Sixers Should Be Eyeing Second-Round For Backup Center

By George Kondoleon | Apr 2, 2017

Mar 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Thomas Bryant (31) holds the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /

The Sixers have four second-round picks, and should be utilizing one to snag a young backup center.

A month removed from the Nerlens Noel trade, the Sixers are now running with two healthy centers; Richaun Holmes and Tiago Splitter. Jahlil Okafor was shut down the rest of the way with knee soreness, joining Joel Embiid in sitting out the end of the year. Embiid’s health issues are in serious question, as he will look to recover after another surgery this summer.

But he’s not the only one. Okafor’s knee soreness is the residual effect from a meniscus surgery that took place over a year ago. The surgery had an expected recovery time of six weeks. Now, Richaun Holmes is playing incredibly well with more of a responsibility, but is an undersized athletic big who can fill in a gap at the forward position as well. Beyond him, the only other healthy center is Tiago Splitter.

Splitter has played just two games with the Sixers, and is nowhere in the long-term plans, or so it seems. It’s almost laughable to talk about a lack of depth considering a short month ago there were issues with too much talent at one position. Okafor’s knee soreness is concerning, and may be a restraint that holds back the already struggling center. Embiid will try to do the most to prove to be a stable asset post-surgery.

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Now, the Sixers are looking towards the summer for multiple reasons. One being the NBA Draft, where they hold what could be another top five pick. That’s where the team will shoot to find their complementary star to rookie Ben Simmons, but also where they can find some inexpensive depth. The Sixers have four second round picks. There is a possibility the Sixers try to move those picks in a package for a late first-round pick.

If that is the case, Philadelphia would find itself in the sweet spot of this year’s center/forward class. Talented prospects who had disappointing seasons will be available, such as Harry Giles and Bam Adebayo. Giles is more of a four, but his wingspan could save him if it was complemented by a rebirth of his athleticism following two major knee surgeries.

Bam Adebayo would be a perfect fit as a backup center. His attitude is similar to that of Richaun Holmes, and he can provide great energy off the bench. Considering he’s still on the board, he’d be a no-brainer pick in the late first. But even if the Sixers planned to keep at some of their second rounders, the options aren’t much of a drop off from the centers in the first round.

With the 36th pick, the Sixers can snag raw prospect Thomas Bryant. Bryant’s 7’5 wingspan allows him to pick up easy points and rebounds from underneath. He saw a drop off in efficiency with a bigger role in his sophomore season, but has the body and ability to produce off the bench.

There are also some options that would be more of “shot in the dark” picks. Omer Yurtseven and Alpha Kaba aren’t traditional centers, but raw projects with high upside. The team can also go after defensive anchor Amida Brimah, who just completed yet another consistent defensive season in his senior year.

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The options to build depth are in the second round, and if the Sixers are set on moving Okafor, then grabbing a promising center to grow on the bench seems to be the way to go. More likely, the Sixers will attack the free agent market to build the bench, considering the immense cap space. Either way, the Sixers went from a logjam to a situation where depth is an issue at the center spot.