The Hink Tank: Zach LaVine

Two days ago, I began my series that will be taking an in-depth look at who the Sixers options will most likely be at pick #10 and who they should take. My first installment focused on a SG out of Michigan State named Gary Harris. This second installment will look at another wing player who this time is from the University of California Los Angeles, Zach LaVine.

The name of the game with LaVine is upside, as a 19 year old freshman who can jump 46 (!!!) inches in the air, the ceiling may only be an obstacle on his way to the moon. LaVine has the most pure athleticism in the draft outside of the top 5 guys and may even rival Wiggins for most athletic in the draft, so that should put him into perspective for you. Also, LaVine is seen as a more than capable shooter from outside, that talent can be seen in the following video. Be sure to note how easily the flashy dunks look for him towards the end of the video. Still, even with all the shooting talent and athleticism, LaVine is one of the highest risk players in the draft.


Considered to be a raw talent, there's a lot that has to come to fruition for LaVine to be the player he's actually capable of being. At 6'6", the length and quickness is there to become a shutdown defender in the league, but whether or not that pipe dream is ever realized is another question. Another question mark of LaVine is how well he can handle an advanced scoring load at the next level. As the season wore on at UCLA, LaVine'e stats slowly took a turn for the worse as he took on more of the scoring responsibility for his team. For the season, LaVine didn't even manage to average double digit points per game. Part of LaVine's struggles were due to his inability to read into what a defense was throwing at him; he's also only an average ball handler, which doesn't bode well for the kid who hopes to become an NBA point guard. The good news for LaVine is that all of those problems are coachable, so long as he is willing to work hard.

So how does LaVine ultimately fit in with the Sixers? He's clearly a much more risky choice than a Gary Harris would be, but does that mean he's the wrong choice? Based on how the Sixers played this year, (1st in the league in PACE) LaVine could find a real nice niche in Philadelphia. First and foremost, he fits the need of a pure backcourt shooter that the Sixers desperately need to pair with MCW. Also LaVine thrives on the fast break so he would have no problem keeping up with the Sixers offense. Obviously I don't want the Sixers to "waste" a draft pick on the most high risk player in the draft if he turns out to be a bust, but the Sixers have one of, if not the best developmental staff in the entire NBA and if anyone can fix LaVine's problems, it's them.

LaVine is a really good look for the Sixers for 3 reasons:

1. He'll almost definitely be there at 10, there's a very low chance anyone inside the top 9 takes a chance on him.

2. He brings the most talent and upside to the team out of anybody outside of the top 8 and after the season the Sixers had, they need as much of that as they can get.

3. Sixers may be the best fit for LaVine in the league outside of like, the Spurs, because everybody's a good fit with the Spurs. LaVine combined with the Sixers coaching staff and offense may be the perfect storm for the freak of nature that is Zach LaVine. I think the worst LaVine becomes under the Sixers coaching staff is a future 6th man of the year, and I'll take that.

Zach LaVine will be the most "hindsight is 20/20" prospect in the draft, but I think his future success, more than anyone else, hinges on what team actually takes him. If the Sixers don't take a chance on him, I don't blame them but it could spell bad news for LaVine's career. Hinkie loves to take chances on players but that's usually when the stakes are a little lower than a top 10 pick in a loaded draft class. If Zach LaVine's name gets called to the Sixers on draft night, fans should know that the Sixers landed themselves a real wild card who could turn into a MCW-esque steal, or a Hasheem Thabeet type bust. Only difference is that LaVine won't be the Sixers only pick in this year's draft and will by no means be a franchise defining pick, so there's some extra motivation for buying into the risk. And seriously though, how could you be upset on draft night with getting a guy who jumps like this…?

South Street Draft Rating: 8/10

Next up: Dario Saric

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