Allen Graves projects as one of the safest picks in the 2026 draft. What would he add to Philadelphia if he were selected?
In a recent mock draft from USA Today, the Philadelphia 76ers are projected to select forward Allen Graves, a move that could signal a focus on depth and defensive upside.
From a statistical standpoint, it's easy to see why Graves is gaining attention. A 12.7 box plus minus is a number that puts him in the 97th percentile among D1 players. Combine that with a 40% three-point shooting percentage and a penchant for racking up steals and blocks, and he profiles as one of the higher-floor prospects in the class.
However, metrics only tell part of the story.
Offensively, Graves thrives as a complementary piece. He has a great motor on both sides of the court, but on offense, this shows through his willingness always to move around and put himself in a good position. This has led to many rebounding opportunities as well; a 13.9% offensive rebounding percentage puts him in the 99th percentile. His nose for the ball and energy will bode well for him at the next level.
Shooting-wise, the jury is still out. Graves is a 40% shooter, but on a very limited number of attempts. However, his 79% free throw shooting percentage suggests he has good touch, something that is essential for an elite shooter.
If Graves gets drafted to Philadelphia, he will be in a situation where he will get a lot of open shots thanks to the gravity of players such as Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edegecombe, and Joel Embiid. Combine that with the ability to practice and hone his craft on a professional level, and you have a player who projects well as a floor spacer.
In terms of his self-creation, there is little to speak about. Graves doesn't have the first step or the self-creation ability to generate shots on the collegiate level, let alone the pros'. But this isn't too big a detriment.
Graves won't be asked to create in the NBA; he will be asked to play as a supplemental piece and support the stars of the team, something that Philadelphia needs as they try to build a team around their main offensive engines.
Defensively, Graves stands out in a huge way.
The redshirt freshman has fantastic instincts as both a shot blocker and a lane disrupter. Graves is constantly trying to move around and make a play on the ball, almost like a free safety in football. This eagerness has burned him at times, but it has also created turnovers and frustrated offensive players trying to score against him.
However, Graves does need to improve his screen navigation, as too often he can lose his man trying to make a play on the ball or be too lazy fighting through screens. At the next level, this will need to improve as screens are used frequently in the NBA on and off the ball.
Overall, this proposed selection reflects a practical approach by Philadelphia. Instead of targeting a high usage scorer, the 76ers would be adding a player who complements their current core. If Graves can translate his defensive instincts and energy to the NBA, he could become a valuable piece in the 76ers' rotation moving forward.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.