Leading up to the draft lottery day on May 18, I had joked that the lottery balls had to go in the Sixers’ favor. Not only was the team in desperate need of a direction change, but it was also my birthday.
Truth be told I wasn’t expecting anything higher than the #6 or #7 pick, so it took awhile for the the truth to sink in: the Philadelphia 76ers have the #2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. It was quite the birthday present.
While almost certain future star John Wall will fall to the Washington Wizards at #1, the Sixers have one clear choice and a number of guys who could slot in quite well, all of whom have been worked out by the team over the past week.
Tomorrow’s draft will herald a new era in the team’s history, one that will hopefully see them rebuild the only way they can. By shedding dead weight and bad contracts and stocking up on young talent, the Sixers can once again be relevant.
The Dalembert trade was an excellent start, but an intelligent draft pick will be even more important.
Derrick Favors, the Georgia Tech power forward, is slated to go to the New Jersey Nets at #3 on most draft boards, but new head coach Doug Collins is said to be very high on him.
While both Wall and Turner are highly polished athletes, the 18-year old Favors has some development to do, but some experts believe that he could end up being the biggest prize from this draft.
He’s worked out with Minnesota, New Jersey, Sacramento, and Philly, and although he is 7’4″, has great ball-handling skills, and quick jumping abilities, there is one knock about him. Minnesota says he is out of shape, which Favors does not deny.
While working out in Philly, he competed in drills against DeMarcus Cousins, another guy who figures to go high in the draft. With the recent departure of Samuel Dalembert, the University of Kentucky power forward/center could fill a need in South Philly.
He has a wealth of attributes, including his ability to get to free throw line, shot-blocking skills, and defensive post presence, but his 1.6 points per touch average is troubling. With a pick this high in the draft, the Sixers are better going for the best guy available as opposed to filling a need.
Forward Wesley Johnson is older and more polished, quickly shooting up a lot of draft boards. His work out in Philly went well, and there is a lot that he could bring the team. He’s versatile, which allows him to keep his mistakes to a minimum. More importantly, he excels at rebounding and would be an excellent choice for the Sixers.
His age may be a downside, but with that comes added experience. The real knocks come in the form of his inability to get to the free throw line and the lack of advanced ball-handling skills.
When the Sixers go on the clock tomorrow night, the name they need to call is obvious: Ohio State’s Evan Turner. What this kid can do on both sides of the ball is mind-boggling. He will do whatever it takes to score, he’s an excellent defender, he’s aggressive, and he can rebound with the best of them.
This is the biggest draft for the Sixers since 1996. There may be some valid arguments in picking based on need, but the team needs more than just a few holes filled. This is a team in shambles that has lost the city, and a high draft pick will go a long way in reviving interest.
If the braintrust doesn’t pick Turner, I’ll be shocked (or not, based on history) because this is the guy that will bring hope back to the team. Along with other young guys like Holiday, Young, and Speights, this will be the team we see on the court for a very long time.
