The 2016 NBA Draft is a little over a month away, and for new GM Bryan Colangelo and the Philadelphia 76ers, this year’s draft is very important to take the next step in the rebuilding process.
The Sixers have three picks in the first round, including the first overall pick, which will be used on either LSU’s Ben Simmons or Duke’s Brandon Ingram.
If the Sixers draft Ingram or Simmons with the first pick, they will need to address the point guard position. Luckily, they could use either the No. 24 or No. 26 overall picks to draft University of Maryland, standout sophomore point guard Melo Trimble.
Before I go into detail about what Trimble brings to the table, we need to take a look at the Sixers point guard situation as it currently stands. Right now, point guards Ish Smith and Isaiah Canaan are slated to be free agents this summer, but don’t be surprised if the Sixers bring Smith back for a couple more years.
Smith, who has been a journeyman point guard for majority of his NBA career, started to make a name for himself this season with the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers. Smith began the season with the Pelicans, and got his 2015-16 season started on the right foot. In 27 games with the Pelicans, he averaged 8.9 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 turnovers in 22.9 minutes per game.
Then in December, Smith was acquired by the Sixers, and immediately was inserted as the team’s starting point guard. With Smith back in the fold, both Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor’s game improved. In 50 games with the Sixers, Smith averaged 14.9 points, 7.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 turnovers in 32.4 minutes per game.
Unlike playing with the Pelicans, Smith had to become more of an offensive player with the Sixers, leading to an increase in his shooting percentages. With the Sixers, Smith shot 40.5-percent from the field and 33.6-percent from three-point range.
However, when it comes to the other two point guards on the roster in T.J. McConnell and Kendall Marshall, Marshall seems to be the odd man out of the Sixers’ point guard rotation. On the other hand, McConnell showed that he can be a capable NBA point guard, as he worked his way up through the NBA Summer League.
This season, McConnell averaged 6.1 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 turnovers in 19.8 minutes per game. For a rookie, McConnell’s shooting percentages weren’t bad as he shot 47.0-percent from the field and 34.8-percent from three-point range.
With that said, the Sixers still need a scoring point guard to compliment both Smith and McConnell. This is where Trimble comes into play. Trimble, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard, had a solid sophomore season leading the Terrapins to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to the Kansas Jayhawks in the Sweet 16.
This past season, Trimble’s averages fell from his freshman year, where he averaged 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.5 turnovers in 33.5 minutes per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 14.8 points, 4.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.7 turnovers per game. The reason why his assists went up is because he had a better supporting cast around him in Diamond Stone, Jake Layman, Rasheed Sulaimon and Damonte Dodd.
In DraftExpress’ latest mock draft, they have Trimble going undrafted, and ranked as their 76th best prospect. Many people believe Trimble’s fall in the draft is because of his performance in the NCAA Tournament. In three NCAA Tournament games, Trimble averaged 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 34.0 minutes per game.
While on face value those averages look good, you have to take a deeper look at the box score. Trimble’s best game of the tournament came against South Dakota State, where he scored 19 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists. He also shot 50.0-percent from the field, but was ice cold from three-point range, missing all four attempts.
Trimble’s shooting struggles continued against Hawaii and Kansas. Against those two teams, he shot 35.7-percent and 31.3-percent from the field respectively, along with 16.7-percent and 14.3-percent from three-point range. Trimble’s saving grace in all three of those games, was his propensity to get to the free throw line.
Outside of the numbers, you see a solid point guard prospect that could work well with what the Sixers already have. On offense, he has a quick release as his shooting form reminds me of San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills. He also can get to the basket with ease, which will draw attention to himself and allow Robert Covington and Nik Stauskas to get better looks.
Another positive about Trimble’s game, which he has already started to master, is the pick and roll game with his big men. This past season, he did a great job finding his big man Diamond Stone and leading him to the basket.
Trimble also does a great job in transition, which is a staple of the Sixers’ offense as they want to get out and run. On the fast break, he is always looking for the opening shooter that is running with him to create instant offense.
Right now, since Trimble is an underclassman, and has not signed with an agent. He has until May 25 to decide if he wants to stay in the 2016 NBA Draft. If he does stay, the Sixers could definitely grab him late in the first round, or move the No. 26 overall pick for a second round pick to draft him.
The Sixers will have a world of options on draft night, and Trimble could be one of those viable options that solves their problems.
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