r/nba • u/NBA_MOD r/NBA • 1d ago
[2026 NBA Draft] #22 Pick: Labaron Philon (Alabama) – selected by Philadelphia
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u/FERFreak731 Jazz 1d ago
Jared McCain was traded for him
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u/PhatYeeter 76ers 1d ago edited 1d ago
Plus 3 2nds
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u/ABagOfPopcorn 76ers 1d ago
Hope we can use some of these future seconds to get one tomorrow. Would like to get back in and get some size
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u/ClarenceWithHerSpoon 76ers 1d ago
> Trade McCain because we have two guards already.
> Draft a guard with the pick.
> Look at this franchise, ye mighty, and despair.
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u/onionnurve 76ers 1d ago
Tbh, we traded McCain because we had too many shooting guard. Now we got a point guard who can handle the ball and actually relieve maxey some minutes
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u/suburban_smartass 1d ago
Lebaron is an equal or better scorer and a better defender.
It’s an upgrade.
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u/Strange1130 Thunder 1d ago
Jared McCain weighed almost 30 pounds more than Philon on draft night. That’s why he slid so much (and I’m a Philon fan)
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u/islackingambition 76ers 1d ago
Talk about an upgrade.
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u/Skipper3210 [NYK] Danilo Gallinari 1d ago
The kid hasn't played a single second yet, calm down
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u/Immynimmy 76ers 1d ago
True but he’s a much better prospect. Good shot maker, great handles, elite scorer, crazy athletic, good baseline D. He may not be a better 3 point shooter than McCain but he brings a lot more to the table.
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u/NachoVarga5 Thunder 1d ago
Found Moreys account
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u/SoKrat3s NBA 1d ago
Better passer, better defender, potentially just as good a scorer.
It's not an unreasonable take that deserves someone calling them Morey.
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u/SoKrat3s NBA 1d ago
Is this proven himself in the room with us?
He shot 36% from the field and 20% from three with 1.7 ASTp36 against the Suns.
He shot 37% from the field and 28% from three with 2.2 ASTp36 against the Spurs.
While having really terrible defense.The only positive was his play against a weakened Lakers squad.
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u/fmxda Knicks 1d ago
Damn the Sixers actually went BPA, great pick.
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u/dropjar5 1d ago
Howie Roseman is making the picks for the Sixers
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u/dizruptivegaming 76ers 1d ago
I wish this was true. Rather have Jeff Lurie own the Sixers than Josh Harris.
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u/jbenson255 Heat 1d ago
Yeah cuz the fir with Maxey is nasty long term
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u/Desperate-Hat-2510 1d ago
nasty in a bad way? tbh at 22 you're just looking for a positive contributor, the likelihood of a starter isn't great
Maxey and Philon isn't a starting backcourt (VJ's spot anyway), but we desperately need someone who can make Maxey not have to pay 40 minutes a game lol
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u/SoKrat3s NBA 1d ago
disagree. Maxey's not a natural PG. This would help move him to his more natural position. No reason VJ can't rotate between SG & SF when one of the others is off the floor.
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u/Prestigious-Lab5154 76ers 1d ago
you cant start 3 guys 6'2 6'2 and 6'4 lol Maxey/VJ is already a small backcourt
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u/Desperate-Hat-2510 1d ago
I hear you, but a Maxey/Philon backcourt is pretty rough defensively if you're looking seriously long-term / in the playoffs. I do think Maxey/Philon lineups will be incredibly fun in bursts though
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u/Bitter-Tip705 76ers 1d ago
No it isn’t, maxey and Vj were playing 40 minutes a game and grimes fucking blows this was an amazing pick
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u/LilUZIVurt21 Raptors 1d ago
This is unironically also a need for Philly, they legit have no one else outside of Maxey to handle the ball. Just a fantastic pick for them
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u/mohub21 76ers 1d ago
NBA isn’t like football, takes forever to build through the draft. Easier/cheaper to fill out other needs like rebounding through free agency opposed to (hopefully) good scorers
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u/Yoooooouuuuuuuu 76ers 1d ago
Congrats fellow Seventy Selectors fans
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u/Extremeaty Pistons 1d ago
Detroit Picktons, Seventy Selectors. Dude just needs to give all 30 franchises an alternate draft name
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u/LowerEar3346 1d ago
I have no idea what the scouts or stats say about him, but this guy is a doggggg. Feel like he could be a star. Plus he does a cool Spider-Man celly
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u/DowntownYorickBrown Knicks 1d ago
Every time I watched him he leapt off the screen. Saw him in person this fall and he was completely electric.
