Grading Every Philadelphia 76ers Player Heading into 2015 NBA All-Star Break
The Philadelphia 76ers are 12-40 while nearly into the NBA All-Star break, and it's time to put a grade on each of their players.
Having the league's youngest team with an average age of 24.1 years old puts the Sixers in a unique situation. There isn't any kind of "win-now" mentality associated with the franchise. The main objective is to find the right pieces for the future.
It's almost as simple as that.
The grading of each player will take place with a similar philosophy. An individual's 2014-15 performance and statistics will certainly be factored into the equation, but much of the scoring will be weighted toward how well someone fits into Philadelphia and its future as an organization.
Numbers matter, but they don't always tell the whole story. That's especially true with Philly.
Here's a look at the grades for every member of the Sixers as they look to take a short vacation going into the All-Star break.
All statistics in this article are accurate as of games played through Feb. 8.
The Bottom Seven Members on the Roster
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Furkan Aldemir
Aldemir was given opportunities to play shortly after signing with the Sixers, but they've recently become few and far between after he failed to show much upside.
Never scoring more than four points in 19 games is troubling from an offensive perspective. It's tough for his rebounding—the only area he showed any promise in—to make up for disappearing on one end of the floor.
Grade: D
Malcolm Thomas
The Sixers are Thomas' fifth team in four years, and his time with the organization appears to be running dry.
He hasn't played in the team's last eight games after suiting up for a total of 17 since being signed by Philadelphia in late September.
There's a good chance of his age being a factor. Twenty-six isn't old in most NBA franchises, but it makes him the fourth-oldest player on the Sixers' roster. The benefit of having Thomas on the squad isn't enough to prevent Philly from potentially using his spot on somebody younger.
Grade: D+
Tim Frazier
Frazier recently signed a 10-day contract and blew onto the scene with 11 assists and two steals in only his second career game.
There's no telling as to whether or not the Sixers will offer him another 10-day contract or sign him for the rest of the season. His 12.5 shooting percentage doesn't help his cause, but Philadelphia is in the market for a backup point guard, so you never know.
A couple more games with assist numbers eclipsing the double-digit mark will certainly help his case.
Grade: C
Larry Drew II
Drew II is a lot like Frazier in terms of a point guard getting an opportunity on a bad team. The difference here is that Drew II has more of a scorer's mentality, as he's only had more than six assists two times in 12 contests.
There are only 30 games left in the season, so expect to see the Sixers try to find out if they have something in guys like Drew II.
It's not like Philly has anything to lose.
Grade: D
JaKarr Sampson
Sampson has been the perfect rookie role player.
There isn't much he can do except be consistent when playing only 12.7 minutes per game. A shooting percentage of 45.5 on 3.6 shots shows he is doing exactly that.
His unique 6'9" frame could prove to be valuable for Philadelphia at the shooting guard position. It'll likely take time before he's given a true shot at proving his worth, though.
Grade: C+
His name is here for more of a laugh than anything else.
He's technically on the roster after being traded to Philadelphia, but he's still suspended without pay for both refusing to play for the Sixers and showing up to anything.
Grade: Missing In Action (definitely a poor play on words here)
Still waiting on this one.
It appears as though Richardson believes he can still play, so that's definitely a start. The next step will actually be getting onto the court.
That's something he hasn't done in over two years now.
Grade: To Be Determined
Joel Embiid: Unknown
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Joel Embiid's return to the court looks like it's on the same path as Nerlens Noel during the 2013-14 season. Philadelphia appears to be cautious about rushing Embiid back before he's truly ready, as lower-body injuries tend to be especially dangerous to bigger men.
There's a very real chance of him missing the entire season.
A lack of court time hasn't slowed down Embiid and the headlines, though. He's managed to touch every corner of the box thus far. The rookie center has asked celebrities out on Twitter, been referred to as overweight and is reportedly working on his three-point shot.
The stories have all been fun in their own ways, but they manage to increase the level of desire for his return. If his play is half as entertaining as he has been, then we all might be witnesses to a great career.
Grade: Unknown
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute: C+
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The Sixers are Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's fourth team in seven NBA seasons. He is the third-oldest player on Philadelphia's roster at 28 years old, and he is a great example of a positive veteran influence.
