The Sixer Sense
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Which 2016 NBA Draft Picks Will Philadelphia 76ers Receive On Draft Day?

By Bret Stuter

Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jerry Colangelo (R) is introduced as special advisor to the Philadelphia 76ers during a press conference with owner Joshua Harris (M) and general manager Sam Hinkie (L) before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jerry Colangelo (R) is introduced as special advisor to the Philadelphia 76ers during a press conference with owner Joshua Harris (M) and general manager Sam Hinkie (L) before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Options

It will all depend on the lottery. That’s the bottom line. Let’s assume the worst first.

Option One – Draft Disaster.

Let’s start with the worst case scenario. The Los Angeles Lakers win the draft lottery, so their pick is protected. The Miami Heat (protected 1-10)and Oklahoma City Thunder (protected 1-15) picks are likely coming to the Sixers, but as their win games, they fall in the draft order. Let’s place the Thunder at 29 and the Heat at 26. So in this scenario, the Sixers would be enjoying just three first round picks (4, 26, and 29). Bad news for the team?

Well, it limits the number of new faces arriving, but with this current roster is that automatically a bad thing? We know Saric and Embiid will be joining, and if the Sixers fall to the 4 pick, they could very likely use that as an incentive to trade up for their top draft choice- whether that is Simmons or Ingram.  That gives the team incentive and roster room to show patience and continue to groom such players who are showing signs of promise, such as Richaun Holmes, T.J. McConnell,  Jerami Grant, even Isaiah Canaan.

It also means that the Sixers will have the Los Angeles Lakers first round draft pick in 2017, and that would be a good thing.  The Los Angeles Lakers will be in rebuild mode next season, and their draft pick would likely be a lottery pick.  If the Sixers team improves dramatically, that Laker pick would be huge for the team.

The team could also sit pat, and do another best player available scenario.   With a draft boasting such names as Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Skal Labissiere, Dragan Bender, Jaylen Brown, Kriss Dunn, and Jamal Murray, there should be plenty of talent in the early picks. If the team elects to select a prospect like Dragan Bender, they will have the option of allowing him to return to Europe, mature, and retain the rights to be harvested at some future point in time.

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