The 2022 NBA draft is less than two weeks away, and the Philadelphia 76ers have no shortage of targets in this pool of players. The Sixers will select 23rd, but even so late, there’s talent to be had. While the upcoming free-agent class is rather light on wings, this draft could fill all the Philadelphia 76ers’ needs in that department if they wanted it to.
As in any draft, there are questions about who will rise, who will fall, and which teams will make picks that could be considered a bit of a reach. This year is no different as there have already been some big-name risers – like Arizona’s Dalen Terry – and fallers, like LSU’s Tari Eason. On top of this, there always remains the possibility of trading up or down if a team falls for a particular prospect.
What’s curious is where the Sixers fit into this equation. Will they find themselves in a position to draft a top talent whose stock has drastically changed? Will they find themselves staying at 23 and drafting someone in range? Or will they fall for someone who won’t be available and potentially trade up? It’s important to know not only who these prospects are but who might be in and out of the Philadelphia 76ers draft range come the draft on June 23rd?
Who will be in the Philadelphia 76ers range at pick 23?
To understand this, let’s break it down by who’s out of range, who could be had at 23, and who fits but would be a reach. Starting off will be the players closer to the top of the board on draft day, the players who will likely be out of range for the Sixers:
Players out of the Philadelphia 76ers range at 23.
Ochai Agbaji – Wing, Kansas
If there’s one player who fits everything the Philadelphia 76ers need in a prospect, it’s Ochai Agbaji. While he may be a bit older than your typical rookie, Agbaji’s experience has made him one of the more polished products in the entire draft.
An athletic two-way wing, Agbaji became a fierce offensive threat this past season for the Kansas Jayhawks leading the team to their first championship since 2008. As a three-point shooter, Agbaji’s approach is that of quantity and quality. His 6.5 attempts ranked third in the Big 12, while his 40.9 3P% ranked second.
Agbaji is a starting-caliber wing who is NBA-ready, a rarity for a rookie. For a Philadelphia team that is lacking in that department, he’d be a great addition, but that’s the case for many teams, which is why the Sixers would need to put together a series package in any effort to move up. Likely one too rich for their blood.
Malaki Branham – Wing, Ohio State
Much like Agbaji, Ohio State’s Malaki Branham is another one of the many exciting wings in the 2022 NBA draft. He’s not the volume shooter that Agbaji is, but he makes up for it with one of the smoothest midrange games in the entire draft.
Branham’s youth (19) and potential are enough to make him a fringe lottery pick. Branham has a solid chance of going even higher in the draft than Agbaji, depending on the team’s needs. For instance, a young, wing-needy team like Charlotte, Houston, or San Antonio could value Branham’s long-term potential.
That may not be the worst thing for Philadelphia, though, as Branham’s midrange ability isn’t exactly a clean fit with the 76ers’ current roster. Branham isn’t the defender nor the shooter that the Sixers need despite his high draft stock.
Fringe: Tari Eason – Forward, LSU
Now for the curious case of LSU forward Tari Eason. Once considered to be a lottery lock, Eason’s draft stock has fallen dramatically in recent weeks due to reported concerns over his level of basketball intelligence. Even if there’s some validity to those rumors, it shouldn’t scare the Philadelphia 76ers off if Eason is somehow available.
Some may remember similar things were said about former number one pick Anthony Edwards back in 2020, and clearly, that pick panned out. Not to say that Eason will be Edwards, but the correlation between pre draft IQ tests and how a player will perform in the NBA are not an exact science.
Eason’s measurable are near Kawhi Leonard-level impressive; that’s not something the Sixers can afford to pass on without proper cause. This is, of course, assuming that Eason even makes it to 23, which is the reason for the fringe label. Two weeks ago, had you asked around, Tari Eason’s draft range would have been around 13-18. Now, the LSU product finds himself falling more so in the 15-23 conversation. Despite this and all the pre draft chatter, it’s hard to believe an uber-athletic, potential two-way wing with great size falls all the way to Philadelphia.
Though Eason may not be available, there are many quality prospects who will, in all likelihood, will be available when the Philadelphia 76ers are on the clock:
Players in the Philadelphia 76ers range at 23.
E.J. Liddell – Forward, Ohio State
While Tari Eason may not be realistic, Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell may be the next best thing for Philadelphia. The high-flying big led Ohio State alongside Malaki Branham to a competitive second-round performance against Villanova in the NCAA tournament.
Compared to the likes of P.J. Tucker and Grant Williams, Liddell has the profile to turn into a top-notch role player at the NBA level. Not to say that he’s destined for a bench role either as — similar to Tucker and Williams — there’s starter-level talent in him for certain.
Liddell worked diligently to expand his range this past season and became one of the better shot blockers in college basketball. His 2.6 blocks per game lead the Big 10. Liddell’s shooting has also improved across the board in each of his three collegiate seasons.
The Philadelphia 76ers could certainly do worse, and they’d be hard-pressed to do better with the 23rd overall pick.
