With the draft upcoming tonight and the Sixers being in the unfamiliar territory of picking in the latter parts of the first round(the 24th pick to be exact), we at JTP wanted to play the role of Bear Grylls and explore this uncharted wilderness while also consuming various species of insects and relieving ourselves in the middle of overgrown fields. Okay, maybe not the last two things but you get the analogy.
In order to see what prey Elton Brand should be looking to attack(sorry I will stop now), we need to prioritize and see what draft picks will best fit the current Sixers roster.
1.) Cameron Johnson SG UNC
If you had talked to Sixers’ management two years ago they may have said they wanted to target guys that have high ceilings, today Elton Brand has said that he, along with the rest of the Sixers’ staff, have placed a heavy emphasis on players that are ready to make an immediate impact.
Cameron Johnson, an experienced senior who shot 45% from 3-PT range last season is ready to make an immediate impact. At 23 years of age, Johnson is a versatile deep threat who can create his own shot, make difficult shots on the move, and is a knock down free throw shooter. His only slight weaknesses is his lack of athleticism on the defensive end, but we think he is a surefire impactful rotation player that will get meaningful minutes with the Sixers next season( if he drops to pick number 24)
2.) Ty Jerome PG/SG Virginia
It was a toss up between Thybulle and Ty Jerome but again I go back to Elton Brand wanting immediate impact. Ty Jerome is a gritty combo guard that just screams winner to me(with the UVA national championship having nothing to do with it). He’s a high basketball IQ guy who’s a great three point shooter and playmaker that could fill the spot of T.J. McConnell should he choose to leave in free agency this summer.
3.) Matisse Thybulle SG/SF Washington
A lot of mock drafts have the Sixers taking this athletic monster with their first round selection and I would agree if only for his lack of shooting. Despite him being a streaky shooter(which can be developed but the Sixers staff obviously doesn’t have the best history with developing jump shots), he is one of the best all-around defensive players in the draft that can get to the basketball and make plays inside.
4.) Chuma Okeke SF Auburn
If Okeke didn’t tear his ACL this past season, he could very well be a lottery pick in this year’s draft. He can score from all areas on the court and can be a force defensively when in the right system. He can be sloppy offensively and induce turnovers but he can be a great developmental player that can improve his play in the G-league.
5.) Carsen Edwards PG Purdue
Scoring is the name of this player’s game. From spot up three pointers to creating his own shot with his crafty dribble moves, Carsen Edwards defines a score first point guard. His size could be a liability defensively but his scoring could be a valuable asset coming off the bench.
Just The Phacts 