The Philadelphia 76ers own the 28th and 50th overall picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. While there’s a good chance the Sixers trade one (if not both) of the picks to acquire veteran talent, there are plenty of prospects who should catch Daryl Morey’s eye.
We have already analyzed potential Sixers targets at point guard and shooting guard — some of whom are first-round prospects, others of whom are better suited to the second round. This article will perform the same task at the small forward position.
Wing depth was an issue for the Sixers last season, so there’s reason to believe Morey may look to address it on July 29. Here are five prospects to watch out for.
5 small forwards to watch in Sixers’ NBA Draft: Brandon Boston Jr.
Brandon Boston may fit more naturally as a two-guard, but at 6-foot-7, he has the size and skill set to masquerade as a wing. Depending on how the Sixers’ roster shakes out, Boston’s role could vary. In all likelihood, however, he’s not a year-one rotation piece.
Before the season, Boston was almost universally pegged as a top-five prospect. His draft stock took a nosedive at Kentucky, where he shot 35.5 percent from the field and could never really establish a rhythm offensively. For a player who relies so heavily on shot-making, the lack of made shots from Boston is a big concern.
That said, there is a reason Boston was considered a top-five talent before the season. Kentucky has a long history of churning out gifted NBA scorers, and it’s not unfeasible for Boston to join the list. He still showed flashes in Lexington, and given the general oddity of the last year in sports, it’s not hard to look past it and see the end of the rainbow. Boston is still an NBA athlete, with the size and length to create matchup advantages in his favor, should the shot-making juice ever return.
There’s a chance Boston flames out. There’s a chance he’s nothing more than an inefficient gunner who won’t last two years as a pro. Even so, the Sixers may not expect an immediate contributor at 28, and there’s a certain appeal to gambling on a player with Boston’s ceiling. Perimeter shot-making has been the bane of Philadelphia’s existence for a while, and if Boston hits, he will probably hit big.
Also, the potential irony of a player named Boston helping Philadelphia keep ahead of the Boston Celtics is too good to pass up.
PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: 25-45
BIG BOARD RANKING: 35