NBA Draft 2020: Sixers guide, mock draft, everything you need to know
With the 34th and 36th picks, the Philadelphia 76ers select…
Again, no guarantee these picks stay in Philadelphia. Also, at this stage in the draft, the possibilities are too boundless to compress into a single page of text. Any number of prospects could tickle the Sixers’ fancy.
Here’s a shortlist of players the Sixers should strongly consider when making these picks.
XAVIER TILLMAN SR. [C] michigan state
If the Sixers plan to move on from Al Horford in the near future, the backup center position becomes an immediate area of need. Norvel Pelle is fun — don’t get me wrong — but he’s not good. In Tillman, the Sixers would have a ready-made NBA defender who can do all the little things offensively. A tough, high-I.Q. big is a luxury Philadelphia has too often lacked behind Embiid in years past.
NICO MANNION [G] arizona <<<PROFILE>>>
Mannion would be tremendous value this late in the draft. Once a top-10 recruit, Mannion struggled to overcome his athletic limitations at Arizona. Even so, he’s one of the sharpest playmakers on the board, and he’s a good enough shooter to fit next to Philadelphia’s core pieces.
TRE JONES [G] duke
A tenacious on-ball defender and a mostly mistake-free playmaker, Jones has a very solid foundation as a prospect. He doesn’t shoot terribly well, but he’s good enough to inspire confidence in his 3-point stroke long term. His intangibles are bound to charm NBA front offices, and Philadelphia has been known to like charming defenders (see: Thybulle, Matisse).
JAHMI’US RAMSEY [G] texas tech
Ramsey’s stock has been slipping of late, and he could fall into Philadelphia’s lap in the 30s. He’s deeply flawed, but Ramsey has a knack for taking and making difficult shots. He’s a confident scorer, and the natural talent could easily sway the Sixers’ brass, even if he needs to grow as a decision-maker.
PAYTON PRITCHARD [G] oregon
Pritchard was a borderline cocky, intensely watchable college star. He’s a gamer, unafraid to take big shots and comfortable taking on tough assignments defensively (though he might run into more problems in the NBA than he did in college). Pritchard can dribble, space the floor, and put up points. Philadelphia needs such a player.
ROBERT WOODARD II [F] mississippi state
A physical specimen for sure. Woodard developed as a player last season, but he’s still a low-volume shooter with significant holes in his offensive repertoire. His appeal lies in elite athleticism, length, and a promising trajectory on the defensive end.
DEVON DOTSON [G] kansas
The Sixers should have no qualms about loading up on guard talent in this draft. Dotson is more of a scorer than a shooter, but he’s a turbo-charged athlete who has no issue getting into the teeth of the defense and making things happen. He potentially fits the spark-plug scoring role Philadelphia unsuccessfully tried to fill last season.
JALEN SMITH [C] maryland
Essentially a 3-and-D big, Smith is an instant draw because of his ability to stretch the defense on one end, then anchor it on the other. While Smith needs to get stronger and improve his defense in space, long arms and quality instincts are a good starting point. Any center who can comfortably pop to the 3-point line has the potential for a long shelf life in the NBA.
CASSIUS WINSTON [G] michigan state <<<PROFILE>>>
A proven winner at the college level and an extremely likable human, it’s hard to see Winston slipping too far into the second round. He’s a 3-point bomber, a competitive (if limited) defender, and a measured playmaker who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.
JORDAN NWORA [F] louisville
The NBA loves 3-and-D wings. At 6-foot-7, Nwora has been a prolific shooter at Louisville, and he was one of the ACC’s better offensive players last season. He’s a spot-up threat and a potentially versatile defender — more than enough to draw looks from Philadelphia.