In this week’s edition of the Philadelphia 76ers mailbag, our followers ask questions about roster needs, the draft and free agency.
The 2019 NBA Draft is just around the corner and the anticipation is building. Especially for the Philadelphia 76ers who own five picks heading into the draft. Two out of three questions in this week’s mailbag are draft related questions.
This first question comes from one of our Facebook followers named Dave Butler.
"“Is it acceptable to go [expletive] crazy if we draft someone who is injured again?? #askingforafriend”"
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It depends on which pick they use to select a injured played. Most fans, myself included, probably won’t be happy if the Sixers use their lone first round pick on an injured player. However, using one or two of their second round picks could be acceptable.
It would be more than reasonable that general manager Elton Brand could draft an injured player like Jontay Porter with the 33rd or 34th pick, assuming that Porter is still available. Then, the Sixers could use the 54th on Charles Matthews who is injured as well, operating under the assumption that he’s still available. The Sixers don’t need five active rookies and using one or two second round picks on injured players is more than worth the risk.
The next two questions were asked by our Twitter followers.
Biggest Need:
— jay 🃏 (@PeakHardenn) June 13, 2019
Point Guard?
Shooter?
Two-Way Wing?
Backup Big?
All of those are important needs Justin, however the biggest need would have to be the need at the backup point guard spot. It’s close because the need for a quality defensive backup center is great as well. The only difference is that Jonah Bolden can backup Joel Embiid if the need arises to begin next season. Finding more quality depth at the center spot should be a high priority, but it’s not as big a need than improving the point guard depth.
The point guard position didn’t provide any outside shooting at any point this season. That needs to change and Brand could target a playmaker with outside range in the draft and/or target one in free agency. Ben Simmons is the only point guard on the roster at the moment with T.J. McConnell set to be a free agent. The position needs to be built up.
If I ranked those needs I’d have them in the following order: point guard, backup big, two-way wing and shooter.
Do you see Boban coming back?
— Sam (@coopercliff09) June 13, 2019
It depends on if the Sixers can convince Tobias Harris to re-sign. If Harris re-signs then there’s a chance Boban Marjanovic re-signs a third string center. The two are best friends and keeping Marjanovic on the roster would be a positive for Harris. However, if Harris goes elsewhere in free agency, then I don’t see a good reason for why Philly would want to re-sign him. Right now, I give it about a 50.0 percent chance he re-signs with the Sixers.
That wraps up this mailbag and the next Philadelphia 76ers mailbag won’t be until after the 2019 NBA Draft.