The 2015 NBA Draft is just under three weeks away, which means it’s time to separate the fiction from the fact when it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers' #3 pick. Here’s our list of 3 76ers NBA Draft Rumors You Need To Know.
Philadelphia very intrigued by D'Angelo Russell
The Philadelphia 76ers will likely miss out on either Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke’s Jahlil Okafor picking 3rd in the 2015 NBA Draft, but that likely won’t preclude the team from selecting the best player available when they hit the clock on June 25th.
According to the Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, Towns and Okafor being taken first and second would likely have the Sixers looking backcourt at #3:
If that happens, Ohio State standout D’Angelo Russell would be the best player available. The point guard would also fill one of the Sixers’ many needs. As a result, the Sixers could hit the jackpot as he fulfills both criteria.Things could change if the Los Angeles Lakers shock people by selecting Russell or point guard Emmanuel Mudiay with the second pick. That would leave Towns or Okafor available for the Sixers.
But all preliminary indications are the two post players will go first and second to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lakers.
So the belief is that Russell will join power forward Nerlens Noel and center Joel Embiid, the current cornerstones of the Sixers.
Sixers to work out Emmanuel Mudiay
While Philadelphia favors Russell, their desire to draft a point guard has them set to work out Emmanuel Mudiay in case Russell isn’t available on draft night:
Mudiay originally committed to play for Larry Brown at SMU this season, but opted to play in China instead. He was limited to just 12 games this season due to injury, where he averaged 18 points, 6.3 rebounds, and nearly 6 assists a game.
Philly willing to trade Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid if they draft Jahlil Okafor?
Duke center Jahlil Okafor is expected to be a top-two pick in the NBA Draft, but if he somehow falls to No. 3, the Sixers won’t hesitate to draft him.
When asked in a recent chat whether or not the Sixers would be willing to trade Nerlens Noel or Joel Embiid if they are able to secure Okafor in the 2015 NBA Draft, ESPN NBA insider Chad Ford indicated that such moves are a possibility due to the current state of the team:
Of course they’ll look. They’d look at dealing Okafor too. Sam Hinkie looks at this process as acquiring assets. He’s going to grab the best asset and then figure out fit versus trade. I do think all three could be on the roster next year and there would be enough minutes to play all of them. You really can’t have too many bigs. But I doubt Hinkie would be married to any of them if the right offer came through. By the way, when your team is this bad, that’s exactly the way to play it. When you are looking for the last piece to the championship puzzle — that’s when chemistry and fit and all of that come into play. Right now the Sixers are so far away, it’s about collecting assets. Has to be.
In short, don’t be surprised if the team’s 2015-16 roster is completely shaken to its core by a major trade or two.
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