Breaking Down Philadelphia 76ers' Shooting Guard Position for 2014-15 Season
After a 19-63 season, it's hard to say the shooting guard position was anything but a complete and utter failure for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Gone are the two men who played the majority of the minutes at the 2 last year—James Anderson and Evan Turner.
The 25-year-old Anderson—the 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year and former All-American—signed a one-year deal over the summer with Lithuanian League champion Zalgiris Kaunas after being waived by the 76ers in June. He had his best year as a pro in Philly, averaging over 10 points a game in 62 starts.
Turner, the much-maligned 2010 No. 2 pick, never lived up to his lofty draft status. At the trade deadline's 11th hour back in February, Turner and forward Lavoy Allen were dealt to the Indiana Pacers for Danny Granger and a second-round pick. He signed with the Boston Celtics in July.
With Turner never fulfilling his promise as a potential franchise cornerstone, the shooting guard position is one in which there is no discernible direction, let alone a future franchise player. Anderson was nothing more than a temporary fill-in, a journeyman holding a spot for someone who's a more permanent fit.
For a team whose history boasts the likes of Hal Greer, Andrew Toney and the incomparable Allen Iverson as notable names from backcourt's past, who will be next in line to stand alongside Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid when the 76ers are ready to take the next step?
Influx of New Faces
With all the roster trimming 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie has done in the last 12 months, he focused most of his efforts on improving this once-proud position.
Philly drafted K.J. McDaniels in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft, and he should be an immediate contributor on the perimeter.
Alexey Shved was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Luc Mbah a Moute in exchange for Thaddeus Young.
Second-round pick Jordan McRae would have been in the mix as well had he not signed a deal with Australia's Melbourne United in August. Veteran Jason Richardson, a reliable three-point shooter who's had a productive career at the 2, is listed on most depth charts as a small forward—if his balky knees and $6.6 million expiring contract actually see the court this year.
He missed all of last season nursing a knee injury.
The influx of new guards will be a welcome addition to a team lacking any noticeable depth in the backcourt. There are plenty of holes and opportunities for new guys to carve out a place on the team beyond this season.
Looking Ahead
According to both ESPN and Rotoworld, there are four names to keep an eye on as contributors at the 2: Shved, Elliot Williams, McDaniels, and Tony Wroten—the explosive yet inconsistent scorer who logged the most minutes there out of this group last season.
Williams averaged just 17 minutes per game during his 67 appearances last year. He averaged six points and shot just 29 percent from three-point range.
The remaining three years on Williams' contract are not guaranteed. He can be waived at any time, but given the team's thin roster and dearth of talent in the backcourt, he has as good a chance as anyone to make the roster—albeit in a reserve role.
Out of the top-20 five-man units the 76ers deployed last season, only five had a positive plus-minus during their time on the court. The second-most successful lineup consisted of four players still on the roster (a feat in itself): Carter-Williams, Williams, Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims.
In a minuscule sample size (28.7 minutes) they had a plus-10 rating, per 82games.com. They were also one of only three units to have an effective field-goal percentage over 50. If head coach Brett Brown and Hinkie believe that lineup can improve with increased playing time and continuity, it could bode well for Williams.
The Russian-born Shved has shown flashes during his nascent NBA career but has lacked the consistency to force his way into significant playing time, even with a franchise like Minnesota which was plagued by injuries. A playmaking 6'6" guard, he struggled often during his two NBA seasons. He saw a decline in minutes last season, playing just 10 a game, down from 23 the year before.
He shot just 32 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the arc.
Shved is a project for Hinkie and Brown and will have a chance to prove his worth this year before the organization makes a decision on his $4.1 million qualifying offer in 2015.
This leaves us with the two players who will share the majority of minutes at the 2: Wroten and McDaniels.
Wroten started 16 games last season but spent most of the year as the scoring punch off the bench. He's explosive as a slasher and ball-handler, with per-36 numbers of 19 points, four rebounds and four assists. He lacks a consistent outside shot—just 21 percent from three-point range last year—and is a work in progress on the defensive end, but he has legitimate upside.
He impressed all summer during his run in the Seattle Pro-Am thanks to his ridiculous handle.
Wroten can also log minutes at point guard, which will be needed with Pierre Jackson lost for the season and no reliable depth beyond Carter-Williams and Casper Ware.
McDaniels is the real intriguing prospect who projects to be a long-term fixture at the position. While at Clemson, he led the entire ACC in blocks and won Defensive Player of the Year. At 6'6" with a long reach, he looks to be a perfect fit in Brown's scheme.
He's a fantastic athlete and should fit in nicely on the defensive end alongside Carter-Williams, Noel and Embiid. The 76ers finished dead last in team defense last year, having given up 109.9 points per game.
Offensively he runs the floor well and can finish, but his three-point shooting was a pleasant surprise during summer league, shooting over 50 percent from long range. Already a stout defender, if McDaniels can keep his shot consistent, he could step in immediately as an effective 3-and-D player. And since Philly also finished dead last in offensive rating, McDaniels' emergence would be huge.
McDaniels and Wroten, with some seasoning and maturity, could become two key players on this team in the not-so-distant future. In the meantime, they'll share the backcourt load with Carter-Williams through the growing pains of the upcoming season.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference. Contract information courtesy of Sham Sports. Follow Stephen on Twitter for more hoops discussion.
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