The Sixers have the No. 24 overall pick in the upcoming draft and they will look to select a prospect who can immediately help them win games.
“That’s hopefully somebody that can come in and contribute right away,” Sixers senior director of scouting Vince Rozman said of the team’s first-round pick (via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer).
GM Elton Brand will look to players who’ve had more experience. The Sixers will target “a player with more of a mature game than a ‘project.’ But I don’t know if that’s necessarily driven by age,” Brand said.
The fact that Philadelphia is hoping to land a rotation player in the draft comes as no surprise. The Sixers will attempt to bring back Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and J.J. Redick this summer, and if they’re successful, they’ll be limited in their ability to make upgrades to supplement their current group, as I detailed on a recent episode of NBA Math’s Hardwood Knocks podcast.
If the Sixers bring back their playoff starting five, the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception—projected to come in at $9.246MM—would be the club’s greatest tool in acquiring additional talent. Teams have the ability to offer a free agent the entire amount of the MLE as a starting salary but can also split that amount among multiple players.
The Sixers also have four selections in the second round (Nos. 33, 34, 42, and 54). Philadelphia has worked out a bevy of prospects and will continue the evaluation process through draft night. No prospect may be as notable as Terry Harris (North Carolina A&T), brother of Tobias.
“One, they look a lot alike. That’s also interesting,” Rozman said. “But [Terry] is 6’6″. He can shoot. He defends. It’s got to be a proud moment for the family and Tobias and everybody.”
In addition to Terry, the Sixers have also brought in Tyler Harris for an audition at their free agent minicamp.
While Terry isn’t expected to be drafted, the Sixers own four of the draft’s final 28 selections, which gives them the flexibility to take an untraditional route in extracting value from their late picks.
Such late selections typically have a low probability of yielding a contributor, so using them in a manner that would be favorable to one of their max free agents wouldn’t come with great opportunity cost. This is strictly speculation, as the team’s plan with its second-rounders is unknown. All that appears certain is that the Sixers will look to use their first selection on a player who can contribute from day one.
I don’t know if they would still be around at #24 but Dylan Windler and Cameron Johnson would both be good pickups as they can shoot the 3 and move without the ball.
Harris needs to go…they tried it, they did well for the short time they had…but having 3 players that need the ball in their hand to play is bad…Bulter brings D and a guy that wants to be the man and take that big shot, Simmons is a marvel to watch at times and Embiid is clearly the best big in the league if he remained healthy.
Harris is the extra baggage in this lil boat, his game is to ISO orientated to work with the other pieces in Philly and Bulter just fits better with Simmons and Embiid
At the end of the day if they keep them both..then theyn are just saying to Embiid and Simmons…sorry but you will not receive that big contract like you thought you would
Keeping Tobias has nothing to do with what contract they give to Embid or Simmons, more so to Simmons since he’s still on his rookie contract and Embid just signed a max rookie scale extension with 4 years/$120 mil+ left on it.
I think most teams would like an immediate contributor with their pick…
“Sixers Eye Player Who Can’t Help Them For Years with number 24 Overall Pick.
“Sixers Eyeing Immediate Contributor With No. 24 Overall Pick”
Unlike the other 29 teams in the league. “We want someone who will languish on the sidelines and not help at all.” – Nobody
I mean, there are plenty of teams who are willing to think more long-term with their picks. The Nuggets weren’t thinking about immediate contributions last year when they drafted Michael Porter. The Sixers’ pick two years ago in nearly this exact same spot was Anzejs Pasecniks, who still hasn’t played an NBA game.
The further you go from #1 overall the more your expectations about immediate impact CAN change from pick to pick. A team that drafts Bol Bol may not expect him to have an immediate impact as he needs to fill out more. The Sixers, because they might not be able to spend as much as they want to and have way too many picks to play them all, might select the college player that can be a major contributor today. Whether as a potential starter (let’s say a shooter to replace Reddick if he’s not brought back) or a cheap rotational player to save money and avoid lux tax issues.
Sixers could really fill out their team with all those picks! Might be a bit chaotic early and insufficient come playoff time.
Ty Jerome and Grant Williams should improve the lockerroom/spirits at least, which might turn into an issue for them next year. They don’t need more monsters than what they have, if all re-sign.
No late first round or second round picks are going to have the pull to help improve a locker room environment x%sure. You think Butler or Embiid are even going remember the rookies names by the end of the season much less listen to them?
Yes, and what do you know of NBA lockerrooms. Going by quotes & stories, Lebron was perked up by Cedi Osman in 2017/18, a tough year for the lockerromm on the team I follow. IDK if Lebron “listened” but I meant vibes. Which, doesn’t seem to google and isn’t normally what I would file away to recall now.
Grant Williams’s presence is practically his main selling point, and he’s in Philly’s range, unless they trade up. There is room on their roster for rookies, they have a lot of picks, and vibes count long run when the heavyweights are at odds. The Philly brass is looking for maturity they say.
It’s not like humans helplessly beholding the 17 monsters in the new “Godzilla” though I did use the word monster… should have replaced that.
Actually the 76ers have a boatload of picks available to them over the next few years. Would not be surprised if a big package of picks were used to move up to the #7-#12 slot. Getting a real deference maker go with a Butler Max deal. They are in win now mode not picks are us.
The 6ers have a bunch of 2nd rd’rs the next few years.24 and a bunch of 2nds ain’t getting up to 7-12.Even the 6ers future 1sts can’t really be looked at as anything but late 1st.
They’re gonna flip the #24 pick. There will be plenty of juniors and seniors with at least one NBA skill available at the start of the second round.
Elton brand maiden voyage. We have no idea what he will do. It seems that most opinions are that the 6ers have too much talent on the roster….”not enough balls to go around “. Really? If that is the case, they need a coach that can figure it out. If the owner is willing to pay every one…keep them all. Simmons is liability until he is willing to put in the work on that shot instead of chasing hoes and wanting to be Hollywood.
Can we do a quick research check on this? Tyler Harris from Memphis is not even in the draft nor is he Tobias brother. Tyler Harris that is related to Tobias has been in the G-League for a few years I believe. He played at Auburn. Let’s get it together here guys. Curious why you assumed the kid from Memphis was his brother just because he has the same last name?
Thanks Bryan. Pompey’s story didn’t offer any details on Tyler Harris besides his name, which resulted in Chris mixing up the two Tyler Harrises. I’ve updated the story to fix that.
Tobias’ brother is a 6 ft 9 forward that went to NC State fpr a year before transferring to PC for 2 and then Auburn for a year. The kid has tools. The question is his consistency
If he’s looking for an immediate rotation player, that may be hard to get at #24. But if that’s their focus, it’s doable. Productive college upperclassmen often drop as teams look for higher ceiling players in the teens. Plus, they have the draft capital to move up from #24 if the right guy is there. The weakness of this draft might actually help them trade up.
I think you’ll find value at 24. Thybulle, Cam Johnson, Keldon Johnson, Kabengele, Jerome. All going to be there around #24. Each has a skill that will translate to the NBA.