Eddie Stefanski said recently that the Sixers have a list of about “8 guys” they are looking at with the 16th pick. Based on what he’s said about wanting a big man, and who they’ve brought in for workouts, I’m pretty confident that our pick will be from one of the 9 players listed below (unless we trade up or someone like Anthony Randolph falls to us, or the Sixers are completely lying). So - what do the people think? If all 9 of these guys were available at the 16th pick, who would you be rooting for us to take?
Who Do You Want the Sixers to Draft?
23 comments ↓
Speights, followed by Arthur, and then Jordan.
My top 3 would be:
1. Speights
2. Arthur
3. Hickson
Speights is already being labeled as unmotivated. You absolutely cannot draft guys with that reputation. Its a character flaw. They never turn around. PLEASE, Ed, avoid him at all costs. Kostas won’t be there so maybe you trade down for Thompson
i agree - im a little surprised that Speights has gotten most of the votes so far due to his motivation/conditioning concerns
I’m with Tormented, here’s David Thorpe on a podcast with Chad Ford:
“…probably the 2nd best offensive talent in this draft behind Beasley…..but…..he just is a lazy kid…..Gator fans who watched him all year always complained about his effort against big, strong physical opponents, I really question his work ethic on a daily basis, his intelligence on the floor…”
If we did draft this guy and played him I bet his +/- would be horrible because of how many points we’d give up on the defensive end with him on the floor. Iggy would hate playing with this guy.
But another way to look at it would be to see him as a project. A lot of the other big men in this draft can play defense, but have no offense. Well, Speights is a guy who’s not so great defensively but has a great offensive game. If we take this guy, I’d wanna hear Stefansky say something along those lines, how Speights would be a “defensive” project, that they’d be looking to develop Speights into one of the better defensive forwards in the league.
But again, Tormented has great point, the probability is high that Speights’ laziness is a character flaw that will never change, you see that in real life all the time.
This is Portland’s site, they have some workout videos. Joe Alexander is QUICK. They have Richard Hendrix against Javale McGee, it’s almost embarassing how much more agile Hendrix is.
Zack I was watching many of the same videos on youtube and footage of all the other guys. Sad part is I don’t really like any of these guys that much. When I feel like that I pretty much have to pick by process of elimination.
Zack - thanks for the tip on the Portland site. Joe Alexander looks like a monster! The scouts apparently love his attitude (the anti-Speights).
Tormented, I’m with you on the lazy thing…that’s a horrible trait to go out of your way to get and can often tanks a player’s career. That said, I don’t think that it’s a “character flaw” in capable of changing. Lots of people start out with a mediocre or bad work ethic, and slowly learn incorporating things like a positive attitude, leadership, intangibles and off the court work over time when they are ready to start applying themselves.
These are all 19-20 year old kids we’re talking about, barely coming out of high school and just starting to learn what it means to come into their own as a person. I think the right situation, coaching, and good mentors around people that age in sports are what can make or break guys that don’t have the greatest work ethic like a Speights.
Getting a dominated by 6′10 athletic trees that are the forwards in the NBA…that is often the kick in the a** many younger players need to really start getting motivated to improve their games and discipline about practice. Many ball players can get by with their talent alone in the NCAA and never had to work at their games in college and were spoiled. In the NBA, unless you are insanely talented like AI or Shaq…you can’t pull that, and then it becomes: improve, or get traded and find yourself in Europe with lower pay checks.
I can’t believe I’m actually sitting here defending this character trait…usually I’m Mr. “Chemistry and good attitude is everything guy”…but I think the reason I’m ok with Speights is because of what Dannie said: it’s not like we’d be picking Speights over other sure bets. I’m not in love with any of these forwards, and it’s not like any of them are going to be all stars coming in. It’s the 16th pick, I say why not gamble on a higher risk/reward type?
Dannie, first I’d like to point out that it’s “Zack” with a “k”, not an “h”.
Second, what’s your take on Darrell Arthur? I actually think he’d be the perfect fit for the Sixers, I love how he seemed to play within the team concept at Kansas, and thought he played well at both ends of the floor. draftexpress has labeled him as inconsistent, but with all those great players around you, how can your output not be inconsistent? Looking at his game logs at Kansas, he had very few bad shooting nights, just nights when he didn’t shoot a lot, and I think that’s just right for the Sixers, someone who doesn’t need to get his touches, but when called upon he can come through. How do the low-post games of Arthur’s and Speights’ compare? I haven’t seen Speights, but Arthur really impressed me when I got the chance to see him this year.
My fault Zack. Not a big fan of Arthur. A lot of the inconsistency draftexpress and other places are referring to as well have been his workouts. He hasn’t really impressed anyone as evidenced by him dropping below the 16th pick on many boards. And his no call, no shows on many workouts (including the Sixers first attempt to bring him in) was immature.
I think best case scenario he can be like Antawn Jamison. He is an undersized 4 (6′ 8.5″ IN SHOES and a scrawny 216 lbs) with a decent post game that is more finesse then power and has potential to improve his perimeter game - which he will desperately need in the NBA.
I don’t think he is big or tough enough to be a regular power forward in the NBA especially offensively and defensively on the block. So I have concerns whether his post offense and post defense will translate to the NBA. And in that case do we really need ANOTHER tweener on this team?
Despite the knocks on Speights, his advanced stats were among the best in the draft this year. You can read about this at the Wages of Wins or Draft Express. In their research into predicting pro success from college stats, Speights is among the best in this draft.
