Poll: Who do you want with #3? (VOTE AGAIN)

[76ciology]

The problem is if all D'Angelo Russell can do is shoot, because he's not athletic enough to get into the lane, you basically have Isiah Canaan with better court vision. Which may not be the worst thing in the world, but we can certainly do better.

Too many of you guys are downplaying Mudiay's skill set. He's a legitimate PG with elite size. He has good court vision and a crafty handle. He knows how to use his size to finish at the rim. He just needs to improve his jumper.

I'd be happy with either, but Mudiay feels much more like a "core" piece to me than Russell does.

This. If you can't dribble and penetrate, teams will just trap you off PnRs that would give you a hard time passing to the rolling man. Pretty much the same problem with Canaan.

I also think people are downplaying Mudiay's skill set. First off, he's not a bad 3pt shooter and he's still young so there's much hope that he can still develop his shooting. I read that aside showing good work ethic and maturity for his age, Mudiay's already got good PG instincts drawing defenders, keeping his teammates involved and the amount of passes he opts for shooters at the corners. FWIW, in terms of pure PG skill, Mudiay might have the edge than Russell.

But then I wouldn't mind either one of them. I understand how special Russell's shooting and passing ability is. I also know the importance of a floor spacer. But I think you go for the guys with the highest upside with a top 3 pick, then hope Mudiay becomes PG version of LBJ/Wade and eventually develops his shooting just like Nerlens, Jakarr and Jerami.

For now I won't commit with either one of them and I'm more of looking forward on how good Mudiay and Russell's athletic and physical measurements would be. If Mudiay show elite measurements, then I do think we should take a risk on him.

[ankle420breaker]

I'm torn on this. I love Russell's game in college, but worry there's a chance his lack of explosiveness/athleticism will make him struggle at the next level. He's got a quick release, decent handles, and adequate court vision - I just question his ability to pick the game apart when the game gets taller, longer, faster, and stronger.

Mudiay has the build and athleticism to adapt and make more well rounded NBA contributions, but his shot is questionable - which resurrects the spacing concerns with A Noel/Embiid front court.

[76ciology]

I've posted this before..

With a top 3 pick you I've learned to prioritize upside, no matter how risky it is for upside is what you pay for a top 3 pick. You want a player who can alreasy contribute right away? Go sign Prigioni or Steve Blake. And I learned it with the 2010 draft. ET was the consensus pick. He has elite strength and historic numbers. But how good can he get, he's pretty much toppish in terms of upside. That upside vs elite skillset theory of mine right now, would have gotten us either DMC, Favors or Paul George. Same can be said when people passed up Jrue, Gobert or Drummond. There will be some flops along the way, and if that's the case we can always go for the next pick and move on. Atleast we went for the home run.

On paper I see Mudiay being Hinkie's pick with the same reasoning he gave after MCW was drafted. But then I could be wrong, and for now I'd like to stay at the sidelines and wait for the measurments to come our first.

[Unbreakable99]

As I already mentioned how Mudiay's shoot scares me I will also say Russell's lack of athleticism and blow by his man scares me too. And while Mudiay can't shoot I still think he would be a good pick. You can improve shooting but you can't improve athleticism. For an example let's compare both Wall and Beal. They were both top 3 picks. Beal can shoot but isn't the most athletic guy. Wall is athletic but can't shoot. With all that said I would take Wall over Beal and think Wall has proven to be the better player than Beal so far even with Wall's lack of shooting.

[Mik317]

I also flip flop on who I want out of the two.

In Mudiay's defense, his flaws are "technically" fixable. He gets even a mediocre jumpshot and that makes him a damn good player. On that same token....how many times do we have to take a guy who can't shoot, hope he learns how to, only to see that he never will...before we stop taking those dudes? Yeah Brown fixed Grant, Noel and Jakaar but lets be honest none of them are knockdown or even mediocre yet...just improving. It took Iggy 7 years to get to the point he is now...yeah it can be fixed but it takes a while. Tony Parker is another example, he only recently became a threat and you still rather him take those shots. I think it is overstated about how easy it is to become a great shooter after being a poor one. Its rarer than you think really.

