What NBA Draft Experts Think the Sixers Should do With the 16th Overall Pick
Drown any Paul George-related sorrows in the wonders of the NBA Draft.
The NBA Draft is just one day away, and unlike last year, there’s a little more reason to believe the Sixers will actually leave draft night with a new young prospect.
To prep for Wednesday, I reached out to two of the smartest NBA Draft minds scouting players and creating content in the public space — Ben Pfeifer (@bjpf_) and Ahmed Jama (@slipthescreen) — and asked them several questions about what the Sixers should do with the 16th and 41st overall picks. Here’s what they had to say.
There’s a belief that Daryl Morey will trade the 16th pick either for a veteran or to save cap space because the Sixers need to win now, and getting a veteran will help them with that more than a young player will. Do you support that line of thinking for the Sixers, or do you think it’s worth it for them to keep the pick and use it on an unknown in the draft?
Ahmed: Barring a drastic fall from one of the lottery, or fringe lottery prospects, I believe the Sixers should move off the pick. Considering the dearth of talent even at the top of the class, unless a prospect with great pedigree – i.e Ron Holland or Isaiah Collier – were to fall, the Sixers would be better suited parlaying the asset into an immediate contributor who can round out their rotation.
Ben: I see both sides of this coin and the answer would depend on the prospect available. Philly could use an infusion of young talent if a prospect like Ron Holland or Isaiah Collier falls. They would help extend the long-term ceiling. By the nature of this weaker draft, the Sixers could be wise to move out of the draft for future assets, or if a star becomes available.
If the Sixers do keep the pick, do you think they should use it on an older prospect who might be more “NBA ready” from the jump? And if so, are there any older, NBA ready prospects that you think would be best for them?
Ahmed: If the aforementioned younger prospects are unavailable, the Sixers should certainly look to acquire a more known quantity at 16. This class doesn’t boast many creation bets outside the lottery, and with Paul Reed potentially leaving the team this off-season, the Sixers should target one of many utility bigs in the class – ideally, Daron Holmes or Kyle Filipowski, if they’re available.
Ben: The Sixers aren’t one prospect away from contention, so I would prefer them select the best player available regardless of their current abilities, as upside is critical. There are some excellent older prospects, primarily DaRon Holmes, whose modern-big skillset would complement Joel Embiid nicely. He’d be able to hold up at the four next to Joel in certain lineups and take over the five spot when needed.
In the other direction, one player that people think might take a surprising fall out of the lottery is G League Ignite’s Ron Holland. Is he the level of prospect where you sprint the card to the table and draft him if he’s still available at 16 for the Sixers?
Ahmed: Yes! Ron Holland would be a slam dunk of a pick at 16. Holland has been a mainstay in the top 5 of my big board over the course of the draft cycle, and regardless of whatever personnel decisions the Sixers make in the near future, I believe Holland’s skillset is an incredible compliment to Tyrese Maxey.
Ben: If Holland falls to 16, the decision should be easy. His ceiling places him at the top of the draft for me and many other scouts, as his blend of athletic tools, feel and defensive ability are all enticing. He might not be a playoff-caliber player from day one, but the upside he has to develop into a third would be well worth that wait.
Are there any prospects projected to go in that 10-20 range that you think the Sixers specifically should avoid taking? Who are the prospects where you’d give the Sixers a very bad draft grade if they ended up with them?
Ahmed: There are a few prospects in the 10-20 range I’d avoid if I were any team, including the Sixers. Tristan da Silva is a player I’m skeptical of being worth a top-20 pick. Jared McCain is another player I wouldn’t grade well if he were taken in that range. Two players who are limited creators and almost certainly negatives on the defensive end; I struggle to see them contributing to a playoff team in the near future.
Ben: Ja’Kobe Walter and Kyshawn George wouldn’t be ideal for Philly, as they would both be project players, but without the enormous upside of a Ron Holland or an Isaiah Collier. Those prospects would take even longer to develop into positive contributors in all likelihood, and might not have a ceiling high enough to justify a top 20 pick.
Would you be willing to use the 16th pick on a center if he truly is the best player available, or is using a first on someone all but locked into being a backup center a waste of a pick?
Ahmed: As pedantic as it may sound, the goal of every pick is to acquire the player most capable of producing for your team. In any draft adding a quality backup outside the lottery is nothing to sneeze at. Especially considering this class’ strength is its big-man depth, I’d implore the Sixers to capitalize on one of this class’ strengths!
Ben: I’d only draft a center if they project to viably play next to Joel Embiid, just like the aforementioned Holmes. If the 76ers truly think a big is can’t-miss, they should draft him. If not, there are likely to be good prospects with a cleaner fit next to the stars in place.
You’re Daryl Morey. Ron Holland is already off the board, as are guys like Rob Dillingham and Devin Carter. Who is your dream pick in that case for the Sixers?
Ahmed: My dream pick for the Sixers in this scenario would be Kel’el Ware. Ware is well worth a lottery pick in this draft and was the victim of a college situation ill equipped to make use of his talents. He will need time to adjust to the defensive demands made of a NBA center, but in short time I expect Ware to be a quality backup with the potential to grow into more.
Ben: Jared McCain makes too much sense as a consolation prize after missing out on those guards. He’s a dynamite shooter with the spacing and off-ball skill to slot next to a star guard like Tyrese Maxey and to stretch defenses out for Joel Embiid. In the mid-first round, McCain could represent an ideal blend of upside and a prospect who fits well and can contribute early.
Who are second-round prospects that you think would best be suited to immediately help a Sixers team trying to contend around Maxey and Embiid?
Ahmed: Louisiana Tech’s Isaiah Crawford, Colorado’s KJ Simpson, and the two French prospects — Pacome Dadiet and Melvin Ajinca.
Ben: The second round could be an excellent juncture to add more young wing depth to the roster. They could look for a defensively oriented forward like Isaiah Crawford or Keshad Johnson, or shoot for a more offensively slanted one like Jaylen Wells or Pelle Larsson.
(Author’s note — for a full breakdown on both Isaiah Crawford and KJ Simpson, click here).
Daniel Olinger is a writer for the Rights To Ricky Sanchez, and author of “The Danny” column, even though he refuses to be called that in person. He can be followed on X @dan_olinger.
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