MarJon Beauchamp – Wing, G League Ignite
When people see MarJon Beauchamp, they tend to see flashes of Matisse Thybulle. While there are some similarities, it’s really not an accurate comparison as Beauchamp has already shown more offensive promise. Beauchamp’s willingness to shoot alone is enough for some to prefer his long-term NBA outlook compared to Thybulle.
It’s been an interesting journey for MarJon Beauchamp. A four-star recruit out of high school, Beauchamp fielded several Division I offers, including one from Washington — one more reason for the Thybulle comparison. Ultimately, he opted to forego college and pursued training with Chameleon BX instead. Beauchamp would leave the program during the pandemic and opted to attend a local Washington junior college before finally joining the NBA G League Ignite team.
Beauchamp averaged 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 12 G League games for the Ignite. While he struggled from deep (24.2%), Beauchamp was efficient and aggressive in other areas offensively as he shot over 60% on two-point shots, of which he took 8.4 per game. His measurables are also enticing; standing 6’6.5″ with a 7’0.5″ wingspan, Beauchamp is able to utilize his length.
While some may not want to draft a player who is compared to a recently spurned player already on the roster, the difference is clear enough to take a gamble on Beauchamp worthwhile for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Fringe: Dalen Terry – Wing, Arizona
Dalen Terry is one of the most interesting prospects in this draft. An extremely talented and versatile defender, Dalen Terry boasts the size necessary to slow down the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the aforementioned Jimmy Butler. He’s not a particularly gifted scorer or shooter, and yet, he does everything else incredibly well. No, this is not the second coming of Ben Simmons; Dalen Terry is almost like Andre Iguodala with even more attitude, or perhaps the next Herb Jones.
Terry also boasts the attitude often needed from an impact defender. He brings the energy, hustle, and physicality that Joel Embiid openly stated the team is missing. Terry would not only be a defensive spark but one in transition as well for the Philadelphia 76ers. His athleticism, mixed with his passing ability, make him a dangerous threat on the break.
Where the “fringe” label comes into play for Terry is that, while he has been a rising prospect in this draft, 23 still feels a bit high. Now, if Daryl Morey and the Sixers decide he’s the player for them, then you go get him. If there’s not a certainty and say there’s a handful of prospects still on the board that the team is interested in, it may be worthwhile to explore trading down in an attempt to land Terry and more assets.
Again, there are many prospects the Philadelphia 76ers may find interesting but similar to Terry – but to a higher degree – there are some players who, while intriguing, would be a reach:
Reaches for the Philadelphia 76ers at 23.
Fringe: Christian Braun – Wing, Kansas
There’s almost a guilty feeling calling Christian Braun a “reach” — hence the fringe title —however it just goes to show how deep this draft is in regards to role players. Even at 23, there are likely a handful of prospects who are either higher-rated or better fit the needs of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Kansas Jayhawks’ answer to Pat Connaughton impressed this season, averaging 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds as the Robin to Ochai Agbaji’s Batman. Braun was a solid shooter and defender for Bill Self’s squad last season, especially during their championship run. Braun was the consistent presence the team needed supporting his squad with anything that was asked of him.
There is certainly some 3&D potential with Bruan, but there are also some concerns, including his negative wingspan. It’s a rarity for a team to draft a player with a negative wingspan as it’s more often than not a hindrance. There have been some players in recent memories who have succeeded despite their lack of length — J.J. Redick and Tyler Herro. A team would have to be willing to bet that Braun could turn into that type of shooter, though, to feel good about the pick.
While Braun would be interesting for Philadelphia, 23 still feels just a bit too early.
Bryce McGowens – Shooting Guard, Nebraska
One NBA team will bet on Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens, and it may very well pay off. The freshman averaged 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Huskers this season. There’s a bit of Kevin Porter Jr. in his game as he is fearless offensively, an underrated passer, and an extremely high flyer. There’s obviously a lot of work to be done before he’s reached that level, though, of course.
While McGowens does have some attractive aspects to his game, there’s a bit too much hero ball in his nature. He takes far too many difficult shots for comfort — likely a necessity at Nebraska—and is a tough watch defensively. Still, he is an intriguing blend of youth, size, and athleticism, but that won’t be enough to make him a sensical pick at 23.
Trevor Keels – Guard, Duke
Finally, this brings us to Duke’s Trevor Keels. Why Keels decided to declare and stay in the draft is certainly an interesting question. It seems rather clear that he would have benefitted from some more time at the collegiate level, but instead, the former Blue Devil opted to bet on himself and see where the draft will take him.
Known as a shooter, Keels struggled from deep in his lone season at Duke. He rarely fouls or turns the ball over, but his shot selection still leaves something left to be desired. Keels’ youth is certainly on his side, but there is still much to develop in his future. If the Philadelphia 76ers trade back or perhaps add a second-round pick, Keels would be interesting, but he likely won’t be selected in the first round, let alone at pick 23.