Mbah a Moute's game has centered around defense since he came into the league. He's an undersized 6'8" power forward who uses his strength, quickness and leverage to neutralize a lot of his bigger opponents. Being able to guard multiple positions also makes him a big asset.
Still, though, his contributions on the court don't explain why he is so valuable. Providing support to Joel Embiid by traveling with him to Cameroon after Embiid's younger brother sadly passed away do.
There aren't words to describe how important somebody like Mbah a Moute is. Especially in situations like the one just described.
His play has been all over the place, but he's right where he needs to be when it comes to being a veteran leader.
Grade: C+
Henry Sims: B-
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Henry Sims has passed every test involved with him being a reliable backup big man.
He was put into a unique situation last year after being moved to the Sixers at the trade deadline, and Sims was finally given a chance to prove that he belongs in the league. He would go on to play in 26 games, averaging 11.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game.
A healthy Noel meant that Sims' playing time would easily drop during the 2014-15 season, though. It was unclear whether he was the kind of player who needs to always be on the court to play well or someone who could produce regardless of if he played for one quarter or the entire game.
We definitely got the answer.
He's shown last year's performance wasn't a fluke, as he is currently averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds. The best part is how Sims is managing to do it all in only 20.7 minuter per contest.
Philadelphia has done a great job of building a roster with young talent designated to specific roles. Sims is another example of that.
Grade: B-
Jerami Grant: B
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There aren't many expectations that come along with being the No. 39 pick in the draft. People don't expect much from players selected in the middle-to-late second round because there is almost always a reason why 30 or more people were picked in front of them.
Jerami Grant must be laughing at that kind of logic.
The former Syracuse small forward is beginning to truly come into his own after starting the season with a number of nagging little injuries. He's making it happen on a nearly game-by-game basis as well.
CSN Philly's Dei Lynam interviewed head coach Brett Brown about what is going right for the rookie as the Sixers hit the All-Star break. Here's what he had to say about Grant's game:
"He can defend multiple positions. He has shown the ability to drive and finish with authority with dunks. He can rebound and start a fast break with kick-aheads, finding the open man. Now he is showing he can pick and pop and hit threes. Defense and offense, his growth is rapid and right before all our eyes.
"
There's no question about Grant's rapid development coming as a surprise. He was a good college player who showed signs of being able to play at the NBA level, but not enough to justify a first-round pick.
It clearly didn't matter to Grant, though. Philadelphia selected him in the second round, and he's beginning to look like yet another steal.
One who is clearly getting better and better with each game.
Grade: B
Tony Wroten: C+
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If Tony Wroten had managed to stay healthy for the majority of the season while keeping up his level of play, then he would have received a much higher grade here.
Unfortunately, a partially torn ACL meant his season would be over after playing in only 30 games.
He did a fantastic job of starting at point guard when Michael Carter-Williams was recovering from shoulder surgery to start the season. Wroten scored at least 20 points and dished out six assists in six of the team's first seven games. His role slightly diminished after Carter-Williams' return, but he had done his job and shown his value by that point.
The good news for Wroten is that he will only be turning 22 years old in April. A knee injury at this point in his career is more of a setback than a true concern—especially since the ACL was only partially torn. There's a lot of basketball left in his career, and he's done more than enough to prove his worth moving forward as a member of the Sixers.
Grade: C+
K.J. McDaniels: B
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K.J. McDaniels has been Philadelphia's top-10 play waiting to happen. No defender is safe from being put on a poster when the Sixers are on offense, and he's proven to be a fantastic defender who could have possibly had a career as a professional volleyball player.
His 6'6" height is only bolstered by a 6'11" wingspan that has him in the No. 2 spot in blocks among rookies. McDaniels' length also contributes to versatility on the offensive end of the floor. Andrew Wiggins is the only other active rookie who averages more points than Philly's first-year shooting guard.
The Sixers will be in for quite a ride when it comes to McDaniels and his contract at the end of the season, too.
He turned down a guaranteed rookie deal that could have lasted up to four years, instead deciding to take a one-year contract at the league minimum. The downside was none of the money was guaranteed before the season, with the advantage coming from the fact that he would be able to renegotiate a potentially big contract at the end of this year if his play warranted it.
