Philadelphia 76ers 2016 NBA Draft Big Board: Post-Final Four
The Philadelphia 76ers will be focusing on a more solidified draft board with the Final Four completed and most of the first-round prospects out of the tournament.
The Philadelphia 76ers and general manager can now shift towards solidifying their draft boards now that most first-round prospects are knocked out of the tournament. Villanova-UNC will be sure to bring college hoops fans a great game, but the championship game won’t hold any top-10 picks. The Philadelphia 76ers will have their sights set on many options, and with the potential of four first-round picks, they will have to look deep into each prospect in hopes of landing the next piece to the rebuilding puzzle.
This Section 215 draft board will look at team needs, while also considering the talent of the top prospects. The Philadelphia 76ers will most likely not be looking too deep into talented big men prospects like Skal Labissiere, so he did not make the Section 215 draft board.
This shows that the Philadelphia 76ers mentality might be shifting from best player available (BPA) to drafting for best fit. With core pieces at the frontcourt already, the Philadelphia 76ers will look to bolster their backcourt talent. The Section 215 draft board will be looking at the top-10 potential prospects for the team.
10. Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan State
Denzel Valentine’s size, passing ability, and decent outside shooting touch all make him attractive as the Philadelphia 76ers hold two potential picks outside of the lottery. Valentine could prove to be versatile on both sides of the ball. At 6’6″, Valentine is long enough to defend most NBA point-guards, and can be yet another wing defender for head coach Brett Brown’s struggling defense. Jerami Grant and Valentine on the court together will give the team length, something the Philadelphia 76ers are missing at the guard position. Valentine racked up 7.6 assists and shot 44.7% from the outside all while averaging 19.4 points per game. The AP Player of the Year award winner should be grabbing major attention from the Sixers.
9. Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Anadolu Efes (Turkey)
Furkan Korkmaz will still only be 18-years old by the time the NBA Draft comes along, and the potential for him as an effective NBA scorer is through the roof. Korkmaz is not much of a facilitator, but his dead-eye shooting is what will put him on various teams’ draft boards…and the Sixers are not excluded. Rebuilding becomes easier when a team can score, and the Philadelphia 76ers will need all the shooting they can get. Korkmaz will be able to spread the offense for the loaded frontcourt, and will make an impact with what will most likely be limited shot attempts. Korkmaz would be a nice asset to have for the rebuild.
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8. Timothe Luwawu, SG/SF, Mega Leks (France)
Timothe Luwawu is this year’s draft mystery. The size and length are known, but his game translating to the NBA will be the big question. Luwawu played significant minutes in the respectable Adriatic League and performed well in all aspects of the game.
Shooting 37% from the outside, averaging 4.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game have put Luwawu on NBA scouts’ maps. The Philadelphia 76ers will look at Luwawu closely, as his well-rounded offensive game combined with aggressive defensive instincts make him attractive.
7. Jaylen Brown, SF, California
Jaylen Brown has the size, but the skill hasn’t been as up to par as most have hoped. Brown is still slated to go top-5, but the Philadelphia 76ers should look elsewhere to fill more dire needs. Brown’s shaky outside touch and his questionable decision making on offense show that he’s a long-term projects, which the Philadelphia 76ers are well-suited for, but are trying to switch gears to becoming competitive sooner than later.
6. Dragan Bender, PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Dragan Bender has been getting the hype of becoming this years’ Kristaps Porzingis. A 6’8″ PF that can score multiple ways in the post, Bender can be a solid scorer in the NBA. The Philadelphia 76ers, however, are stacked at the frontcourt and will most likely pass on Bender. Drafting BPA is no longer in the mix after the top-2 picks and Bender doesn’t show enough currently for the Philadelphia 76ers to take him and cause more confusion. Bender is a nice prospect, but not a nice fit for Philadelphia.
5. Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
Kris Dunn has been bouncing in and out of the top-5. Although his shooting touch was average this season for Providence, Dunn showed his innate ability to find teammates and finish around the rim. Dunn is fully capable of running the offense and does not need shots to impact the game. Dunn’s win share was over 4.5 the past two seasons, and the two-time Big East Player of the Year was able to lead his team the NCAA tournament. Dunn seems like the ideal facilitator to move the Philadelphia 76ers team forward, while also being a somewhat effective scoring option.
4. Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma
Buddy Hield finished second behind Denzel Valentine for AP Player of the Year, led his team to the Final Four, and had the scoring stats to put him amongst the top prospects in the draft. Hield is an excellent outside shooter who can also finish through traffic around the rim. Offensively, it seems like Hield is unstoppable. Hield is polished and more ready of a product compared to others due to his four-year stay at Oklahoma, and he could impact the Philadelphia 76ers offense in ways other prospects cannot. Hield is ball dominant, but is excellent moving without the ball to create shots, this is why the Philadelphia 76ers should seriously consider taking Hield if they fall anywhere between 3-5 in the lottery.
3. Jamal Murray, SG/PG, Kentucky
Ideally, the Philadelphia 76ers would want Jamal Murray to play point guard and run the offense. He was primarily playing shooting guard for the loaded backcourt of Kentucky, but has shown his ability to take over offensively. Murray’s dynamic offense starts with his outside shooting, and are elevated by his charisma. “The Arrow” would look good in Philadelphia, but there are questions about his height and his ability to get his low-release shot off in the NBA. Murray can come in and steal the hearts of Philadelphia 76ers fans, while making an impact offensively right away.
2. Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke
Brandon Ingram has it all. Size, shooting, basketball IQ, ability to take over late in games. There’s not much standing between him and the top pick in the draft. Ingram has hopped around the mock drafts, swapping positions with Ben Simmons, but what keeps him at number 2 in the Section 215 isn’t what Brandon Ingram can’t do, it’s what Simmons may ultimately become. Ingram would be a great fit with the Philadelphia 76ers, putting him next to frontcourt guys like Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Joel Embiid. Ingram could become a special player on this rebuilding team, but Okafor/Embiid will still be the team’s main source of offense.
1. Ben Simmons, PF, LSU
Outside shooting. Ben Simmons’ kryptonite. With the success of the Golden State Warriors have placed a new league-wide importance on 3-point shooting, and maybe that’s why Simmons lack of ability in that aspect has been touched upon so often. Simmons would give the Philadelphia 76ers versatility in every other way imaginable, however. His ability to play any position on the court is certainly attractive. Simmons running the point for the Sixers at times isn’t farfetched either. Simmons’ ability is reminiscent of Milwaukee Bucks swiss-army knife Giannis Antetokounmpo. Simmons could develop into a star, and that’s what the whole plan is, right? Passing up on Simmons is risky, and his ability to change the game in various ways is why he is still the top prospect on the Philadelphia 76ers’ big board.
Next: Elton Brand Is Fun Again
The draft is a couple months away, and with more workouts and combine drills coming, the landscape may shift. The Philadelphia 76ers will be looking for ways to find their star or most suitable piece in what will be the process’ most important offseason.