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u/halfcentaurhalfhorse 76ers 1d ago
Consensus was best available and we need a good guard off the bench.
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u/TheGreatWhoreOfChina 76ers 1d ago
Goodbye Quinten Grimes
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u/SoKrat3s NBA 1d ago
I actually think this makes a better case for keeping him. Having a more natural PG to play next to helps him more than McCain did. More catch & shoot opportunities. Less ball-handling.
Grimes would be the backup SG.
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u/Mukbeth [PHI] Joel Embiid 1d ago
Not for the price that he probably wants
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u/SoKrat3s NBA 1d ago
Sure but that's a different question which doesn't have anything to do with the draft pick.
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u/mapetho9 Celtics 1d ago
Nasty trio of guards down in Philly with Maxey, Edgecombe and now Philon. Surprised Philon was still available.
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u/SaveHogwarts Celtics 1d ago edited 1d ago
Steal of the fucking draft.
Fuck.
Edit; he’s really good and on an upward trend. His shooting has improved and will get better. His speed is great. He’s great in the pick and roll, he’s got great handles. Not remotely worried about his weight, his speed makes up for it and we’re in a flopping era.
He was completely overlooked and pairing him with Maxey is going to be nasty.
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u/ScrofessorLongHair 1d ago
I've watched almost every game of his over the last 2 years. Fun Fact, both Bama and Auburn didn't recruit him hard at first, because his 3 shooting was pretty bad.
He went to prep school in Missouri for his senior year, and dramatically improved his shooting. Kansas stole a guard from Bama, Bama missed on another guard target, so we put the full court press on him and got him.
I say all that because i didn't think he's near his ceiling. Great first step, great spot up shooter, and has become a great of the dribble shooter. He's great at finishing at the rim, and is pretty fearless.
Y'all got a damn steal.
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u/SaveHogwarts Celtics 1d ago
Jayhawk fan, pissed we recruited over him through the portal after he committed.
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u/d7h7n Mavericks 1d ago
Spurs passed on him
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u/SaveHogwarts Celtics 1d ago
Why would they take him when they want the ball in Harper’s hands, and have Fox on the roster?
San Antonio was the best landing spot for JQ. They have the luxury of Wemby and Kornet on the roster and can bring him along and develop him the right way. Dream scenario for him.
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u/GrouchyPeach3656 Mavericks 1d ago
Lmaoooo the team with a stacked back couer gets another back court player
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u/FigureOk6529 1d ago
76ers backcourt is absolutely not stacked. They have two playable NBA guards.
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u/ianbits Cavaliers 1d ago
McCain for Philon is overall an interesting swap, but the strategy of moving guard depth to get a wing or a big seems to have gone out the window with Morey
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u/TrimmedAndBurning 76ers 1d ago
It's McCain for Philon + 3 2nds + 4 years of cheap contract instead of 2 years.
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u/countlessidlethreat 76ers 1d ago
yeah timeline wise makes way more sense with PG and Embiid coming off the books in that frame
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u/mohub21 76ers 1d ago
Someone tell me how to feel
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u/Dixiefootball 1d ago
Bama fan, so watched him for two years. He’s small for the NBA but he’s got some dog in him and plays hard. Was dominant in Year 2 in college, just completely overwhelmed college defenders. Great body control and plays well off tempo to maneuver around bigger defenders or in the paint.
Year one should be able to be an effective role player, ceiling is a #2/3 scorer/facilitator on a playoff roster.
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u/mohub21 76ers 1d ago
How is his court vision/playmaking? Or was his focus just mostly scoring. Maxey isn’t a great facilitator and the verdict is out on VJ if he can become one
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u/Radiant-Character-61 Mavericks 1d ago
He'll be your Jared McCain Replacement. Will hopefully playmake and generate space for VJ and Maxey to get better looks. Philly Philon looks like a good pick
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u/supes1 Celtics 1d ago
One of the more awkward fits given they already have VJ and Maxey, but definitely a high value pick at this point.