It looks like McDaniels will be coming out on the bright side of his risky-business decision. It will be more than fun to see how it all goes down, as he's played very well this season.
Grade: B
Robert Covington: A-
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Robert Covington has been nothing short of fantastic in his first year with the Sixers. The 6'9" small forward has established himself as one of the team's top scoring options and one of the most consistent outside shooters. Few people may have known about the Tennessee State product before. However, Philadelphia fans should now get comfortable with his game as it looks like he's here to stay.
RealGM's Shams Charania reported that Philly is planning on Covington being a long-term piece in its future. Here's what Charania had to say:
"A few NBA teams have placed interest in Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington, but the 24-year-old sharpshooter has been made largely unavailable from trade inquiries as a core part of the franchise’s long-term plans, league sources told RealGM.
"
Covington has been a breath of fresh air in a season full of questions about where the team is headed. Few players sign with an organization as someone people haven't heard of, then end the year as one of the franchise's top players.
Finding a potential wing of the future was high on the Sixers' priority list, but they probably didn't think they would find one this year.
Covington had different plans.
Grade: A-
Hollis Thompson: C-
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Hollis Thompson has been a disappointment, as he looks nearly identical to the player he was last season.
Here's a look at his 2013-14 statistics versus how he's been doing this year:
| Year | Minutes Per Game | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Field Goal Percentage | Three-Point Percentage | Free-Throw Percentage |
| 2013-14 | 22.6 | 6.0 | 3.2 | .460 | .401 | .712 |
| 2014-15 | 25.6 | 8.2 | 3.1 | .403 | .368 | .650 |
An increase in playing time has only led to a drop in each shooting category, even while firing 2.4 more times per game. The lack of growth on the offensive end is definitely concerning, and Thompson needs to do everything in his power to finish the year off with better numbers.
It looks like the Sixers are beginning to find a number of valuable wings in players like Covington, Grant and McDaniels.
Thompson needs to be careful about falling behind.
Grade: C-
Nerlens Noel: B+
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It can be a little difficult to get a read on Nerlens Noel right now. He doesn't shine in the areas that get much attention, such as scoring and rebounding. He also looks a lot like a rookie who is still picking up different things like personnel and offensive positioning on the fly.
Look closely, though, and you'll see that Noel does the little things exceptionally well. Better than anybody else on the team, in fact.
It's a shame that Noel's sheer effort level—especially on the defensive end—can't be measured. He gives up a lot of size in terms of strength to the majority of his opponents, but he makes up for it by using his athleticism. You'll rarely see him play directly behind who he's guarding. Instead, he'll utilize a quarter or three-quarter front which gives him better position while being able to utilize his length in order to deny the basketball.
It's impressive to think about Noel leading all rookies in both blocks and steals. It's even more amazing to consider that he is in the top-20 in both categories across the entire league.
There are few centers who can cover as much ground as Noel when it comes to defending pick-and-rolls and rotating to the basket. The thought of pairing him with Embiid should make Sixers fans incredibly excited for what the future holds.
Philadelphia should have one of the top defenses within the next two to three years.
Grade: B+
Michael Carter-Williams: C
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Michael Carter-Williams had an incredible rookie season. His 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game were more than enough to make up for his brutal shooting percentages and high turnover rate. There was clearly something to build on, and he was recognized for his play by winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award.
Year 2 isn't going as well for the 23-year-old point guard.
His points, assists and rebounds are nearly identical from a statistical standpoint, but his areas of struggle have only gotten worse. Carter-Williams' 3.5 turnovers per game in his first year have now climbed to 4.2. Last year's 40.5 field-goal percentage and 26.4 three-point percentage have somehow fallen to brutal numbers like 38.0 and 25.6, respectively.
There's a reason why Philadelphia continues to throw his name into trade talks.
It's clear that Carter-Williams is a uniquely talented player, but there are some serious warning signs. Maintaining possession of the basketball and being able to knock down a shot are crucial for the point guard position.
They are also serious trouble spots for the second-year Syracuse product.
Grade: C
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