NBA Draft Scouting Report: D’Angelo Russell
By Somers Price
As the collective basketball world shifts its focus to Oakland, California and the start of the 2015 NBA Finals, scouting departments and general managers of 28 teams not named the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers have been working around the clock in preparation for June 25th’s Draft. For all intents and purposes, the Philadelphia 76ers have one of the most intensive pre-draft evaluation periods in the league that goes back well into the regular season. To say Sam Hinkie and his staff do their homework would be the understatement of the century.
For the second time in three offseasons, the Sixers hold the third overall pick. For all the work put in by Hinkie and company over the course of the season and evaluation period, they again have the luxury of being in a position to draft a player widely considered to have the potential to drastically change the fortunes of their franchise. The Sixers’ brass has made no secrets of their intentions to increase their chances of landing in this spot, and have managed to land in a favorable situation the past two drafts.
Having already stockpiled top-end front court talent the past two drafts, many expect the Sixers to shift their focus to the backcourt in 2015. Having shipped away Michael Carter-Williams towards the trade deadline and focusing more on the wing, forward, and center positions in years past; the team eventually will have allocate top-end resources towards the guard position if they ever hope to take the next step in the ‘process’ that has been preached since Hinkie’s arrival.
Going back to before the Sixers were slotted with the third pick, they have been reported to have shown significant interest in Ohio State freshman guard D’Angelo Russell. With several projections sending the draft’s top-two big men, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, to the Timberwolves and Lakers in some order with the first two picks, Russell should be available for the taking with the 3rd pick. Here’s what Sam Hinkie, Brett Brown, and company may be taking into account should they be faced with that decision of whether or not to draft ‘Voodoo’.
***NOTE: I am not a scout nor do I have any scouting experience. Just an avid fan providing analysis based on what I’ve seen, read, and heard***