The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers, may we approach the bench?

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Brett Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Amir Johnson
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Brett Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Amir Johnson /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: The lottery drawing begins inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: The lottery drawing begins inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Curious case of that 2018 NBA Draft

At some point in time, the Philadelphia 76ers will once more squander their advantage when it comes to the NBA Draft. But that isn’t the case in 2018. In fact, the current projection of six picks for the team feels very much like gluttony. With no true top ten pick projected at the moment, the Philadelphia 76ers currently sit at 11, 17, 36, 39, 46 and 60.  With the team aiming at the post season already, and with a roster now looking for bench players, the 2018 NBA Draft feels like three players too heavy at this point in time.

So let’s just discard the last three picks, in much the same way the team sold 2017 NBA Draft picks.  Who can the Philadelphia 76ers add, and where?  If the team targets bench play, there is certainly the sense that perimeter shooting will be the focus. But will the right players be on the board to make that happen?

Niche needs for blossoming bench

The premise of any 2018 draft prospect is the harsh reality that they face limited playing time, possible redshirting their rookie season, or simply never making it across the big ocean. Even if one or more of  the 2018 rookies make the roster, they will find themselves at the back of the line in terms of playing time. After all, Brown and the entire coaching staff will be overtaxed with efforts to get Furkan Korkmaz and Markelle Fultz caught up to the rest of the team.

After that urgency passes, they will find a new crop of international players to shape, develop, and mold into players capable of coming in off the bench and contributing as quickly as possible. There simply will not be much capacity for ramping up a new crop of incoming rookies to NBA playing speed.  But the team has the picks. And with the influx of new players from the Euroleague, new opportunities exist for draft-and-stash scenarios. So where and who will the Philadelphia 76ers pick?