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With the 2026 NBA draft fast approaching, the first round is on June 23, now's the time to look at some potential options for the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick. If one wants to look at Sixers Wire's draft big board, one can do so here.
This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.
Next up in this series is Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz:
Stirtz has a lot of mental toughness, which serves him well in tough situations. He had to work his way from Division II Northwest Missouri State to Division I with first Drake and then transferring to Iowa for the 2025-26 season. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 35.8% from deep for Iowa, which shows off his playmaking ability with the ball in his hands as he can be a lead guard or somebody who can make plays off the ball. His basketball IQ off the ball is something special and the Sixers could use somebody like that.
He is a versatile scorer and Stirtz isn't just a shooter. While that shooting ability is his biggest offensive attribute, he is somebody who can attack closeouts off the dribble, get to the basket, and come up with a variety of finishes. Opposing defenses can't just expect him to rise up and shoot when coming off screens and that is something that will help Stirtz as he begins to transition to the NBA.
If there is an area of concern with Stirtz, it's the defensive end of the floor. He has a solid frame, but he is going to get pushed around a bit by some of the physical guards and ball-handlers in the NBA in the early going. He also struggles to stay in front of the quicker guards, so defense is going to be an issue at times with him, but he does have a strong work ethic, so that can be fixed over time. In the meantime, he will rely on instincts and play the passing lanes to really make an impact defenisvely.
Stirtz's fit with the Sixers would be simple: Ball-handling and shooting. He can put the ball on the floor, run some offense, make plays for others, and has an ability to make a big difference on that end of the floor. He will need to figure it out on the defensive end, but those offensive attributes will be so helpful for the Sixers off the bench. The second unit needs a stabilizer on the perimeter and Stirtz fits that need as well as bringing a scoring punch.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Bennett Stirtz
Continue reading...
This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.
Next up in this series is Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz:
Strengths
Stirtz has a lot of mental toughness, which serves him well in tough situations. He had to work his way from Division II Northwest Missouri State to Division I with first Drake and then transferring to Iowa for the 2025-26 season. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 35.8% from deep for Iowa, which shows off his playmaking ability with the ball in his hands as he can be a lead guard or somebody who can make plays off the ball. His basketball IQ off the ball is something special and the Sixers could use somebody like that.
He is a versatile scorer and Stirtz isn't just a shooter. While that shooting ability is his biggest offensive attribute, he is somebody who can attack closeouts off the dribble, get to the basket, and come up with a variety of finishes. Opposing defenses can't just expect him to rise up and shoot when coming off screens and that is something that will help Stirtz as he begins to transition to the NBA.
Weaknesses
If there is an area of concern with Stirtz, it's the defensive end of the floor. He has a solid frame, but he is going to get pushed around a bit by some of the physical guards and ball-handlers in the NBA in the early going. He also struggles to stay in front of the quicker guards, so defense is going to be an issue at times with him, but he does have a strong work ethic, so that can be fixed over time. In the meantime, he will rely on instincts and play the passing lanes to really make an impact defenisvely.
Potential fit on the Sixers
Stirtz's fit with the Sixers would be simple: Ball-handling and shooting. He can put the ball on the floor, run some offense, make plays for others, and has an ability to make a big difference on that end of the floor. He will need to figure it out on the defensive end, but those offensive attributes will be so helpful for the Sixers off the bench. The second unit needs a stabilizer on the perimeter and Stirtz fits that need as well as bringing a scoring punch.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Bennett Stirtz
Continue reading...
