Joel Embiid Genius Declaration Philadelphia 76ers Replace Cavs

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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Philadelphia 76ers. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

I: Forces Philadelphia 76ers Draft strategy to build for more immediate future

Ultimately, the crux of the 2017 NBA Draft rests solely upon which player the Philadelphia 76ers select. And if you’ve read the projections, the talent available to the team at the three to about the ten pick in the 2017 NBA Draft rests within a tight range. The top two picks, Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, are somewhat the consensus for now. But at three? Place two Sixers fans in a room and you will get three possibilities.

So it’s a matter of taste. Offense? Defense? Upside? Well-Rounded Player? Wing? Point Guard? Shooting Guard?

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Kawhi Leonard Template

Ultimately, the team fortunes against the Cleveland Cavaliers hinges upon neutralizing, or more realistically, limiting the explosiveness to LeBron James. In James own words, the player who most neutralizes his offense is San Antonio Spurs Kawhi Leonard. And Leonard is a 6-foot-7 230 pound small forward whose offense arrived five years into the NBA.

To hit on defense, the Philadelphia 76ers must consider small forward Josh Jackson. In the eyes of many, he is the surest defender in this draft and is an immediate plug and play at the two or three role. That versatility gives the team options to slide Robert Covington to power forward for stronger defense, or pushing Leonard to two and bringing in some big guns in the front court to help offensively.

Josh Jackson… or… OG?

The fact that Jackson is a fellow Kansas alum merely endears him to Joel Embiid’s team all the more.

But offensively, Jackson is not a fit for this team argues Christopher Kline. He points to the offensive struggles of Jackson and indicates the far more fitting player is Malik Monk. But Monk brings offense, and nobody wins the shooting matches with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Just ask the Boston Celtics.

But if the Philadelphia 76ers fail to select Jackson at three, Another player aptly described in comparisons to Leonard is O.G. Anunoby. Projected anywhere from 11 to 20 on most mock NBA Draft boards, he possesses an ideal 7-foot-2 wingspan which projects as an elite NBA defender. The problem is that he is too low for the three pick and likely will not fall to round two.

But the 36, 39, 46 and 50 picks come into play. If the 76ers find a willing trade partner with Anunoby on the board, they may be tempted to trade back into round one and grab the defensive elite prospect.