There is SO MUCH down time between the NBA Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. Seriously, guys, what the hell? The Conference Finals have been over since May 27th. What is the point of making everyone wait eight days for the beginning of the NBA Finals? The answer is there’s no point. There’s no point at all.
I digress.
With that down time, I (along with most of us at Total Sports Live) have been concentrating on Sixers-related NBA conversations. The NBA Draft Lottery has come and gone, and the Sixers will pick third in the draft. Sadly, our dreams of one-six-eleven did not come to fruition. That’s okay. The Lakers pick and Heat pick will both convey next season. Book it.
The NBA Draft will take place later this month in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center where everyone’s favorite game — “What will the facial expression be of the guy who realizes he’s about to spend winters in Minnesota?” — will be played. (Good luck with that Jahlil.) Once the Timberwolves and Lakers take turns making their fan bases happy, Our beloved Sixers will commence the continuation of the process that has been referred to as “blind cult following” by some in national sports media. (To which we all say very R-rated things to those gentlemen that can’t be mentioned on this blog.)
If you missed my first Total Sports Live Sixers Big Board, then you should go back and look at that before scrolling down any further because there has been some crazy shifting since then. Another thing to do while perusing pertinent NBA Draft conversation is check out Alex McKeon’s post-lottery NBA Mock Draft. (I, personally, believe that Cauley-Stein will go to Sacramento vs. Porzingis, but that’s an argument for Alex and I to hash out later on Twitter). Both of us are in agreement that the rumor that the Knicks are considering Trey Lyles at #4 would be hands down the DUMBEST idea in a long, recent history of dumb ideas for the Knicks.
Let’s not talk about teams that drive us all insane with their crazy decisions. Let’s talk about our Sixers — who drive us insane because of the unbridled optimism that the organization has bestowed upon us all.
5. Emmanuel Mudiay
(PG, Guangdong Southern Tigers of China: 6’5″, 200 lbs., Wingspan: 6’8.5″, Standing Reach: 8’4″)
**Measurables are from 2014 Nike Hoop Summit**
(I told you there were some changes, didn’t I?)
There’s a lot to like about Mudiay in a Sixers uniform. He’s very quick, gets to the rim at will, and is probably the most athletic guard in this draft. I’ve seen him compared to a lot of different people since he declared, but Derrick Rose would probably be the name I choose because of Mudiay’s sheer explosiveness. The difference between Rose and Mudiay is shooting ability. Rose can shoot. Mudiay cannot. After seeing Michael Carter-Williams’s terrible shooting stroke for a season and a half, do you really think Hinkie would take a chance on ANOTHER point guard that cannot shoot worth a damn?
4. Justice Winslow
(SF, Duke University: 6’4.5″ w/out shoes, 222 lbs., Wingspan: 6’10.25″, Standing Reach: 8’8.5″)
**Measurables are from 2015 NBA Combine**
One of the most intriguing things I’ve read about Justice Winslow comes from DraftExpress — as do most of the things I read about upcoming draft prospects:
“The Duke product is almost exactly the same size as Lance Stephenson, who measured 6’4.5 without shoes to go along with a 6’10.5 wingspan while tipping the scales at 227 pounds.”
I like the comparison from a physical standpoint because aside from his being a head case, Stephenson proved himself to be a very effective wing defender while playing in Indiana — not so much in Charlotte because that team is terrible overall. If you’re telling me that the Sixers can get a player like Lance Stephenson defensively who shoots better from three (41% for Winslow vs. 30% in five seasons for Stephenson) AND isn’t a total head case, I’ll take that every day of the week and twice on weekends.
3. D’Angelo Russell
(SG/PG, Ohio State University: 6’3.25″ w/o shoes, 193 lbs., Wingspan: 6’9.75″, Standing Reach: 8′ 6″)
**Measurables are from 2015 NBA Combine**
This is about the point where Sixers fans everywhere start yelling at their computer screens. One thing I’ve noticed is that Sixers Nation is largely “Pro Russell”. Truth be told, I am one of those people. At least I was until I saw this charming tweet from Derek Bodner:
D'Angelo Russell against top-100 defenses. #sixers pic.twitter.com/NN4PO7s459
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) June 1, 2015
Derek, can I just say how much I hate you for this? I was all ready to pre-order my Russell #0 jersey until I saw this. I’m almost as mad at you about this as I was about you ruining “McBuckets” to the Sixers for me. Almost. Looking back, I’m glad you talked me out of that. 47 percent at the rim against top-100 defenses is not awe inspiring at all, for a guard whose claim to fame is being able to get to the rim at will. Russell will be facing cupcake defenses pretty rarely at the NBA level, so if he cannot get to the rim, it takes away a pretty important dimension to his game. I’m not saying Russell shouldn’t be drafted #3 by the Sixers, but I’m not as “gung ho” as I was about a month ago. (Again, thanks for that Derek.)
2. Mario Hezonja
(SG/SF, Barcelona: 6’8″, 200 lbs.)
Changes … have been made to my draft board.
You were warned!
As much as I love D’Angelo Russell’s shooting and offensive skill-set, I’m starting to like Hezonja’s even more. If the Sixers are intrigued to move out of the 3-spot for future assets, one move could be moving down to 5, 6, or even 7 and grabbing Hezonja. According to Draft Express:
“Hezonja also flashes the ability to create his own shot, notably as the ball handler in the pick and roll. His ability to explode past the defense with his strong first step off the dribble make him a threat to get to the rim, and he has a bit of shake to his floor game as well, showing the ability to use step backs to create space for his jump shots. Making 42% of his pull-up jump shots and finishing at a 62% clip around the rim, Hezonja’s scored efficiently in a variety of ways this season.”
Pick and roll/pick and pops with Hezonja and Embiid or Hezonja and Nerlens just made me drool a little bit. Excuse me while I clean myself off. Hezonja is Draft Express’s #1 shooting guard in the 2015 draft, so if you can get him plus more future assets, that’s something to consider.
1. Karl-Anthony Towns
(PF/C Kentucky: 6’10.25″ w/o shoes, 250 lbs., Wingspan: 7’3.25″, Standing Reach: 9’1″)
**Measurables from UK Pro Day**
Until the Timberwolves or Lakers come flat out and say on the record that they are drafting Towns, the New Jersey native will remain #1 on this list. As stated before, if the Sixers draft Towns, there’s going to be a deal for either him or Nerlens Noel. I’m still not mentally prepared for a Nerlens trade, nor do I think I ever will be.
A friend of mine not affiliated with Total Sports Live has this notion that the Sixers can draft Towns and then play Embiid, Towns, and Nerlens for about 25 minutes each. In theory, that seems like an okay idea, but you do not draft someone like Towns with the kind of talent both offensively and defensively to only play him for 20-25 minutes. You stick that in there for 30-33 minutes and tell that young fella (he’s only 19) to go to work.
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