The Sixers need to draft Emmanuel Mudiay. Why? He will be the best player available and he will complement the game of Joel Embiid. Mudiay is schedule to work out in Philadelphia on June 16.
When Sam Hinkie first joined the Sixers as the top executive for basketball operations he inherited a dog’s dinner. We thought Bynum was controversial until we saw the origins of the epic and historic rebuild.
In the Hinkie tenure the Sixers have seen an All-Star and Rookie of the Year player traded and new talent acquired along with protected first round picks and the eventual rights to Dario Saric. Hinkie is thinking long term and the short term controversies do not seem to phase him.
The Sixers off-season might involve what to do with the veterans, namely RRM or Robinson, Richardson & Mbah a Moute.
As for the Sixers draft priorities, they remain consistent. Best player, best player, best player. This, as it turns out, might culminate into Emmanuel Mudiay. A player that has the speed and the ability athletically to help the Sixers to the next step in the rebuild.
The Sixers are targeting talent at the moment, not a lineup, this has been clear from the outset. With the Wolves and the Lakers getting the best two bigs in the land, the Sixers have the opportunity to get Mudiay and fill in gaps with ball-handling, shooting and what Hinkie covets: athletes. Even better yet, athletes that can defend multiple positions with either their length or body strength.
This is why the Sixers will select either Russell or Mudiay with the Number Three Pick and I believe it will be Mudiay, barring an unforeseen situation . . . .
Porzingis was VERY impressive in workout. A scout called him the best player in the draft "He's better than Karl Towns," said the scout.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) June 12, 2015
Ultimately if faced with Russell or Mudiay, I believe that Hinkie will go with Mudiay. Because he just seems NBA ready and the most promising.
He is indeed somewhere in between franchise player and potential star. He would be the most compelling guard taken by the Sixers since Allen Iverson. As Mudiay tries his hands at the NBA game I believe he will have success. He is likely to be the first point guard selected and possibly the would be first player overall, if he played at Duke.
Mudiay is a dynamic defensive player who is constantly working on his offensive game. He is thought by some scouts as having the perfect NBA frame. And remember, most point guards enter the league needing to add ten pounds, but not Mudiay.
Durability will never be an issue with this kid and he can play and control a game. A long prosperous career awaits. Did he make a mistake by not attending college?
No.
Some Stats on Emmanuel Mudiay:
34.2% from three-point range 57.4% from the FT line in 12 games in China
Some Stats on D’Angelo Russell:
41% from three-point range 75.6% from the FT line this year at OSU
Sixers Draft Situation Recap:
The Sixers have the first round’s Number 3 pick and the Number 35 pick, which is a second round pick acquired from Orlando. They also have the Number 47 from New Orleans, the Number 58 from Houston and Golden State’s Number 60.
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