On the Beat: First Pick’s First; After That?

PHILADELPHIA – Next Thursday, the 76ers will make the first selection in the NBA Draft.  Then what?”I can never guess or anticipate,” Sixers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo said Monday, when asked about his expectations for draft night.  “Obviously, there’s a lot of people out there looking at teams, especially with multiple draft picks like we have, that want to discuss the availability of – whether it’s players or picks –  different combinations of things.”In addition to the top choice, the Sixers also own two additional first round picks –  number 24 from a prior trade with the Miami Heat, and number 26 via a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Should the Sixers ultimately stay put in the latter stages of the opening round, they’re hopeful that scouting efforts like the ones they ramped up during a busy past week lead to good decisions.  Fresh off a trip overseas that included a stop at the Adidas Eurocamp in Italy, Colangelo and his staff conducted three straight days of workouts at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Of the 14 players the Sixers hosted in sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, all were expected to be taken towards the end of the first round, or later, with the exception of Duke’s Brandon Ingram and Cal’s Jaylen Brown.”We just want to know who we really like,” Vice President of Basketball Administration Brandon Williams said Wednesday in reference to those prospects that could be nabbed with the 24th or 26th picks.  “There are scenarios that are being tossed around, some by us, some not by us, but they’re all fodder for thinking. At the end, I think this will be one of the first opportunities we have to think about fit.”Make no mistake, Williams is a firm believer that, when it comes to choosing players, ability trumps all other factors, regardless of where a team is slotted in the draft. “It’s always, you want talent,” he said.But, in the same breath, Williams acknowledged that this year, with significant resources at their disposal, the Sixers could be in position to modify their approach. “We have an opportunity to balance our roster, and we may be able to do that as we get to the 20s,” said Williams.  “No clear answer to that yet, but we’ve got to be open. I think in that sweet spot, there are going to be great bigs, wings and guards for us to consider.”With former top-six picks in Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, and Joel Embiid in the fold, the Sixers possess a wealth of young, up-and-coming talent in the frontcourt.  Other areas of the roster,  however, don’t boast the same degree of depth. “It’s not misleading to say we’re lightest on the perimeter and at our guard spots,” Williams said. “So those are some of the places that we’ll work to identify the best fit there.”Specifically, the Sixers are seeking prospects capable of thriving in a spread out, open, up-tempo scheme, one that promotes freedom of movement and highlights athleticism.  “With the court being open, having the ability to blow by, change gears and get into the paint and attack the rim is something that we’re seeing is successful at the later stages of play in the NBA right now,” explained Williams.  “That’s something that we’re looking for.”Two-way players – versatile weapons that can impact both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor – are on the Sixers’ wish list, too.  According to Williams, these types of contributors represent the “way of the NBA now.”Once the draft passes, the Sixers will shift their focus to fielding squads for the Utah Jazz and Samsung Summer Leagues.  They also have an NBA Development League affiliate in the Delaware 87ers to account for.  Subsequently, the implications of the Sixers’ recent pre-draft workouts could stretch well beyond decisions made on June 23rd.  “We have a D-League team, so we evaluate them on that level,” Director of Basketball Operations / Scouting Innovation Vince Rozman said Tuesday about the majority of the prospects the Sixers have hosted in Philadelphia the past month.  “We’ve also done really well on second-round, undrafted, kind of overlooked guys the last couple years.  We want to continue to do so.  These are some really, really productive upperclassmen.  We just want to make sure to do our work.”So, while the outcome of the number one pick will likely be Thursday’s main headline, the Sixers will still be faced with important matters to sort out the rest of the evening, and in the immediate days that follow.”I told everyone that my job is to try and make the basketball team the best possible basketball team, and do it in a way that is the right way, and take the right steps to move this organization forward,” said Colangelo.  “We’re looking at everything, as we should.  We’re listening, we’re talking to teams.  That’s the job that 29 other people in my position are doing.”And Colangelo as well.