UPDATE: This appears to be much ado about nothing. According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Russell canceled his session with the 76ers because he’s ill.
D’Angelo Russell canceled this weekend’s scheduled workout with the 76ers after getting “real sick,” according to a source close to the former Ohio State standout. Another source said don’t rule out the franchise securing a workout with Russell in the near future.
PREVIOUSLY: D’Angelo Russell is a perfect fit for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Controversial GM Sam Hinkie has stockpiled a wealth of rare talent in the frontcourt since tearing down his team and re-building from scratch two years ago. Nerlens Noel will be a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate sooner rather than later; Joel Embiid was considered the top prospect of a draft class that included Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker; and Croatioan Dario Saric is a seamless on-paper fit alongside either big young big man as a stretch power forward.
What Philly needs to ultimately make good on consecutive seasons of “tanking” is an impact player on the perimeter – especially after trading Michael Carter-Williams for a top-three protected first-rounder from the Los Angeles Lakers. And with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor at the top of most every team’s board, the Sixers seemed in a perfect position to select the best combination of playmaking and shooting this draft has to offer with the its third pick.
Until now, that is.
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Russell abruptly canceled his planned weekend workout with Philly on Friday morning.
D'Angelo Russell canceled this weekend's visit and workout for the #Sixers, according to multiple sources.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) June 12, 2015
Assuming the Ohio State product is healthy and won’t be re-scheduling a visit with the Sixers, there’s only one realistic justification for him canceling: a promise from the Minnesota Timberwolves or Los Angeles Lakers.
That idea isn’t quite as far-fetched as it seems on the surface.
Towns has emerged as the near consensus top prospect in this class and rightfully so. He’s a a blend of size, athleticism, skill and defensive ability that’s exceedingly rare. Okafor, on the other hand, has developed more and more detractors as the pre-draft process has played out. While it’s not necessarily fair considering he did nothing between now and early April for his stock to take a hit, it also doesn’t seem crazy that some teams could consider Russell a superior prospect – an opinion we’ve held since spring.
Rumors on the Timberwolves’ plans have been inconsistent. Initial reports suggested Flip Saunders actually preferred Okafor to Towns, but the most recent intel has dispelled that notion. The Lakers, meanwhile, purportedly “locked in” on the Duke big man – assuming his Kentucky counterpart goes first, of course – very recently.
Who promised Russell, then?
There’s no telling. Both Minnesota and Los Angeles possess talented young lead guards in Ricky Rubio and Jordan Clarkson, respectively, but the 19-year-old lefty has a chance to star in the way neither incumbent ever will. And if Saunders or Mitch Kupchak actually prefers Russell to Towns and/or Okafor, that’s the route he should take – choosing need over talent never goes well this high in the lottery.
We’ll keep you updated on Russell’s status as details on this story become available. For now, though, it’s just another surprising wrinkle before what could prove to be a wild night on June 25.
(Via Keith Pompey)
