Filip Petrusev
With the 50th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft the Philadelphia Sixers selected Filip Petrusev. It’s not a homerun of a pick but it is an intriguing one this late in the draft.
Petrusev is a stretch-five with elite shooting ability and a good face up game inside. At 6-foot-11 he averaged 23.6 points, on 41.9 percent from three. With his shooting ability he will next to any of the Sixers guards. He can space out and let the guards have more space inside on drives.
Petrusev can be a perfect option in a pick-and-pop two-man game. Which will give guards like Ben Simmons, or Tyrese Maxey the option to kick it back out or attack the rim downhill. He is a decent roller to the basket, and finishes strong at the rim.
Petrusev has shown good ability to pass the ball well for a big man and will often make the extra pass for an easier basket as well.
Petrusev is a solid rebounder for being on the slimmer side. He average 7.6 rebounds while weighing in at 225 pounds. He tracks the ball well off miss shots, and boxes out well. If he wants to find a niche in the Sixers rotation it will have to be with shooting and rebounding.
The Adriatic League MVP has the offensive tools to last in the NBA, but he does lack defensively. He often gets pushed around inside by bigger opponents. He will need to gain weight, so he’s not pushed around too much inside. Petrusev lacks bounce as well. He can get beaten by more athletic bigs on the boards. As long as he boxes out well he will be fine in that regard.
Reports do suggest that Petrusev wants to come to the NBA right away. It is still unclear if the Sixers want to stash him overseas for at least another year, or view as a player who can help right away.
Charles Bassey
After adding draft-and-stash stretch big Filip Petrusev three picks earlier, Daryl Morey bolsters the Sixers’ more immediate center depth. Charles Bassey was a three-year interior force at Western Kentucky. Over his three year tenure, the powerful center averaged 15.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game across 30.5 minutes per game. While he has slightly improved as a three-point shooter, the 20-year-old dominated the paint offensively, and shot 59.6% from the field.
The menacing rebounder has an impressive 7-foot 3-inch wingspan, which allows rim protection to be a significant strength for the former Hilltopper. As a freshman, the newest Sixers earned a place on his conference’s first team while being rewarded with Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. Bassey’s junior year brought along All-Conference USA First Team, Conference USA All-Defense First Team, and Conference USA Player of the Year awards.
The Sixers chose Bassey as a potential fill-in for Dwight Howard, who may be on his way out in free agency, over Maryland wing, Aaron Wiggins (who went two picks later to Oklahoma City), Seton Hall big, Sandro Mamukelashvili (who went one pick later to Milwaukee), and undrafted Michigan State wing, Aaron Henry. The latter, Henry, ultimately was signed to a two-way contract by the Sixers immediately following the 60th pick.
Photo by Robert Johnson/Icon Sportswire
