With the NBA Draft combine over and the Draft itself less than a month away, it’s time to look at some of the prospects who could interest the Sixers at 23. After the Brooklyn Nets elected to defer and instead take the Sixers’ 2023 first-round pick, it became a certainty that the 76ers will make the selection with the 23rd pick — that’s not to say that the player couldn’t be drafted once selected. That’s a story for another day. As for now, the Sixers should be looking at the top players in their draft range. One prospect who should interest the wing-needy Philadelphia 76ers‘ is former Duke Blue Devil Wendell Moore.
Who is Wendell Moore?
Born in Richmond, Virginia, Moore became one of the most sought-after prospects in North Carolina after moving to Concord, NC. Fielding offers from North Carolina and NC State — among others — Moore eventually landed on Duke University as his school. After struggling in his first two seasons with the Blue Devils, Moore finally found his footing in year three, averaging career-highs nearly across the board.
The athletic wing grew as a scorer, defender, passer, and most importantly, as a leader last season for the Blue Devils. Duke made it all the way to the Final Four under Moore’s leadership in this past season’s NCAA tournament. While the team ultimately fell short in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season, the team fought to the bitter end as a team. Win or lose — in this case, lose — they did it as a unit.
Measurements
- Height (with shoes) | 6’5.5″
- Height (w/o shoes) | 6’4.25″
- Weight | 217lbs
- Wingspan | 7’0.5″
Wendell Moore boasts the size and athleticism of an ideal modern NBA wing. His size, build, and length allow him to be an impactful defender both on and off-ball. The functional strength and physicality that Moore possesses make him an intimidating defender. His wingspan as well lends him — for lack of a better term — a helping hand. Moore boasts one of the largest wingspan differentials in the entire draft, making him a relentless pest to his opponents.
Wendell Moore Player Comparison | Caleb Martin
While Moore’s measurables more closely resemble the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown or former Sixer Andre Iguodala, his play at the next level is projected to be much more similar to Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin. Moore and Martin share a similar frame and make their bones with their energy, effort, and defense.
Martin — similar to Moore — is a picture-perfect 3&D wing. It was an impressive season for Martin, who averaged 9.2 points while shooting 41.3% from deep. Martin was crucial to the Heat’s success as the team finished the year as the top seed in the East and came one game away from the NBA Finals.
A hard-nosed, high-flyer who can truly be described as a 3&D wing; this phrase describes both Wendell Moore and Caleb Martin to a tee. Moore has the athleticism, defensive prowess, and shooting ability to fill a similar role as Martin for the Philadelphia 76ers. In Moore, the 76ers may have an opportunity to land a “Caleb Martin type,” unlike in free agency, as it sounds as though Martin’s primary desire is to remain with the Heat.
Fit with the 76ers
Uncertain is without a doubt a word one could use to describe the Sixers’ offseason, especially when it pertains to how the team will handle the wing positions. Danny Green will not suit up for the 76ers until late next season — if ever — and the possibility of a trade remains for both Matisse Thybulle and Furkan Korkmaz. While normally, a player like Moore wouldn’t see much action with the current coaching regime, if one or more of these current options prove to be unavailable, the rookie could see quality minutes from the jump, especially considering what he brings to the table.
Moore brings a skill set that is so alien to this current 76ers team. No one player has it all; athleticism, shooting, defensive chops, and while Moore may never be considered among the best in any one of these areas, to have a player who is fluent in each of these would certainly impact this team’s bench. While 23 may be considered a bit high for Moore given recent mocks, considering the needed fit, he just might be worth the reach.
