5 Prospects Philadelphia Should Take In NBA Draft

Leading up to the 2014 NBA Draft – in the stretch run now — we are going to preview each team in the lottery for their needs. Taking a look at each team’s individual strengths, weaknesses, roster, and what prospects would fit in with their current and future plans.

A bad season and Jrue Holiday turned into multiple lottery picks for the Philadelphia 76ers in this year’s draft. They are building from the ground up and four lottery picks in two years is a not a bad way to get the process started. Can they get a Robin in this years draft to pair with the Batman they selected last year?

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Here is the NBA Draft Fast Five.

ONE: 2014-2015 Potential Roster Review
In a nutshell, next year’s 76ers are going to be a production called “Four Lottery Picks and Thaddeus.” Thaddeus being Thaddeus Young, the one remaining holdover from a complete and total roster overhaul that started two years ago. In the 2013 NBA Draft the 76ers landed the Rookie of the Year with the 11th overall pick in Michael Carter-Williams. They also watched the 6th overall pick rack up a full 82 due to Nerlens Noel‘s torn ACL. Those two and Young will be the main three cogs in the rotation along with these two rookie selections.

TWO: Biggest Strengths
The biggest asset the 76ers have right now is that they have already found a potential star in MCW and now get to build around him. Instead of blindly taking the best available player in hopes that one will be a star, they have one, and can build around his strengths. The more athletes, shooters, and off-ball scorers the better for this team with MCW as a ball-dominant playmaker.

THREE: Biggest Weaknesses
As mentioned in the preview for the No. 10 pick this team is a blank canvas, which is a plus, but they are so blank that they will be bad for a while — at least for the near future while the young talent develops. This rebuild could easily be another Oklahoma City where they hit on their picks and become a contender very quickly, but for every OKC there are a handful of Charlotte’s that never get it right despite countless high picks.

FOUR: Odds In The 2014 NBA Draft Lottery
Well, Top 2 turned into No. 3 overall and while that is a demotion of picks, there is no crying over split hairs at this stage in the draft. The 76ers had a 28.7 percent opportunity to draft No. 2 overall based on the odds and fell to No. 3, which also had decent odds at 17.1 percent. At least they didn’t fall further…

Click to see the top five prospects at the No. 3 spot…

FIVE: Recent History of the No. 6 Pick
In most drafts the focus is on who will go No. 1 and then who falls to No. 2, but the third pick is always a unique benefit. This year it is, and in past drafts, it has been as well with Bradley Beal, Derrick Favors, James Harden, Al Horford, and Deron Williams all falling down to this spot through the past nine drafts.

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Five Prospects That Make Sense For The Philadelphia 76ers At No. 3 Overall

1. Andrew Wiggins: 6-8, 200 pounds – G/F, Kansas
Stats: (In 32.8 MPG) 17.1 PPG 5.9 RPG 34.1 percent 3PT
This is the home run the 76ers were banking on with the best overall athlete sliding down to them. Wiggins immediately improves the teams’ perimeter defense, becomes a transition dynamo with MCW and Noel, and gives the team a versatile weapon off the ball on the offensive end.

2. Jabari Parker: 6-8, 235 pounds – F, Duke
Stats: (In 30.7 MPG) 19.1 PPG 8.7 RPG 35.8 percent 3PT
Another home run here pairing Parker with Noel in the front-court gives the team a Ying-Yang on the offensive and defensive end of the floor. Parker can score from anywhere giving the team a go-to threat down the stretch and a pick-and-roll partner for MCW to work with.

3. Joel Embiid: 7-0, 250 pounds – C, Kansas
Stats: (In 23.1 MPG) 11.2 PPG 8.1 RPG 2.6 BPG 62.6 percent FG
This is another perfect scenario where Embiid plays the five and Noel plays the four and the 76ers have a tough, athletic front-court that will be tough to score on for years. Embiid is also another pick-and-roll partner for MCW and a go-to scorer in the post.

4. Noah Vonleh: 6-9.75, 247 pounds – PF Indiana
Stats: (In 26.5 MPG) 11.3 PPG 9.0 RPG 52.3 percent FG
Vonleh is versatile enough to play the four and the five at the NBA level as rebounder, defender, and emerging offensive game. His size, length, and athleticism are all ideal for the NBA and he is one of the few big men that is coming in with a sturdy frame and the strength to play from day one.

5. Julius Randle: 6-9, 250 pounds – PF, Kentucky
Stats: (In 30.8 MPG) 15.0 PPG 10.4 RPG 50.1 percent FG
An All-Kentucky frontcourt would be as athletic as it comes for the 76ers with Randle in this spot. He is a future double-double machine that can cause havoc facing the basket and from the high post. Randle is another pick-and-roll partner and has the potential to really dominate the game on the offensive end.

A few weeks ago the 76ers had the best ticket in the house. Watch the Cavaliers and Bucks take their guys and accept whoever is left over from the Big Three. Now with Embiid’s medical red flags there are a million questions and the 76ers are the ones that have to answer most of them. Best player available has to be the strategy, but who that is at the three spot is far from sure right now.

What do you think?

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