With Russell, he has a set skill. A skill that we really really really need. He can be hidden defensively, and picks and such will allow him to get open. Defenders also aren't allowed to play as physical in the NBA so while I worry about him CONSISTANTLY getting his shots off, there are ways around it. Turner is the oft brought up name and other unathletic doofuses but most if not all of them couldn't shoot, and those that could we too little or too slow (or both). Russell may not be a jump out the gym type athlete but he has enough burst to be effective and the threat of his jumper will always keep defenders wary. He's not Steph but Steph also isn't 6'5 with long arms. My actual worry is that he is stubborn like Turner in being a PG no matter what because I don't if he can hang.

Both are super flawed in theory but there are very few flawless players...especially in this draft and again IMO ideally whoever we take in this draft is our Robin to Embiid's Batman...

[mksp]

I feel like a lot of the pro-Russell camp points to his fit with Noel / Embiid as one of his advantages, and I really don't think this is a constructive way to look at the situation.

The Sixers should still absolutely be in asset-accumulation mode. We'd presumably take Towns with the #1 pick, and he wouldn't even project as a starter with Noel / Embiid. But most of us agree that this would be the prudent decision.

We're also absolutely not at the point in the team's evolution that we should be talking about drafting a player in the top 5 that we have to plan on hiding on defense, relying on Noel / Embiid. The aim should be to have 5 two-way all-star level players. I of course don't expect this, but we shouldn't be aiming lower than that at this point.

I think if you take everything we know about Mudiay and Russell *today*, they probably grade out similarly. As noted by many, both have flaws.

My issue with Russell is that his flaws have *already* been exposed at the collegiate level. Granted, he had a poor supporting cast, but if he is a future NBA all-star, then you'd expect him to be able to impose his will more at this level. But long, athletic teams absolutely gave him a hard time, and it's only going to get worse for him at the NBA level. He seems like a really good kid, and I think he will be productive, but he just doesn't have the upside that Mudiay has.

TL;DR:

Mudiay and Russell have similar floors due to their respective shortcomings. But Mudiay has a much higher upside, which is why you take him over Russell.

[SparksFly87]

I feel like a lot of the pro-Russell camp points to his fit with Noel / Embiid as one of his advantages, and I really don't think this is a constructive way to look at the situation.

The Sixers should still absolutely be in asset-accumulation mode. We'd presumably take Towns with the #1 pick, and he wouldn't even project as a starter with Noel / Embiid. But most of us agree that this would be the prudent decision.

We're also absolutely not at the point in the team's evolution that we should be talking about drafting a player in the top 5 that we have to plan on hiding on defense, relying on Noel / Embiid. The aim should be to have 5 two-way all-star level players. I of course don't expect this, but we shouldn't be aiming lower than that at this point.

I think if you take everything we know about Mudiay and Russell *today*, they probably grade out similarly. As noted by many, both have flaws.

My issue with Russell is that his flaws have *already* been exposed at the collegiate level. Granted, he had a poor supporting cast, but if he is a future NBA all-star, then you'd expect him to be able to impose his will more at this level. But long, athletic teams absolutely gave him a hard time, and it's only going to get worse for him at the NBA level. He seems like a really good kid, and I think he will be productive, but he just doesn't have the upside that Mudiay has.

TL;DR:

Mudiay and Russell have similar floors due to their respective shortcomings. But Mudiay has a much higher upside, which is why you take him over Russell.

What team did Mudiay dominate in China? He struggle against Marbury and other nba caliber players. I am not so convinced.

[mksp]

I feel like a lot of the pro-Russell camp points to his fit with Noel / Embiid as one of his advantages, and I really don't think this is a constructive way to look at the situation.

The Sixers should still absolutely be in asset-accumulation mode. We'd presumably take Towns with the #1 pick, and he wouldn't even project as a starter with Noel / Embiid. But most of us agree that this would be the prudent decision.

We're also absolutely not at the point in the team's evolution that we should be talking about drafting a player in the top 5 that we have to plan on hiding on defense, relying on Noel / Embiid. The aim should be to have 5 two-way all-star level players. I of course don't expect this, but we shouldn't be aiming lower than that at this point.

I think if you take everything we know about Mudiay and Russell *today*, they probably grade out similarly. As noted by many, both have flaws.

My issue with Russell is that his flaws have *already* been exposed at the collegiate level. Granted, he had a poor supporting cast, but if he is a future NBA all-star, then you'd expect him to be able to impose his will more at this level. But long, athletic teams absolutely gave him a hard time, and it's only going to get worse for him at the NBA level. He seems like a really good kid, and I think he will be productive, but he just doesn't have the upside that Mudiay has.

TL;DR:

Mudiay and Russell have similar floors due to their respective shortcomings. But Mudiay has a much higher upside, which is why you take him over Russell.

