| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Philadelphia Draft Preview (21st) Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 21, 2007 - 5:17 pm
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Draft Picks: 12th, 21st, 30th, 38th
What they do well
Last season was a pivotal year for the Philadelphia 76ers. They finally dealt franchise icon Allen Iverson to Denver, and cut ties with the hobbled and uninterested Chris Webber. They realized it was time to rebuild, and were able to turn the corner while stockpiling many young assets.
Andre Iguodala became the heart of the team after Iverson’s departure and averaged career highs of 18.2 points and 5.7 assists, which complimented his normally superior defense that enabled 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest.
Kyle Korver emerged this season with career highs of 14.4 points, 43% three-point shooting and led the NBA with 91.4% shooting from the free throw stripe.
Wily veteran point guard Andre Miller came over in the Iverson deal and immediately had an impact leading the team while dishing out 7.3 assists to go along with his 13.6 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Youthful Sixers including Rodney Carney, Shavlik Randolph, and Louis Williams also showed glimpses of future success in the City of Brotherly Love.
The 76ers started with a 10-29 record, but soon came together as a unit and finished the season with a 25-18 record, which leads many fans to believe that they are in good hands with Andre Miller and the new-look youthful Sixers.
Where do they need improvement?
With three picks in the first round of this year’s draft, we could see the Sixers go for a sleeper, a player with lots of upside, or simply fill a void. While we already have Al Thornton penciled in to Philly with the 12th pick in the Draft, we can expect that they are looking to sure up their backcourt with a very dynamic scorer, or they can go with a big man who brings fundamentals to their limited frontcourt.
Who should they target?
- Daequan Cook, SG – Ohio State:
Cook is one of the most interesting players in the later stages of the first round. His combination of athleticism and his ability to go on scoring tears makes him a potential sleeper this year. Despite coming off the bench for the national champion runner-up Buckeyes, he has the tools to become an effective and versatile player for an already freakishly athletic small lineup. With teams needing athletic scorers following this pick, don’t be surprised to see them pull the trigger on this shooting guard with unlimited scoring potential.
- Tiago Splitter, PF – Brazil:
Since the Sixers have three picks in the first round, they can take a gamble on a very talented player who might not be available to immediately come over to the NBA. With the recent success of Brazilian players like Anderson Varejao and Leandro Barbosa, it is not unreasonable to assume that he can make a similar transition into the league for Philly. With a dire need at PF, Splitter could be the perfect fit, especially if he comes over to America this season.
- Josh McRoberts, PF – Duke:
While McRoberts has faced plenty of scrutiny as being the overrated player on the overrated team, his track record speaks for itself. The 6-10 Blue Devil average 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game during his sophomore season, and is still maturing on the court. His passing, rebounding, athleticism, and high basketball IQ have many people believing he can have a similar impact that David Lee has had thus far in his young NBA career. If so, he would be a great pick for the 76ers here at 21.
Picks since 2000
The 76ers haven’t made many selections in the past couple of years, but have gained plenty of quality with their past three drafts. Iguodala has turned into one of the best players to come out of the 2004 NBA Draft, Louis Williams is emerging as second round steal as a 20 year-old dynamic scorer and playmaker, and Thabo Sefolosha was picked and immediately dealt to Chicago for the multitalented Rodney Carney.
2006
Thabo Sefolosha, 13th (traded to Chicago)
2005
Louis Williams, 45th
2004
Andre Iguodala, 9th
2003
Paccelis Morlende, 50th
2002
Jiri Welsch, 16th (traded to Golden State)
Sam Clancy, 45th
2001
Samuel Dalembert, 26th
Damone Brown, 37th
Alvin Jones, 57th
2000
Speedy Claxton, 20th
March Karcher, 48th
Who do you want the 76ers to draft at number 21? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions. |
