| Power Forwards Aplenty For Sixers In Draft Authored by Derek Bodner - June 25, 2008 - 11:55 pm
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Despite the team’s success in the second half, the Sixers have some serious holes to fill. Obviously, power forward is a big need, as is shooting from the perimeter, for a team that finished last in the league in both three-point shooting percentage and three-pointers made. Andre Miller's less-than-committal stance on his upcoming free agency brings the point guard position into the equation as well.
Rumors have circulated that the Sixers have been inquiring about what it would take to move into the top-six of the draft. Should that happen, it opens up an entirely new set of questions.
At that point we could debate which of the combo guards will adapt best to the point guard position in the NBA, how debilitating Jerryd Bayless's size and wingspan will be should he have to defend the two, or how well Kevin Love's post game will translate to the League.
As time goes by, the odds of the Sixers staying at sixteen increases. Ed Stefanski recently discussed the possibility of moving up or down.
“We've explored both. The moving up cost is prohibitive right now,” he said.
This year’s draft features a large quantity of highly-skilled power forward prospects, many of which probably would have been well-served to return to school and gain much needed experience and refine their skills.
Guys like J.J. Hickson, who shows signs of a post-up game sorely lacking on today's NBA, could fall into the 20's, where had he taken another year or two to refine his face-up skills and defensive rotation, could have been a lottery pick in the future. Guys like JaVale McGee are ripe with defensive potential with shades of offensive promise, and could have moved up the boards had he stayed in school to refine his footwork and left hand. Even Darrell Arthur, with three double-digit scorers on that Kansas squad either graduating or declaring for the draft, could have gone a long way to quell the concerns about his lack of consistency
by gaining a much greater role in the Kansas offense by returning.
These decisions may have cost the aforementioned draftees a lottery selection, but their decisions have greatly increased the Sixers’ chances of obtaining a quality power forward in the draft.
So, which power forward fits the bill? They all have skills, but which one has the best chance of reaching their full potential? Which one fits in with the Sixers team and its future the best?
Kosta Koufos has been mentioned quite a bit, and you don't have to look hard to see why. The Ohio State big man's offensive game would fit in nicely in this lineup. Much has been said about the Sixers need to obtain a power forward that could operate in the post, and while this is most definitely a need, so is a big man who can shoot the jumper.
If Thaddeus Young is to slide over to the small forward position, having a power forward that can step back and reliably hit the 17-20 foot jump shot would open up the paint tremendously – especially the driving lane for Andre Iguodala. However, while Koufos might be the best current fit for the team offensively, he might be the worst fit
defensively.
He lacks the foot speed to defend the perimeter-oriented and face-up power forwards that are becoming vogue in today's NBA, and switching Samuel Dalembert to defend the perimeter would pull the team’s one shot-blocking presence away from the basket.
Arthur might be the most skilled prospect available when Philly picks. During the season, the Jayhawk displayed an impressive collection of offensive skills and athleticism that scouts have drooled over. Whether operating in the post with a wide array of turnaround jumpers, hooks and spins, or stepping out and running the pick and roll, Arthur at times looks like he can do it all. To make himself even more compelling, Arthur is extremely quick laterally, explosive off his feet and great in transition.
So what's not to like?
Arthur was maddeningly inconsistent during the season, both in terms of production and effort, and his rebounding production was not where it should have been. Was his inconsistency a problem exacerbated by Kansas's depth? Could it be corrected by staying out of foul trouble more often? Or was it a lack of consistent effort that should raise a red flag?
These are all legitimate questions, and this, combined with the fact that he measured in a little small, both in terms of height (6'8.5") and weight (216 pounds), are the only reasons Arthur is not a consensus lottery pick. The talent is there.
Having spent the previous year in the shadows of first round draft picks Al Horford and Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights had a coming out party of sorts this year. He has the size and strength to man the power forward position in the NBA, and has showed signs of being a legitimate post threat at the next level. He's a good rebounder on both ends of the
court, and while he did not step out of the paint all too often last year, he has showed signs of a face up game, with nice touch out to 17 feet and a fairly consistent release point.
Again, Speights' talent level is that of a lottery pick, with question marks about his work ethic, intensity and defense. Should one be able to harness those aspects of his game, there is definitely the possibility of plucking a starter out of this spot in the draft.
Anthony Randolph is a player who, should he fall, could be a possibility for the Sixers. While he played power forward at LSU, it could be a difficult transition for him in the NBA at only 197 pounds. He did show solid footwork in college, however it is hard to fathom he will have success establishing and holding position against NBA-level fours. Also, his frame raises concerns over whether or not he can add weight down the line.
Still, he has a rare combination of length, agility and ball skills that make him an intriguing prospect. Add that to excellent body control and touch, and you have a prospect who will challenge the notion of drafting the best player available. If Randolph is on the board at sixteen, he very
well may be the best prospect on the board – and also the worst fit – as he could be playing the position slotted for Thaddeus Young.
There are other talents at that spot, but they do not seem to be fits.
JaVale McGee is certainly an athletic marvel, who could be an impact player defensively, but he also seems to be slightly redundant with, and a bad fit to play next to, Dalembert. If Arthur, Speights and Koufos are unexpectedly all off the board, he might be worth taking a look at as a backup to Dalembert.
There's also DeAndre Jordan, who as little as a month ago was thought of as a consensus top-ten pick, to look at.
While he possesses rare size and athleticism, he would be a long ways away from providing any impact as his skills and fundamentals are a long way off from contributing in anything other than rebounding. Donte Greene is a name who has come up as well, and who has worked out for the
Sixers, but bad shot selection, inconsistent defense and a game more suited for the small forward make him an unlikely candidate.
Two dark horses to watch out for are Hickson out of N.C. State and Alexis Ajinca from France. Ajinca is an extremely long 7-plus footer with improving ball skills, good range on his jump shot and potential to be a shot-blocking presence. He would likely have a hard time playing next to Dalembert though, as he doesn't have ideal foot speed to defend the
perimeter.
He is also some time away from contributing, and there is an inherent risk in drafting a player with such little experience, but he is definitely an intriguing prospect.
Hickson has possibly the most low-post potential of any prospect in the draft. He still has little in the way of a face-up game, and his team defense is in sore need of refinement, but he is the type of talent that had he gone back to school to refine some of his shortcomings could have been a lottery pick in future years.
This draft is rare with it’s the depth of talented big men. They all have some level of risk and some inherent flaw that prevents them from being a definite lottery pick, but they all have unmistakable talent. This year more than any, interviews are key as the successful GM will be the one who correctly discerns what makes these young men tick.
Is Arthur's consistency a problem, or was it a byproduct of playing on that deep Kansas team? How much can Speights' work ethic really be a concern, considering he went from a low level recruit out of high school to improving to the point where he is a lottery-level talent in college? Which draftee has the drive and work ethic to make himself an NBA starter? Answer these questions correctly, and the talent is there at the sixteenth pick.
Either Speights, Arthur or Hickson should be available when the Sixers pick at sixteen, and if I had to hazard a guess, the team’s newest player will come from this group. Their talent is worth the risk, and they fit the team needs precisely, at a position that is a premium in today's NBA.
Bodner can be reached at dbodner22@gmail.com |
