The Sixers might select the best player available or explore trades. Either way, Monday night’s lottery results were a sigh of relief and perhaps a breath of fresh air.
After a season from hell, Sixers fans were forced to suffer just a little longer during Monday night’s NBA Draft lottery.
First was the waiting … because everyone desperately needed to hear Kendrick Perkins’ thoughts for 15 minutes before the picks were actually revealed. Then, ESPN personality and Philly native Kevin Negandhi made an enormous blunder, erroneously stating the Sixers’ pick would fall outside the top six and would therefore convey to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Negandhi quickly corrected his error as a sigh of relief washed over the Delaware Valley.
In the end, Jared McCain’s outstanding vibes were good enough to land the Sixers the third overall selection, a pick they will keep (at least for now). While the Sixers likely won’t be able to land Duke’s Cooper Flagg or Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, this is a tremendous result, especially given the alternative of the team losing the pick entirely.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first — not only were the Sixers able to keep their pick after a successful late-season tank job, but they received the third pick with the fifth-best lottery odds going in. Does it stink that the Dallas Mavericks were rewarded with the first pick after trading Luka Doncic? It sure does. That doesn’t mean what happened to the Sixers should be met negatively.
While there might be a consensus with the first two picks, it feels like the third selection is where the draft could get interesting. No, there isn’t a no-brainer selection to be made like Flagg or Harper, but there are plenty of intriguing prospects to dive into. As Daryl Morey has stated repeatedly, he will take the best player available. With that said, who the best player available is will very much be in the eye of the beholder.
Throughout the draft cycle, Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe and Rutgers’ Ace Bailey have largely been considered the choices for pick Nos. 3 and 4, with folks differing on which player should go in which slot. Both players possess rare traits but come with flaws. The biggest shared flaw for both prospects is a lack of creation ability.
There are two schools of thought there. The Sixers likely have enough advantage creators in Joel Embiid (fingers crossed), Paul George (toes crossed), Tyrese Maxey, McCain and (likely) Quentin Grimes. Perhaps Edgecombe or Bailey fit in as super role players while developing the rest of their skillsets. Then again, picking this high, shot creation is a trait you might like the guy you take to possess.
It’s important to note that Bailey won’t turn 19 until August, while Edgecombe will turn 20 in July. Yes, the Sixers would love if the player they select third overall contributes immediately, but when you’re drafting this high, you have to pick the player you believe to be the better long-term prospect. Just last year, Morey selected McCain out of Duke with Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht still on the board. Knecht’s size and age suggested he was the better immediate fit for the Sixers. They took McCain because of his upside instead. With respect to Knecht, it appears they made the right choice.
With all that said, Edgecombe and Bailey won’t be the only players under consideration. If the team is looking for the best shooter in the draft, Texas’ Tre Johnson (a personal favorite of this writer) and Duke’s Kon Knueppel would fit that bill. If they want the best big in the draft, Duke’s Khaman Maluach and Maryland’s Derik Queen have intriguing tools to back up Embiid before eventually replacing him.
Of course, it’s possible those players could be available in a trade-back scenario. Perhaps a team like the Brooklyn Nets, who hold picks No. 8, 19, 26 and 27 plus more future draft capital, could covet Bailey or Edgecombe. If Morey is comfortable selecting whichever player slides amongst the aforementioned group, he could add more young talent or future draft picks for trade ammo.
It’s the type of optionality Morey disciple Sam Hinkie dreamed of once upon a time.
Morey’s stated goal has been to make the Sixers younger and more dynamic around Embiid and George. The trade deadline helped. Monday’s results were a massive step in that direction.
There will be plenty of things to worry about moving forward, but for one night, Sixers fans can celebrate a little bit of luck breaking their way.