With the No. 3 pick in this month’s draft, the Sixers aren’t overly likely to have a chance to draft either Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t doing its due diligence on those top prospects. President of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo told reporters today, including Derek Bodner (Twitter link) that they’ve talked to Fultz’s reps about the possibility of working him out, though it seems like he may only audition for the Celtics.
Meanwhile, Colangelo said the Sixers haven’t yet met with Ball, but would still like to do so, as Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com tweets. With the exception of those two point guards, Philadelphia has workouts lined up for all of this year’s top prospects, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Here’s more on the Sixers:
- According to Colangelo, the Sixers have their eye on six or seven prospects with the No. 3 overall pick (Twitter link via Bodner). In addition to Fultz and Ball, I’d imagine guys like De’Aaron Fox, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson, and Malik Monk are under consideration.
- Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons won’t participate in Summer League play for the Sixers, Colangelo confirmed today (Twitter link via Bodner). Both players are coming off season-ending injuries, so it seems the team will take it slow and look to get them ready for the fall.
- 2016 first-round pick Furkan Korkmaz, a draft-and-stash prospect, may play for the Sixers in the Summer League, depending on his international commitments (Twitter link via Bodner). For now, Korkmaz is traveling to Philadelphia to visit the Sixers and work out with some of the club’s players, per Pompey (Twitter link). The young shooting guard wants to come stateside for the 2017/18 season, but has a pricey buyout – $2MM, according to David Pick – and the 76ers may want to stash him for a little while longer.
- Tyler Cavanaugh (George Washington), Derrick White (Colorado), Tahjere McCall (Tennessee State), Isaiah Briscoe (Kentucky), Reggie Upshaw Jr. (Middle Tennessee State), and Melo Trimble (Maryland) worked out today for the Sixers, as Pompey writes for The Inquirer.
Supposing the Sixers keep all 4 2nd round picks this year, are we thinking they go mostly draft & stash? Draft Express has 2 US 2 Int’l.
I would like to see if they can trade into the late 1st and grab TJ Leaf. I see a lighter Kevin Love. If he adds on to that 6’10 225 frame and fills out to a 250. You’ve got a legit stretch 4 to pair with Embiid. You have a lot of teams at the back end of the draft that are at max cap situations (Bucks – 17, Blazers – 20, OKC – 21, Toronto – 23, Spurs – 29).
Trail Blazers – you take Leonard/Crabbe and their 1st round pick you get TJ Leaf there at 20.
OKC – They could take Katner’s contract in a 3 team deal. He has 2 years, doesn’t effect 76ers long-term.
I mean seriously if Coleangelo does NOT use the cap space to his advantage he should be fired.
Colangelo should be fired anyhow. He was handed an amazing poker hand and has proceeded to to absolutely nada. We didn’t suffer this long to just settle for mediocrity. We could’ve kept billy king if we wanted to play middle of the road…
He ruined the trade value of Okafor and Noel. All he had to do was deal Noel on last year’s draft day to get actual value out of him. They you’re just playing Okafor with the intent to build up his trade value or keep him as Embiid injury insurance. But they never got him in actual game shape and he’s on the shelf again with 0 value. You bring him in and explain it to him – “either you’re going to be here if Joel is done, or you’ll be on another team. If you ball-out, you’re going to get paid either way. If you don’t, you’re looking at a crap 2nd contract.” That’s as simple as it gets.
I’m not entirely sure Leaf drops to the back of the 1st round. More of a mid-20 type of pick, in my opinion. I comp him to Love as well, although I think he is more athletic than Love was coming out of college. I think Love was probably a little more skilled in certain areas though. I would also say his defense scares me more than Love, which is not a good thing.
If OKC finds anyone that takes Kanter, I’d be really surprised, but that would give them room they need to add the wing shooters they desperately need
There’s only 32 picks in the 1st, mid 20s is back of the 1st lol.
I have him likely going somewhere in the early 20s.
James Harden plays no defense do you want him?
Kevin Love plays no defense do you want him?
Steph Curry isn’t making an NBA all-defensive team is he?
They just discussed this on my local sports radio station… need guys that can score before worrying about defense.
Not mid 20s, mid 1st round-20.
And to be honest, I’m ok without harden or Kevin Love on my team, although I’ve always liked Loves rebounding ability and passing skills. I actually like Leaf. I just think the defense is what drops him into the range we’re talking about
unfortunately, there are no more crap contracts. he will make 50+ no matter what happens, based soley on the fact he was a high pick with height. evan turner got 70 million and all he had to do was not get a career-ending injury.
He’s looking at a Dion Waiters type show me contract.
Turner took a show me contract with Boston. So not exactly, but if Okafor goes somewhere else on the 2nd contract and averages 13 and 7 people he’ll get a Turner type deal because he’s “finally starting to realized his potential” or whatever.
Draft Day – Max ceiling was Tim Duncan
Today – Max ceiling is like Drew Gooden
smh
Never saw Tim Duncan there. Remedial al jefferson
You may not have but there were many in and around the league saying just that before he stepped on the floor. That was his Max potential before getting ruined.
I remember hearing it from people, without any actual legit reason for it. It was alats a terrible comp that I laughed at. I thought he was going to fall in that draft, or woyld ve the hilarious pick of the knicks, to be honest.
*sigh* *always
ironically he fits the Knicks triangle offense.