Grading the Sixers First “Team Needs” Mock Draft

No. 35 – Nikola Milutinov – Center – International – 20 years old

This honestly this first time I have seen Nikola Milutinov on anyone’s draft boards. But, I love everything about him and what I mean by that is that he looks like our good friend over at Liberty Ballers, Kyle Neubeck. Looking back and doing some research on the seven foot Serbian, he played on the team that went against the USA Fiba U19 team in Prague in the summer 2013. That team had players like: Jahlil Okafor, Marcus Smart, Justise Winslow, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and others.

That game is hard to gauge because Jahlil Okafor was dominating, but Milutinov came away with seven points, six rebounds and a massive blocked shot on Aaron Gordon (Serbia lost by about 20, by the way).

Fun fact: this Serbian team also had a #futureSixer in Vasilje Micic playing for them. So going back to Milutinov, according to eurohoops.com, he has a legit 7’3″ wingspan. Watching him play, he looks ambidextrous around the rim and makes nice passes out of the post. He shoots 62 percent from the free-throw line, which needs improvement. The form overall looks doable and leaves hope. Eurohoops says that Milutinov is one of the best young defensive players in Europe but can sometimes get in foul trouble, as he likes to be super aggressive.

Remember, this is mock draft is with needs in mind. There are no problems with the Sixers taking a center, but who knows if Milutinov would be a draft and stash or someone who would come over immediately. At pick 35, with this mock draft selections in mind, guys like Rashad Vaughn, Mouhammadou Jaiteh and Cedi Osman all on the board, I would rather the Sixers go that way.

Selection grade: A+ for the Neubeck look-alike, B- for the actual pick

Next: Terry Rozier