As the 2015 NBA Draft looms with the Sixers clutching on to the third pick, speculation is flying as the final hours dwindle away. It’s obvious that no one knows what goes on in Hinkie’s head, and sometimes whether or not there is anything going on with some moves that were paired with palpable shock value.
The consensus is that the Philadelphia 76ers should take D’Angelo Russell with the third overall pick Thursday night. However, a faction of fans have been throwing around comparisons with another Ohio State Buckeye who was a bust for the Sixers in the 2010 NBA Draft. Actually, the Evan Turner comparisons have been around since before the draft talk. While there are some slight similarities, for the most part this is a lopsided comparison in Russell’s favor.
Attitude is a huge difference between the two players. Turner has earned the reputation of a petulant child in his travels throughout the NBA. He has fought with his coaches and teammates alike, most notably being former Sixer head coach Doug Collins and former Pacer Lance Stephenson.
While Turner’s demeanor is abrasive, Aran Smith of NBADraft.net praised Russell for showing “great poise and maturity for a freshman. “His poise at point guard breeds the kind of confidence that adds to his dazzling passing play. Perhaps you’ve seen it on Vine?
https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js
Despite being daring in the passing game, Russell also protects the ball well. He averaged just five assists a game and fewer than three turnovers, a far cry from the collegiate average of Turner. A prone habit that earned him the moniker of “Evan Turnover.” His turnover ratio made him a poor example of a point guard in the NBA. Russell fortunately has no negative nicknames attached to him.
Russell has been praised for his point guard skills. He is a true point guard who can run the game. His ability to spot the open man down court, and ankle-breaking dribbling skills render him a valuable piece the Sixers have been missing for some time now. And when there is no other open man, he can pull up and shoot himself. Russell is a sharpshooter who has a rapid-fire release off of the dribble. At Ohio State, he shot 41-percent from beyond the arc, much better than Turner’s 36 percent for the Buckeyes.
The dependability of Russell from beyond just adds to the three point prowess of Robert Covington and Jerami Grant. If the Sixers can possess a three headed monster from beyond like that, it would be a safe bet to take the over on the season.
While his differences from Turner give Russell a more appealing upside there are also some similarities that brought this comparison about in the first place. Both players have trouble getting to the line, with Russell only averaging 5.2 trips to the line for every 40 minutes played. A cause for this could be that Russell has a tendency to be blocked at the rim, which could lead to him shying away and relying on his perimeter shot where he won’t draw as much contact. His defense needs work, but I don’t see Russell having any issue adjusting his game to the NBA level.
I wouldn’t be afraid that Russell is the next Turner at all. Turner was certainly a whiff with the number two overall pick in 2010, but in order for Hinkie’s plan to be successful he cannot make that mistake in this draft. There is no sure thing for the Sixers in the draft with chatter that the Los Angeles Lakers have interest in Russell. So tomorrow night he could not even be sitting there at number three and the Sixers will have to adjust. One thing that should have Sixer fans wiping their collective brow is that if it’s not Russell and ends up being Jahlil Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, or Kristaps Porzingis all options for the Sixers this year are healthy and should be able to start in the NBA this season.
It’s refreshing to get a break from an injured top draft pick.
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