What team did Mudiay dominate in China? He struggle against Marbury and other nba caliber players. I am not so convinced.

The China experience was pretty unusual if you ask me. He struggled in the 2nd playoff game, played well in the first. Both of those games were after a pretty long layoff from playing competitive basketball after his injury.

[SparksFly87]

Comparing Russell to Canaan is laughable. Russell has put people on their asses for trying to steal the ball for him even in tight corners and spaces . Imagine what he will do with more space in the NBA . Russell has a elite pull up jumper in which is a rare skill set. His upside is higher than Mudiays on the 76ers teams build around Embiid and Noel.

[Mik317]

Russell struggles at the rim and getting by dudes yes...but he is also a 19 year old kid and most of the dudes he struggled against were older and allowed to body him up. He's not going to be this speed demon who can't be stopped but his jumper, the less physical defense, and just growing into his body will do him worlds of good. Plus his handle and shiftyness will assist. I hate the Turner comp..because its lazy but Evan Turner with a Russells Jumper is an allstar.

[Unbreakable99]

I just want to be 3rd with Mudiay and Russell still on the board so we can finally see who Hinkie likes better.

[mksp]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Russell falls to #6 or #7. It wouldn't take much.

If we go with Mudiay, and LAL goes with Winslow or Hezonja, then ORL probably passes on him (since they seem to like the "linear model" of team building) for Porzingis or WCS or Turner. Probably doesn't fall past SAC though, I like him there.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

In a way I feel like we're comparing similar versions of Tyreke Evans to Steph Curry.
I think both are going to be good, it really depends on what type of guard the team wants, because I don't see that much of a distance between them.
For me it's Russell....because he can shoot and create. He also seems to be a very smart player which tells me he will find a way to mask his flaws. I do think he's ultimately a point guard.

[Unbreakable99]

I do think we need to stop the comparisons of Russell to Curry. Curry is a once in a generation type player. He's also a better shooter with better handles and quicker than Russell. I would be shocked if Russell is even close to as good as Curry. I think Russell can be a lesser version of Klay Thompson or a better version of Beal.

Mudiay could be a better version of Jrue if he can develop his jump shot. Maybe he could be a better version of Tyreke. I think if Mudiay hits his absolute peak meaning he has a consistent jump shot then he could be a taller less quick version of Tony Parker. That right there could be the best PG in the league.

[76ciology]

I think big difference between Russell vs Kyrie/Curry is that Kyrie/Curry has God given break down your man type handle and quick first step. And I don't know Russell has that or else he would have penetrated more when he was struggling with his shot or would settle less on challenged jumpers.

I also think people are underrating a PG tyreke. Let's not forget when Tyreke played PG in his rookie year he averaged 20/5/5. He would have continued playing PG if he has true point guard instincts and skillset.

With regards to fit, yes there are some concerns with spacing. But we shouldn't also overlook the fact that there might be concerns without a good iso player at the perimeter. Our offense is more on breaking down the defense, drawing defenders and ball movement (pace, space and pass). We can either break it down via Embiid at the post or true a star penetrating perimeter player.

[Mik317]

Russell doesn't look slow to me tho. He's not Wall or Rose fast and maybe not even Curry fast but he isn't slow either.

[ImChillin01]

If Muiday dominates the workouts, 76ers gonna take him easy, ALL ABOUT UPSIDE UPPPPSIDE

[76ciology]

If Muiday dominates the workouts, 76ers gonna take him easy, ALL ABOUT UPSIDE UPPPPSIDE

I have the same sentiment. I think if Mudiay dominates the measurments and workouts, he's automatically a lock for us. Just need to show that he's got upside that can be filled through time.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Yeah I think workouts will be a big determining factor. Don't sleep on Kris Dunn either. We could always trade down and get him.

[SparksFly87]

I do think we need to stop the comparisons of Russell to Curry. Curry is a once in a generation type player. He's also a better shooter with better handles and quicker than Russell. I would be shocked if Russell is even close to as good as Curry. I think Russell can be a lesser version of Klay Thompson or a better version of Beal.

Mudiay could be a better version of Jrue if he can develop his jump shot. Maybe he could be a better version of Tyreke. I think if Mudiay hits his absolute peak meaning he has a consistent jump shot then he could be a taller less quick version of Tony Parker. That right there could be the best PG in the league.

Tony Parker was never the best point guard in the league and his best attribute is his quickness.