Image via WikipediaPicks Owned: 2ndAreas Of Need
I believe the Sixers are in most dire need of a wing player who can actually shoot it from the wing and is more of a pure basketball player, rather than a tall athlete that happens to play basketball, which I believe accurately describes Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young. Both Iguodala and Young have been asked to do specific things that do not fit their core competencies and it has impaired their own individual production and of course that of the team in general.
Draft Targets
Evan Turner is the closest player that fits the above description of a wing who is a pure basketball player, but I also don't believe he has All-Star potential. Drafting Turner and rearranging some of the spare pieces such as Young makes the Sixers a team that should consistently at least reach the playoffs.
Turner will be a good NBA scorer; he may have to work twice as hard as some of the more athletic wings, but he will get his points in at least a somewhat efficient manner. He also will be a good secondary ballhandler to complement Jrue Holiday in transition, plus he can run the point position when Lou Williams is on the floor. Williams is excellent instant offense off the bench, but he has consistently proven unfit to run the point in a true manner.
Derrick Favors is a bigger gamble since he needs far more development in order to become an effective big, but his potential to be big enough to play center with the Dwight Howard measurement comparisons is difficult to ignore. He has immensely more upside and I believe that is what having a pick so high should be ultimately about, finding true franchise changers.
DeMarcus Cousins has the best potential of this trio, but I'm not sure the Sixers can afford the inherent risk he would bring.
Draft History
- 2009: Jrue Holiday, 17th
- 2008: Marreese Speights, 16th
- 2007: Thaddeus Young, 12th / Jason Smith, 20th
- 2006: Rodney Carney, 16th
- 2005: Louis Williams, 45th
- 2004: Andre Iguodala, 9th
- 2003: No first round pick
- 2002: John Salmons, 26th
- 2001: Samuel Dalembert, 26th
- 2000: Speedy Claxton, 20th
I have been a huge fan of what Ed Stefanski has done in each of the past two drafts in the late teens by grabbing two players that dropped far lower than I had them ranked in terms of overall prospects. Holiday had a very encouraging rookie season at point guard where it looks like he will be Philadelphia's starter there for the next decade.
History of the 2nd Overall Pick
- 2009: Hasheem Thabeet, Grizzlies, 12.9
- 2008: Michael Beasley, Heat, 16.6
- 2007: Kevin Durant, Thunder, 21.2
- 2006: LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers, 18.4
- 2005: Marvin Williams, Hawks, 13.6
- 2004: Emeka Okafor, Bobcats, 17.5
- 2003: Darko Milicic, Pistons, 12.6
- 2002: Jay Williams, Bulls, 12.2
- 2001: Tyson Chandler, Bulls, 15.1
- 2000: Stromile Swift, Grizzlies, 16.1
http://sixers.realgm.com/articles/134/20100612/sixers_draft_preview/
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