Standing 7-foot-3 with rare passing vision, Luigi Suigo offers the Philadelphia 76ers a developmental project to eventually anchor the frontcourt rotation.
Yahoo Sports’ latest NBA mock draft projects Italian big man Luigi Suigo to the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 22, giving the Sixers an intriguing international frontcourt option if they want to add size, skill, and long-term upside.
Suigo is not a finished product, but at 7 foot 3 with touch, passing feel, and flashes of floor spacing, he is the type of prospect who could become more valuable if Philadelphia is patient.
Suigo’s production overseas has been modest but promising. With averages at 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 1.0 block per game while shooting 55.8 percent from the field and 30 percent from three. These numbers come with the context of Suigo playing against professionals with years of top-flight experience; the middling numbers don’t tell the full story about his ability.
What makes Suigo interesting is the way he plays. His offensive approach is more fundamentals-based: screen, roll, catch, keep the ball high, make the simple read, and finish with touch. For a Sixers team that has needed more functional frontcourt depth behind Joel Embiid, that skill set could be a useful asset.
The floor-spacing potential is especially important. Suigo is not a proven shooter yet, but the willingness is there. A 30 percent mark from three does not make him a stretch big immediately, but he has a soft touch and a solid shooting motion; the signs of a good shooter are there; it is simply a matter of Philadelphia nurturing that talent.
His passing also gives him another path to usefulness. Suigo has shown enough feel to make reads in the short role, whether that means hitting a cutter, swinging to the corner, or keeping the ball moving instead of forcing a tough shot. His assist numbers don’t look impressive, but the eye test shows a young player with very good court vision and understanding of where players are positioned.
The concern is a simple lack of refinement. Everything about Suigo is based on his projected skill, not current ability. He is not a polished prospect and would likely benefit from a year or two in the G-League. He still needs time to adjust to the pacing of a professional league, and that won’t come right away.
For Philadelphia, Suigo would be a gamble on his potential. That is not a bad thing. If the Sixers are serious about building a younger, deeper roster around Maxey and Edgecombe, adding a skilled big with Suigo’s size and feel would make sense. He may need time, but the foundation is worth betting on.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
