Mar 29, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee (5) drives to the basket against the Michigan State Spartans in the first half during the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the 2013 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Mason Plumlee was among those interviewed by the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday at the NBA draft combine.

The 6’11″, 245 pound power forward out of Duke says that he has followed the Sixers closely for the past two years. Part of it may have to do with the fact that Chris Collins, son of Doug Collins, was Duke’s associate head coach before landing Northwestern’s head coaching job.

Plumlee referred to Doug Collins as a “friend”.

With Collins no longer at the helm of the Sixers, Sam Hinkie will be calling the shots as the team’s general manager and president of basketball operations.

Plumlee did show some knowledge of the Sixers on Thursday.

“They had such a tough season, because they gave up [Andre] Iguodala, they gave up  [Nik] Vucevic, the kid that went to Orlando, and they got nothing in return, and are expecting the same result.  It was a tough season. But I really like Jrue Holiday a lot. I think they have a lot of really good players there.”

While most experts are expecting Plumlee to go at the tail-end of the lottery, the Dallas Mavericks at 13th specifically, he considers himself a top-ten pick.

“I feel like athletically and how I played this year, I’ve proven that I am. But that’s what’s great about the workouts. You get another platform to prove it, again.”

 

May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; C.J. McCollum is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Although the 76ers decided not to interview C.J. McCollum at this week’s NBA draft combine, the potential lottery pick remains interested in the franchise.

The Sixers can go countless ways in this year’s draft. While most think they will take a post player with their first-round pick, Evan Turner remains inconsistent, Jason Richardson is coming off injury, Nick Young and Dorell Wright are free agents, and Jrue Holiday still lacks a solid back-up.

“I was [attending college] pretty close to Philadelphia, out in Bethlehem. So I will be interested to see if they are taking a guard or a post player in this draft.”

McCollum is a lethal perimeter scorer and could drastically help the Sixers’ struggling offense. During Doug Collins run as head coach, the offense struggled mightily on a consistent basis. Relying on long two-point jump shots, also known as the least efficient shot in basketball, the Sixers rarely got any type of continuity offensively.

The combo-guard refers to himself as a “fan” of the 76ers, and will be interested to see what route they decide to go come June.