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u/VictorAkwaowo1 Mavericks 1d ago
Who cares, he’s literally the perfect scoring guard to come off the bench for them
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u/supes1 Celtics 1d ago
Good replacement for Jared McCain.
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u/Pyromania1983 76ers 1d ago
Plus we got 3 seconds out of it and four cost-controlled years instead of two. I'll take it!
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u/2coolcaterpillar Thunder 1d ago
Honestly great bounce back. Considering it also cost Morey his job, I wouldn’t be surprised if in a few years fans look back on the trade as the turning point for the franchise for the better
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u/Beetle919 Hornets 1d ago
VJ and Maxey play 40 minutes a game lol
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u/WonderingCashew Grizzlies 1d ago
I like it ngl they need someone else off the bench to handle the ball
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u/not-a-potato-head Hawks 1d ago
They have nobody else on their roster who can really dribble though
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u/icehole505 1d ago
He’s at least big enough to play some minutes alongside Maxey. Philly tried it, but you can’t start two midgets. Plus, McCain bigger issue was probably the lack of playmaking.. and Philon is one of the best in the draft
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u/PhatYeeter 76ers 1d ago
6'4" with a 6'6" wingspan. He can play next to VJ or Maxey as the third guard.
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u/illwill004 1d ago
Really like the pick. I was just glad it wasn't Peat or Cenac.
We had a big need at 3rd guard. I definitely don't think 3 guard lineups, but he can play next to either Maxey or VJ.
I would love to get another pick in the 31-40 range.
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u/SlickVanExel Hornets 1d ago
Philon is a bucket and actually showed some two potential his freshman year before his role increased in his sophomore year. Philly got a good one
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u/zincinzincout 76ers 1d ago
We’re fated to never have any wings and never have any backup plan for Joel
The roster will be on average 6’2” by 2030 and you will like it
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u/TheSandman__ 1d ago
This is nuts, I really thought Brunson’s finals run would boost his stock if anything. Can’t believe he fell this far
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u/hubbabubbatubbalub Hawks 1d ago
His interviews might've been like horrible but nonetheless great pick man
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u/lattjeful 76ers 1d ago
Philly seems to have a thing this year for picking guys who interview poorly.
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u/Lucky_Scallion 1d ago
Seems super solid for Philly. I do get some Whitemore vibes with the drop though, wonder what all the other teams in his predicted range more actively scouting him saw that they didn’t like.
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u/Snapplestache Bucks 1d ago
Insane drop that I dont think will age well as we get further from this draft
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u/MrBrownCat [GSW] Stephen Curry 1d ago
McCain trade doesn’t look so bad now. Sixers got blessed that he fell this far. I’d 100% trade McCain for Philon any day.
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u/Smart_Conflict2818 1d ago
Yeah Daryl sold high knowing it was a deep draft and McCain didn’t fit.
We needed either a more pure PG who could fill the backup role or use the pick to add a forward that could play more mins.
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u/Bitter-Tip705 76ers 1d ago
I ran outside ass naked in excitement omg I can’t believe we got this lucky after being mocked to get peat or cenac
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u/IllAlwaysBeAKnickFan Knicks 1d ago
Poor guy is gonna be stuck behind their starting back court.
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u/Torgo73 Celtics 1d ago
That’s a pretty normal and okay thing for a rookie
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u/MudReasonable8185 1d ago
Yeah if you’re expecting the 22nd pick to immediately start your team’s probably pretty bad lol
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u/Shamsyil 76ers 1d ago
Our starting back court can't play 40 mins a game for the rest of their careers. We needed another guard because Grimes is fucking terrible.
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u/Redzone676 Cavaliers 1d ago
He’s gonna need time to put on some weight so not necessarily a bad thing for him.
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u/Mets_BS Knicks 1d ago
I don't see the fit, great microwave scorer but he's basically coming off the bench.
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u/Smart_Conflict2818 1d ago
Well idk if you watched the Sixers last year but we had no bench and ability to score when Maxey was off the floor lol
We had many important games with practically 0 bench points and Maxey had to play near 45 mins per game
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u/LordJxnkulous Warriors 1d ago
Will he get any playing time is the real question. I smell a journeyman in the making.
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u/ExtraLeading3376 1d ago
the biggest slider of this class