Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking Every Guard On The Team

The Philadelphia 76ers have eight guards, both point and shooting. How do they rank?

The Philadelphia 76ers are still searching for a franchise guard. They drafted ball-handler Ben Simmons, but he’s taking on more of a point forward role. They added three guards this offseason, but those are serving as more of a short-term remedy.

Last season, the guard position saw a large amount of rotation. Isaiah Canaan started the season as the point guard, but proved he’s not an effective option to control the offense. The breakout of T.J. McConnell early in the season helped a bit. The Philadelphia 76ers still decided to trade for a guard and reacquired Ish Smith, who sparked the team in his first month back.

This upcoming season should be miles better for the guard position, although there will still be some questions. How do the eight guard position listed players currently on the roster rank?

8. Brandon Paul, SG

Brandon Paul was signed after a good Summer League performance. Paul was able to show that he could be a decent shooter playing next to Ben Simmons. Paul is like a bigger version of Canaan in terms of being more of a shooter than a distributor.

Paul could land the last spot on the team, but it would have to take a big showing from him in training camp. Paul’s natural talent is unquestioned, but he has little track record to prove that he can be an every day NBA player.

7. Nik Stuaskas, SG

Nik Stuaskas has fell out of favor with fans of the Philadelphia 76ers, but he could also be on the hot seat for his poor play. Stuaskas was brought in for virtually no cost in an experiment to see whether the guard can spark his game in a franchise.

Instead, Stuaskas showed an inconsistent shooting touch and trouble finishing around the rim. He shot 32.6% from the outside, which wasn’t exactly what the Philadelphia 76ers were looking for. Stuaskas was able to show some streakiness at points of the season, but the main aspect of improvement came with the ball in his hands.

Stuaskas may not be too far off from Brandon Paul in terms of talent, but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that he can create space for himself on the offense. I’d expect to see Stuaskas on the team but playing in a much lesser role.

6. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, SG

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot will be somewhat of a long-term project. The rookie comes in with incredible length on the defensive end and a knack for finishing on offense. He has a big chance to become an x-factor ‘3-and-D’ wing as long his outside shot develops.

His ceiling is a prime Trevor Ariza, which is exactly what the Philadelphia 76ers were aiming for with this pick. His ability to cut and attack the basket makes him look promising as a consistent scorer, but that will come with time.

For now, Luwawu-Cabarrot’s raw talent already puts him above Stuaskas.

5. Hollis Thompson, SG

Hollis Thompson is the franchise’s most senior player in terms of years played with the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s even one of the team’s top 3-point scorer in history. Thompson shot 38% from the outside last season and averaged 9.8 points in 28.0 minutes per game.

Thompson’s length also makes him more favorable of an option as it allows for some defensive versatility. Thompson will have another season to prove that he can be an effective shooter off the bench. Thompson’s production should be more efficient as more talented team surrounds him this season.

4. T.J. McConnell, PG

T.J. McConnell was another hidden gem that the Philadelphia 76ers have been able to collect over this long rebuild. McConnell grabbed an unlikely roster spot after a good Summer League performance. He then went on to have an outstanding rookie season.

3. Sergio Rodriguez, PG

In what may be the Philadelphia 76ers’ most fun signing, Sergio Rodriguez brings quickness and a scoring spark off the bench. It’s almost exciting studying how his game has transitioned since his NBA debut a decade ago, to his last appearance in 2010, to his illustrious time with Real Madrid.

Rodriguez isn’t the same player he was a decade ago, he may actually be ten times better. Rodriguez’s quickness was always a factor, but he has developed into a spectacular passer that can change the outcome of an offense possession. Rodriguez has also found a more fluid shooting stroke.

It will be harder to get that shooting stroke off in the NBA than in Europe, but it brings some hope that he can be a nice bench scorer. If Rodriguez’s last season with Real Madrid is an example of what he can do in the NBA, he may even shoot to the top of this list.

2. Jerryd Bayless, PG

Jerryd Bayless will come in as the main pairing for Ben Simmons. Bayless was able to earn himself some nice money after coming off a hot shooting season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Bayless dropped career best 43.7% of his 3-pointers, all while attempting a career high 4.4 3-pointer per game.

Bayless can also handle the ball in relief for Ben Simmons and is also a decent passer. The key factor for success will be whether or not he can continue his hot shooting.

Bayless’ career averages of 8.5 points, 2.9 assists, and 36.5% shooting from the outside would be exactly what the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for.

1. Gerald Henderson, SG

Gerald Henderson was the team’s most high-profiled signing. Henderson had spent 6 seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets before being traded to the Portland Trailblazers for Nicolas Batum. Henderson reached the playoffs for the second time last season and served as a key reserve.

Henderson’s not the best shooter or defender, but he is serviceable in a lot of areas. Henderson is the on-court veteran presence that helps the team move forward in terms of development. He’s not like Elton Brand, who was brought in to temper the young locker room.

Henderson was brought into the Philadelphia 76ers with expectations of competing and helping this team take a next step in terms of the win column. Expect Henderson’s numbers to creep closer towards his last few seasons with Charlotte.

Next: Simmons' Future Challenges

The Philadelphia 76ers have found some temporary guard help, but it’s clear that there will be some retooling at the position as the team moves forward. For now, the team has made an effort to make a huge short-term improvement.