Sixers trade back into first-round and select Anzejs Pasecniks

By Len Patterson | Jun 22, 2017

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The Sixers look to bolster their front court with the selection of Anzejs Paserniks, a Center from Latvia.

The Sixers came into draft night with 5 selections. Their night began drafting Markelle Fultz with the 1st pick, this left the Sixers with 4 more selections in the 2nd round. The 76ers have traded a future 1st round pick for the rights to select Paserniks. With their 2nd selection in the 1st round, Bryan Colangelo and the Sixers brass picked 7’2 center Anzejs Pasecniks through the Orlando Magic.

Philadelphia will send Orlando a 2020 first-round pick originally from OKC and the worst of Brooklyn’s or New York’s 2020 second-rounders for this years 25th selection.

Pasecniks claim to fame right now may be that he played in the same European league as Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis. Paserniks averaged 7.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season.

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Coming from ESPNs international scout Fran Fraschilla, “He’s a late bloomer. He’s coming on. He’s going to sneak into the first round. He’s not as athletic as Porzingis, but he’s just more of a late bloomer than Porzingis. He’s coming on quick, He’s going to play himself into the first round. He’s a reasonably good athlete for 7-2, he can run and jump.”

Pasecniks comes in at 7 foot 2 and could develop into an athletic offensive contributor who can run the floor with the Sixers’ new core. A long-term thought could be that Pasecniks could be insurance if Embiid never stays healthy for a full season.

Pasecniks has a solid opportunity of becoming an elite pick-and-roll player who can occasionally step out and hit a jumper. Pasecniks offers rim protection and rebounding out of the gate. He had his best game of his pro career this season against Estudiantes, Pasecniks had 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting to go along with 7 boards and two blocks.

Next: Sixers select Markelle Fultz

If Pasecniks can put on weight and pick up the American game he could comp out to a Willie Cauley-Stein like player, a nice complement beside Joel Embiid for years to come.