If the Philadelphia 76ers aren’t the most interesting team in the NBA this offseason, they are on the (very) short list. In addition to a fun and talented roster that includes Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the Sixers have the potential salary cap flexibility to add an elite player like LeBron James or Paul George, while simultaneously possessing the trade capital to make a theoretical run at a top-tier player already under contract.
Beyond that, the Bryan Colangelo saga captivated the league in the early portion of the offseason and, well, the Sixers haven’t hired his full-time replacement just yet. In short, there are a ton of moving parts for the organization and that doesn’t even get into the ongoing weirdness with No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz.
Before free agency arrives, though, the Sixers also have an impressive haul of draft selections to work with on June 21, with a lottery pick (No. 10), a late first-round pick (No. 26), two intriguing second-round choices (No. 38 and No. 39), to go along with two filler slots (No. 56 and No. 60). It is obviously very tough to gauge what the club might do with all of that flexibility and trades are almost certainly a part of the calculus. However, here are a few players that Philadelphia should consider in their various draft slots.
- Mikal Bridges – SF, Villanova – The Sixers have plenty of creation ability already, especially if Markelle Fultz returns to form. In Bridges, they would add a pure 3-and-D prospect that is a fantastic fit. There are reasons to be skeptical of his overall impact as an on-ball player but Bridges has a great shooting stroke (and a high release) with the ability to improve into being a high-end defender.
- Miles Bridges – SF/PF, Michigan State – Much like his namesake, Miles Bridges would be an awesome fit in Philadelphia. He isn’t the pure shooter that Mikal is but, if anything, Miles is better in the floor game and has a higher creation upside offensively. There is some question about whether he profiles best as a 3 or a 4 in the modern NBA but, with Ben Simmons providing defensive flexibility, Bridges would be a great running mate.
- Jevon Carter – PG, West Virginia – Based on the consensus, No. 26 may be too early for Carter but, if he slips into the 38/39 range, it would be fantastic news for the Sixers. The biggest concerns with Carter are age and the ability to engineer an offense as a lead guard. If he joined the Sixers, those would be mitigated in that Philadelphia is already a contender and Carter would have very little in the way of creation responsibility. Simply put, he’d be unleashed as a tenacious on-ball defender and role player, which would be perfect.
- Shake Milton – SG/PG, SMU – Milton is in the same boat as Carter, except with slightly different strengths. Milton isn’t going to “wow” anyone athletically, but he has a wingspan north of 7’0 and the ability to defend multiple positions as a result. That is the perfect kind of supporting piece in Philly to target in the second round, especially when considering he is a 40 percent (or better) three-point shooter.
- Dzanan Musa – SF, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Musa wouldn’t be in the mix at No. 10 but, if he slips to Philly’s second pick, it could make sense. Defensively, there are significant issues but the Sixers could use an infusion of shooting and offensive talent. He definitely provides that.
- Khyri Thomas – SG/PG, Creighton – Thomas is 6’4 with a 6’10 wingspan and that unlocks a ton of defensive potential. Beyond that, he was a career 41 percent three-point shooter in college and is best suited on a team that has a lead ball-handler from the wing. Doesn’t that sound like a player the Sixers should be evaluating closely?
- Gary Trent Jr. – SG, Duke – If the Sixers eschew floor-spacing in the first round, Trent could provide it in the late 30’s. Shooting is his only sure-fire NBA skill but, if you have to pick one to bank on, it’s not a bad choice.
- Moritz Wagner – C, Michigan – Wagner would serve as a change-of-pace big man behind Joel Embiid. They are very different players but, if the Sixers want to add a big man at some point along the way, he is the best fit with what they want to do on the offensive end of the floor, at least in the second round.
- Lonnie Walker – SG, Miami – From a value perspective, many have Walker in Philadelphia’s lottery range, even if it would be a small reach from me. He is a pure shooting guard but, if Fultz returns to form, that is a need alongside him and Walker has offensive capability that would be tantalizing.
