NBA Draft: Philadelphia 76ers Could Stand Pat in Second Round

As the NBA Draft looms, Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Bryan Colangelo gave us a glimpse into how much he covets the team’s many second round picks.

Now, it goes without saying that this year’s NBA Draft class has the potentially to be really special. With the likes of Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Jackson declaring, the Philadelphia 76ers have their work cut out for them. However, the second round could prove to be the real gold mine. With that said, general manager Bryan Colangelo has his eye on the second round.

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The second round could prove ever-so-vital for this Philadelphia 76ers team. As they look to the future, fortifying the core of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons seems imperative. In an NBA Draft class like this one, those gems could easily be found.

Yet, the one thing that people are forgetting about that the Sixers have is optionality. With four picks in the second round, Bryan Colangelo has a ton to work with. This opens the door to a number of possibilities. They could package the picks and trade into the back end of the first round or simply use the picks on prospects both domestic and abroad.

Picking Rotational Pieces

Now, this year’s NBA Draft is incredibly deep. Okay, we say that about every draft class. However, this year seems to be different — in a good way. While this class has a plethora of standout freshman, the upperclassmen reign supreme in the second round.

Philadelphia 76ers

These prospects, like Monte Morris, Frank Mason, and Dillon Brooks, are all grizzled, ready-made collegiate veterans who can step in and contribute immediately. Obviously, players of this ilk have most likely reached their ceilings. Nevertheless, they can make an impact right off the bat, which is exactly what the Philadelphia 76ers need at this point.

With that said, Colangelo seems to favor the “stand pat” approach. Initially, the plan seems to revolve around a time-honored tradition in the NBA Draft: players sliding. Yes, this could happen. If anything, history dictates that it will happen.

According to Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times, Colangelo is adamant that somebody will drop to the Sixers in the second round. Since the Sixers have two of the first ten picks in the second round, that very well could happen. In the past, first round talents like Draymond Green, Monta Ellis, and DeAndre Jordan all fell into that 31st to 40th pick threshold. Overlooked and forgotten, these three exemplify the value of second round picks. For the most part, they complement the stars on their teams, which is a much-needed asset for this Sixers team.

In a draft like this one, that approach could work to the Philadelphia 76ers’ benefit. Ideally, this late in the draft, you want to find complimentary pieces. With a young core already established, Colangelo probably won’t find a franchise player here. However, he won’t need to. That’s not what the second round is about.

Draft and Stash?

Next, we have a fairly unpopular method: the overseas layaway method. This method consists of drafting a player who won’t play immediately. Ultimately, such a player will play in the Euroleague for a year or two and then come over once he can get out of his deal.

Now, the Philadelphia 76ers are no strangers to this method. The most successful example in recent memory of this method comes in the form of Dario Saric. Fans waited for the Croatian to finally come over, and when he did, he did not disappoint.

Additionally, the Sixers currently have former first round pick Furkan Korkmaz stashed over in Turkey. Many wondered why he dropped all the way down to 26th overall. This was primarily due to the fact that he didn’t seem NBA-ready, and needed time to develop in Europe. He could be on his way to the NBA as soon as this season, or once he’s ready to make the jump.

Interestingly enough, this year’s NBA Draft class has plenty of “Draft and Stash” prospects. One name that immediately comes to mind is Mega Leks wing Kostja Mushidi (who has a 7-0 wingspan). With four second round picks, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Sixers target a project player like Mushidi.

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So, with a bounty of second round picks, the Philadelphia 76ers are in an interesting position. Realistically, most of these picks won’t pan out. Yet, that doesn’t mean they can’t try. The Sixers have four shots in the second round, and thus have multiple options if they just stand pat. Hopefully, sticking with the draft order works in the Sixers’ favor in this year’s NBA Draft.