even then Gay became a solid, disciplined, all-around competent pro at that role, and many many draft picks don't get there.

Hugs mid range iso (no bounce), his catch and shooting were all very efficient, and off ball finishing at the rim... Transition shooting and at rim efficient too. His shooting off the dribble and driving to the rim were terrible

Right, so the path to him becoming a top 15-20 scorer in the league while not scoring off the bounce very well is pretty rough going. He’d have to get up to 25ppg on todays league to get there—It’s doable but he’ll have to become one hellluva shooter, like KD or Dirk-level stuff.

If you’re projecting him as a solid shoot first role player who scored like 16-18 per night, that’s a little easier. He’d still need to play well and learn NBA defense etc to do that but it feels a lot more realistic as a good outcome for him than the big upside stuff does.

My offensive comp for his current offensive abilities was Rashard Lewis. Very similar in fact and as a mid range iso guy can hit cutters or pass out as a way of facilitating rather than handling. That's more of what was seen in that game last night. In college 44% catch and shoot all over the floor..39% from 3. If a team features his movement shooting and mid post abilities... He could be around 22-24ppg.

But, I think over the past 10 years more guys are improving their ball handling dramatically than ever... Why? Being positionless has become king and teams are developing all positions to be able to shoot and dribble and if you are a good enough scorer to pass.

But Ace definitely has a long way to go in the handling department, but the Rashard comparison should be the aim until then, with more athleticism and you can throw it up to him or put him in the dunker spot

[zaz102]

VJ out tonight.

[Mik317]

i hate this franchise lol

[Stanford]

F this ****

[Mik317]

like its smart that they are sitting him don't get me wrong


but goddam it really feels like we can't have anything fun to look at ever...just constant misery and because its us we do have to wonder and worry if he actually didn't come down with a thumb based virus that prevents him from seeing or some ****.

its exhausting lol

[mksp]

it's been so long since we've had anything to be excited about such a bummer they can't even give us this

[Kobblehead]

Edwards, Bona, and Broome better all drop 15+ in this game.

[Sixersftw]

They're somehow becoming worse. How have the Sixers figured out a way to ruin my summer too?

[FireMorey]

If there’s a way for the Sixers to rob the fans of fun and excitement, they will find a way to do it. I just assume we won’t see VJ again on an court until October.

[Kobblehead]

I really like Slawson. If they can get this guy to figure out his shot, he's 3&D gold.

[Black Mage]

The guy I'm worried about forming regret over not having is Nipples.

When you feel like nipples is missing, just lift your shirt and look down.