The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly already informed Ben Simmons he will be the number one pick in tonight’s NBA Draft, but the Sixers could be working hard to move up into the lottery for a second time tonight. They may even be pushing hard to work a deal with the Boston Celtics to move up to the third pick. If that doesn’t get fans to trust the process, what would?
For the Sixers, the problem is seemingly obvious. With Ben Simmons being drafted number one tonight and with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and Jahlil Okafor already on the roster, the Sixers have an abundance of big men and a desperate need for a shooter to round out the roster. With assets to move in players and draft picks thanks to moves over the last few years to acquire said assets, the time may be now to pull the trigger on some moves, even if that means potentially helping out a longtime division rival.
The Sixers may have moved on from Sam Hinkie and his proposed process, but Bryan Colangelo is now in charge to move the chess pieces into place to begin building a winner on the court now, instead of years down the road. He has players to move, as well as extra draft picks tonight. In addition to the top overall pick, the Sixers also own the 24th and 26th pick in the first round of the draft.
So, if the Sixers are to manage to work out a deal with Boston, who might they be targeting? Take a guess, but it likely comes down to Kris Dunn or Buddy Hield. For what it is worth, Dunn has had some positive things to say about Philadelphia recently.
“My dad [John Selden] is from is Philly,” Dunn recently said, according to Sixers beat reporter Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He would definitely love that. They’re a young team, and I’m willing to go there and work.”
Could #Sixers trade up and pick Dunn? He hopes so https://t.co/D2YbiaVfTH via @phillysport
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) June 23, 2016
This could be quite a franchise-changing night for the Sixers, and perhaps for Boston. And for a city that has already seen Carson Wentz chosen No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft and the Phillies draft Mickey Moniak with the first overall pick in the MLB Draft, the future faces of sports in Philadelphia appear to be coming together.
[ESPN]