Philadelphia 76ers: Which Duke freshman fits best in Philly?
Zion Williamson may be the most impressive college basketball player I’ve ever seen.
According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, right now, Williamson would be the second heaviest player in the entire NBA at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, trailing only Boban Marjanovic, who just so happens to be almost a foot taller.
And oh yeah, he’s only 18.
However, while Williamson very well may be the best player in all of college basketball, and could end up going number one overall next summer, he’s not exactly a great fit alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
Don’t get me wrong, Williams has game, and very well may win the 2021 NBA dunking competition, but his lack of an outside shot would be a significant deficiency for a team like the 76ers that need to surround a player like Simmons with outside shooters.
Williamson can score, early and often in fact, but he doesn’t project to be an even average NBA 3-point shooter, let alone one that’d be capable of knocking down three-of-eight night after night.
Now don’t get me wrong, if the Sixers were to somehow have Williamson fall into their lap without having to give up an asset, I’m sure Brett Brown could find a way to incorporate him into the offense, and field one of the most effective one-two-three punches inside the league has ever seen, but unless his game develops considerably on the wings over the next six months, Williamson merely is not a fit with the Philadelphia 76ers.