The Philadelphia 76ers need some things to go right this offseason, including the Oklahoma City Thunder’s pick conveying for the 2020 NBA Draft.
It’s unknown when the NBA offseason will begin again. Whenever it does, the Philadelphia 76ers need several things to go in their favor, including the Oklahoma City Thunder’s protected first round pick conveying to them in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The 76ers have received this pick twice in trades already. They first landed it when the franchise traded Jerami Grant to the Thunder for Ersan Ilyasova. Then Philly traded it in the 2017 NBA draft to the Orlando Magic to get the draft rights to Anzejs Pasecniks. They received the pick back from Orlando in the Markelle Fultz trade.
Luckily the Sixers have it because they don’t have their own first round pick, thanks to the trade that landed the club Tobias Harris. They also have a couple of second round picks in this upcoming draft, but if this OKC pick does convey, it gives the Sixers so many options this offseason.
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Based on the current standings, the pick would be either 21st or 22nd, which means it’s outside of the top-20 protection and the 76ers own the pick. Assuming the pick stays with Philly whenever the NBA returns from its hiatus, the Sixers can do two things with it. They could either use it or trade it.
They could use it for a position of need like drafting a point guard, as I’ve suggested in the past or on a quality backup center. Players like point guard Tre Jones or center Vernon Carey Jr. are projected to be available according to Tankathon’s mock draft. Regardless of who they use it on, adding a first round talent on a cheap contract is an intriguing possibility, to say the least.
Then there’s a real possibility the team uses it in a trade. More than likely, if the Sixers wanted to move on from big man Al Horford, they’d probably have to attach something to him to make a trade happen. The only expendable talent right now on the roster is probably Zhaire Smith, but the OKC pick probably has more value than he does right now. That pick may is arguably one of the best trade chips the 76ers have available right now.
Assuming the Thunder don’t go on a losing streak once play continues, there’s a decent chance the Philadelphia 76ers get their pick for the 2020 NBA Draft. If that ends up being the case, the Sixers will have more flexibility this offseason.