June 30, 2015
There probably isn’t a clear-cut definition for the oft-used designation “Hinkie player,” but the Sixers front office sure doesn’t mind betting on elite athleticism in the second round of the draft. They did so last year by drafting K.J. McDaniels and Jerami Grant and later by signing undrafted free agent JaKarr Sampson.
While it’s still too early to say whether or not the Sixers truly hit on those picks (one of them is gone, too), those three players definitely didn’t look out of place on an NBA court as rookies. Perhaps the trend might continue with 6’6” North Carolina shooting guard Jean-Pierre “The Artist Formerly Known As J.P.” Tokoto, who was taken with the 58th pick in last Thursday’s draft.
“We strongly debated taking him at 47, were truly interested in taking him there, and felt fortunate to be able to get him [at 58]” Sam Hinkie said, referencing his plethora of second-round picks. “That said, he was taken three spots from the end of the draft so all of our expectations should be [set] accordingly, but we think he has a chance.”
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A chance, a lottery ticket, or whatever else you wish to call it, Hinkie knows it’s difficult to find the proverbial “diamond in the rough.” He tries to increase his odds of finding the next Chandler Parsons by buying second rounders in bulk. Whether there is statistical analysis or a scouting preference (or both) that leads to targeting athleticism late in the draft, Tokoto fits the prototype. His 34.5-inch standing vert ranked tied for fifth among all prospects in DraftExpress’ database.
Much is made of the lack of veteran presence on the Sixers roster and critics of the current regime have widely speculated that major free agents won’t want to play in Philly when it’s time to win. Whether or not that ultimately comes to fruition, the flip side of the equation is already true: If you’re a young, unheralded player, this is the land opportunity.
“It’s a blessing for anybody [to get drafted],” Tokoto said. “But as a young guy who wants to get better, stay in the league, and get playing time, it’s motivation to be here.”
As Hinkie said, Tokoto almost went undrafted, so there are currently quite a few holes in his game. Specifically, he’s a pretty limited offensive player when there isn’t a straight line to the rim for him to throw a hellacious dunk down. He only made 20 three-pointers in his college career and submitted a 48 percent true shooting percentage, especially low for someone only scoring 10.6 points per 40 minutes.
Improving his offense was the main reason Tokoto decided to leave North Carolina, as he would only be counted on as a defensive stopper during his senior year. The idea that a player couldn’t reach his full potential as a cog in a college system jibes with what Hinkie said the day before about Jahlil Okafor’s poor free-throw shooting.
“Sometimes, they just become pros,” Hinkie said. “They don’t have to go to high school classes anymore. They don’t have to go to college classes anymore. They just get in the gym, and during our season it’s 170 days long in just the regular season alone.”
There are fewer distractions in the NBA outside of what to do with your money. Basketball is your only concern, so betting on Tokoto’s jumper improving with increased practice and consistent reps is a reasonable gamble.
Tokoto’s grandfather, also named Jean-Pierre, was an extremely successful Cameroonian soccer player that played for top French clubs like Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain but actually ended his career with the indoor Philadelphia Fever (well, according to Wikipedia, anyway). Of course, the Sixers had two players that hail from Cameroon on the roster last year, Joel Embiid and upcoming free agent Luc Mbah a Moute.
A former soccer player himself, Tokoto would’ve been a menace in the air if he kept up with the sport. Blessed with a 6’10” wingspan, he stuck to basketball and it has certainly worked out up to this point. Now, the question is if his offense can catch up to his defense.
The Sixers are again betting that they can teach a skill like shooting, because Tokoto has the type of athleticism you can’t learn. We’ll see how it goes.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
