When I previewed the Sixers’ NBA Draft prospects around the All-Star break, I noted how the team is at risk of losing significant size this offseason. Little did I know that weeks later, the team would trade away two centers while Joel Embiid was out with an injury.
We all saw that Dwight Howard is no longer a starting-caliber center, including Doc Rivers and the rest of the coaching staff who kept him on the bench for not-so-consistent Mike Scott. And that’s okay; Dwight doesn’t need to be when Embiid is healthy. However, it has become more apparent than ever before that the team needs a long-term solution to the Embiid backup problem. As much fun as Dwight is, he is at the tail-end of his illustrious career.
Should the season end today, the Sixers would be picking 28th in the NBA Draft. This is great for playoff seeding but not so great when it comes to finding a backup big. With that, here are three realistic options for the Daryl Morey and crew, assuming no trades are made.
Sixers NBA Draft prospect to watch: Day’Ron Sharpe
Day’Ron Sharpe is the most traditional big on this list. At 6-foot-11, 265 pounds, Sharpe is a load in the paint. A rebounding machine, he gobbled up 14.2 rebounds per 36 minutes. He has incredible court vision and passing abilities for a big man.
The downside, however, is that he struggles mightily on the offensive end. We see the issues when Dwight and Ben Simmons play together now and with Sharpe sharing the court with our All-Star point guard, it might look even worse. He averages two turnovers a game and doesn’t shoot outside the paint.
The UNC Freshman does a good job on the defensive end contesting shots without getting himself into foul trouble.