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.
Sixers NBA Draft prospect to watch: Kai Jones*
The asterisk is because this one might not be realistic. Kai Jones‘ projections range from the second round to squarely in the lottery. There is one major reason for this — consistency. Anybody who watched Texas play saw Jones’s prominent athleticism, length, and raw ability. However, you also saw a guy who struggled at times. Some night he’d stuff the stat sheet other nights, he’d have a lowly four points.
With any prospect outside the top three or four guys in this class, there are no guarantees. Jones has the raw ability and would fit in incredibly nicely with the backup unit. His 3-point shot is developing, and he is great at running the court.
Other than consistency, Jones needs to put on some weight. He currently stands at 6-foot-11, 218 pounds, and because of this, he gets bullied on the glass. Should Jones be there at 28, Daryl Morey ought to take a long and hard look.
Sixers NBA Draft prospect to watch: Alperen Sengun
Sengun is an 18-year-old big man who is dominating the Turkish League right now. The Sixers have had mixed success with European big men in the past, and Sengun would be a question mark as well. He is not a guaranteed European star like we saw with Luka, but Sengun might be worth the chance.
He is a crafty finisher near the basket, and though he is not the most athletic, Sengun has a soft touch and always seems to get the roll. His outside shooting is improving and will continue to as he ages. He’s a tremendous passer with fabulous court vision. On top of that, Sengun turns the ball over at an incredibly low rate compared to the number of assists he is racking up.
On the other end, Sengun is serviceable. He isn’t going to enter the DPOY of the year conversation but she won’t be a liability either.
Sharpe, Jones, and Sengun are three big names for the Sixers to watch out for. Neemais Queta out of Utah State is another great, athletic option for the Sixers. While Ariel Hukporti represents another longshot European big man that might be worth a look, should there be a run on bigs.