The Philadelphia 76ers won’t know the status of their first-round pick until the lottery on May 12 as the pick is only top 6 protected. However, if the Sixers do end up keeping that pick, then there are going to be plenty of options for President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Co. to choose from.
It’s time to look at some potential draft prospects. The Sixers will have plenty of talented players to choose from and add to their stockpile of young pieces. It’s time to really break down the games of each of these prospects and see who best fits a Philadelphia team still focused on contending in the 2025-26 season if it can get some injury luck for once.
This series continues with Duke sharpshooter Kon Knueppel. He isn’t the flashiest player in this draft, but he will be helpful to an NBA team and the Sixers should give him a look should they keep their pick in the back end of the top 6.
Here is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Knueppel’s game and how he could potentiall fit the Sixers:
Knueppel’s 2024-25 stats
| Category | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | FG% | 3FG% |
| Knueppel’s numbers | 14.4 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 47.9% | 40.6% |
Strengths
While not the most athletic or explosive player, Knueppel uses his smarts in order to free himself up for open looks from the perimeter. He has such a high basketball IQ which allows him to navigate screens and come up with open looks on the perimeter. He also has a nice handle which allows him to get to the basket off the bounce. That is a good asset to have when considering he’s also listed at 6-foot-7. When considering the fact that the Sixers always need shooters to put around Joel Embiid on the offensive end, Knueppel would make a lot of sense if Philadelphia is selecting No. 5 or No. 6.
Weaknesses
Knueppel does have some defensive questions he must answer. He wasn’t terrible at Duke, but going from college to the NBA is a big leap that he must tackle. Defensive skills can always be developed over time–Tyrese Maxey is a big example of defensive improvement–but one has to wonder if Knueppel is going to be able to have the same leap when considering his athletic limitations. He will have to bring that elite jumper to the league to be a rotation player.
Potential fit
Shooting is paramount in today’s NBA. Every team needs a player who can knock down open looks from deep and Knueppel fits that bill. His high basketball IQ will help him take those leaps forward and be able to stick in the league. If the Sixers were to take him, he would fit in right away off the bench and give coach Nick Nurse another option to turn to in terms of floor spacing at this stage.
#sharpshooter #Sixers
