The Philadelphia 76ers main superstar, Joel Embiid, has been the center of their franchise for a decade. However, since he was declared out for the season yet again, it might be time to look for his replacement.
Fansided’s Rucker Haringey looked no further than the upcoming NBA Draft, and predicted that the Sixers would select Maryland’s Derik Queen, an elite collegiate post-scorer.
“On offense, Queen can hurt opponents in a variety of ways,” Haringey wrote. “He has quality low-post skills but can also step out on the floor and attack the rim with face up opportunities. Queen also shows occasional flashes of brilliance as a passer for the Terrapins. If things break right for him, he can be a center that drives an efficient offense with the ball in his hands.”
Unlike the other top big man in the upcoming draft, Khaman Maluach, who is all defense, Queen is all offense. This season at Maryland, Queen is averaging 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, two assists, one block, and 1.1 steals per game.
While he looks like a good defender on paper, Haringey is convinced there is less than to be desired.
“As good as Queen can be on offense, he is equally as bad on defense,” Haringey stated. “His effort level on that floor leaves much to be desired. Ramping up his defensive intensity could cure a lot of what ails him. He lacks the elite athleticism or length required to be a top-notch rim protector even if he plays with maximum effort.”
Queen is definitely a project, but he also has a ton of potential. If the Sixers truly want to move on from Embiid, Queen is definitely a top option.
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