Potential Sixers Second Round Stashes

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

The Sixers have 5 second-round picks in the upcoming draft (35 from Orlando, 37 from Denver, 47 from New Orleans, 58 from Houston, and 60 from Golden State). Just this once, I’ll avoid the low-hanging fruit of making a Sam Hinkie loves 2nd-round picks joke. However, since an NBA roster is limited to 15 players under contract, it seems nearly impossible to imagine the team will use all of those picks who players they expect to compete for positions this season.

Not only does the team have players currently under contract for next season, but there is the 1st-round pick coming in, guys the Sixers hold the rights to overseas who might want to come over (e.g. Jordan McRae), and any free agents management might want to bring in, either bringing back someone like Luc Mbah a Moute or testing the open market. Whatever the case may be, it’s simply unrealistic to imagine 5 rookie second-round picks on the Sixers roster next season.

So what’s a team to do? It could simply take a number of guys and let them battle it out in training camp, cutting loose those individuals who don’t make the cut. Teams do that all the time, but then you basically just give away a couple of your 2nd-round pick. The Sixers could also package some of those picks as part of a trade, either to move up into the latter part of the 1st-round, get future picks, etc. I’m sure Hinkie will work the phones for those types of deals, but the right opportunities might not present themselves. The most likely scenario, and something I’m sure we’ll see with at least one of the picks, is an international stash.

We saw this exact scenario play out last year when the Sixers selected Vasilije Micic with the 52nd overall pick. By taking a guy known to want to continue playing overseas for at least the next couple years, the team obtains the rights to a player who could help them down the road, while maintaining flexibility both on the roster and in the salary cap (not that the cap is currently a concern for the Sixers). So who are potential targets for an international stash in the second round of the upcoming draft? Here are a handful of names to keep an eye on.

George de Paula – The 6’6″ point guard worked out with the Sixers on May 14th, but may be shooting up draft boards too high for the Sixers to grab him. The Brazilian had the second-longest hands of any player at the combine (longest ever for a point guard since they started tracking that sort of thing) and the longest wingspan ever measured for a point guard. He was also just 18 years old at the combine so he may not be done growing. Basically, think the Bucks’ Greek Freak but bringing the ball up. It almost seems assured someone is going to take a gamble on him in the first round.

Mouhammadou Jaiteh – The 6’11” center actually worked out with the Sixers last offseason before withdrawing from the 2014 draft. The 19-year-old played with JSF Nanterre in France this past year, and recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds in the live action game at the combine. He could potentially get a nod form the Sixers with either the Nuggets or Pelicans picks.

Timothe Luwawu – The 6’7″ swingman is very long and athletic and profiles as a prototype ‘3-and-D’ guy so en vogue in today’s NBA. He hasn’t played about France’s second division, but still just 20 years old, has plenty of time to work on his game as an international stash pick.

Cedi Osman – The 6’8″ small forward plays alongside Dario Saric for Anadolu Efes in Turkey, so you know the Sixers have seen him play on more than one occasion. He has good size and ball-handling ability, while his major knock is concerns about his ability to shoot the basketball. You know, like 90% of the players the Sixers currently roster; he would fit right in.