Stefanski himself said in today’s article that “Whoever we draft is going to be a young man who we are going to have a structured program with mentorship,” Stefanski said. “If you have a 19-year-old and you’re going through that, I don’t care who the kid is, you need some structure.” Of all the players listed above Speights probably has the most potential.
Morty, I’m a big fan of making decisions based on numbers, but he really comes off as a guy who might stop caring once he signs that big contract. Like I mentioned before, if the Sixers would approach his development as a “defensive project” I think it could work, like how Mo Cheeks wouldn’t let Carney play until he showed more hustle out on the floor… Wow, now I’m worried about Carney…
Anyway, the Finals this year was a good example of how much you need smarts, motivation and dedication as well as talent. There were lots of stretches where I thought that Boston just wanted it more than the Lakers. Once you pay Speights (and Carney), and we’re in a situation in a playoff game where we need to buckle down on defense for a 10-minute run, could you trust them to do that?
On the other hand, Darrell Arthur showed that he was willing to do just that in the NCAA tourney, to be part of an active team defense, so I’d take him over Speights. I agree with Dannie that he’s got a tweener body and size, and he would have trouble defending the NBA’s bigger PF’s, but there aren’t that may of those big bruising PF’s with the talent to take him down low, and I can’t think of any team that has two good frontcourt offensive threats that wouldn’t allow us to put Sam on the more skilled guy and Darrell on the less skilled guy. Even if he did have to guard one of those strong bigs, on the other end I think Arthur would completely abuse him - he was very effective against Memphis’ bigs in the NCAA championship game, if Kevin Love had done that it would be brought up constantly.
Zack: Well, I would be quote happy with Arthur. I listed him 2nd in my preference of Pete’s list and it’s really only the size that tipped my decision between the 2.
The mentor comment indicates the whoever the Sixers pick, they understand that they need to be very active in his development, in both basketball, and life issues.
How about Robin Lopez?
All of these guys have questions, that’s why they would still be available at 16… but to be honest, I’d still be happy if the Sixers took any of these guys (except Ajinca) and I trust Ed to make a more informed pick than I could. I think it’s that kind of draft. We could trade up or trade down and still get the same type of guy.
Were is hibbert?
It is obvious that the sixers is talking project so that mean the sixer will pick Deandre Jordan.
Outside of the context of the Sixers pick, what are people’s top 3 best prospects outside of rose and beasley. Also what are ppl’s opinions of joe alexander?
B Frank - When I hear and see Robin Lopez I immediately think Anderson Varejao. Good role player, is a defensive player and offensive rebounder. But doesn’t address the need for inside scoring.
Cosmic - If you are new the blog you will quickly find out Pete and I aren’t big Roy Hibbert fans. I personally think he is just ok and soft. I think he would be a decent back-up center in the NBA at best.
Rosko - I think O.J. Mayo is the best prospect in the draft and I think he is easily the best guard in the draft right now. I have Beasley as a tie or a hair behind because of the potential Derrick Coleman possibility. Everyone is in love with Rose and that’s fine but I think he is still a bit of a project in terms of his shooting, decision-making and court vision as a pure point guard.
Agreed-
Mayo- the polish, and overall versatility with Mayo at this stage is attractive. I think he is the most-NBA ready.
Beasley, the Coleman comparison is funny and justifiably scares me a bit, but again, Charles Barkley had that same rap. At the end of the day, however, how can you pass up 26/12 out of the Big 12.
Now, that brings to something I heard with regards to Beasley being shopped to Memphis for Conley and the No. 5 pick with the Miami Heat sending the No. 2 pick and Daequan Cook. It appears that Memphis would grab Beasley and the Heat would grab Kevin Love or Brook Lopez. WOW…are they DC comparisons really getting to NBA teams?
Rose- Athletic and plays fast, but lacks offensive and an ability to knock down shots and especially lacks the requisite court vision that is needed to play “point guard” in the NBA.
I’d like to make a bold NBA draft prediction: Eric Gordan concerns me and I would label him as potentially the disappointment of the Draft, retrospectively speaking. He was the game at one gear–almost too fast and is turnover prone. Can shot it from anywhere and has a quick first step, but in watching this year, he seemed to lack a sustained ability to get to the hole.
Now, what are your thoughts on my boy Joe Alexander???
JTIII,
Couldn’t disagree more about Eric Gordon. My thoughts on him:
-What separates him from more of a Ray Allen/Michael Redd type IS that first step. It’s extremely rare to find a guy who is that good of a shooter and just as explosive in getting to the rim when he wants.
-He’s not just a college 3 point shooter…this guy can step back and hit the NBA three any time he wants. I watched a lot of Indiana games last year…my jaw dropped quite a few times at just how lights out he can be from anywhere on the court.
-Most underrated thing about Gordon: he’s an incredible finisher. He’s obviously a guy that had the Mikan drill, or other similar type “3-5 feet layup drills near the basket” hammered into him at a young age. If there is any kind of opening or seem when he slices to the rim, he can find it, and will finish. And if he gets hacked, he’s a great FT shooter.
-I think all the knocks on him are coming from his play in February - March…and this is one of the few times I’m willing to let a guy off the hook because of the insanity of that organization. Kelvin Sampson, by all accounts, was incredibly close and a father figure to him…to have that yanked away mid season, and an assistant with not a lot of experience at the helm step in? That’s an enormous change for a team to take.
His wrist was injured for the last 6-8 weeks of play, which will make a huge impact for someone that has a shooter’s game like Gordon’s, and a guy that needs to rely on full motion of the hand to finish around the rim.
Several of Indy’s quality rotation players were kicked off the team or benched…that whole team was just spiraling downward, and I can’t blame Gordon for any of that. How people finish really affect their draft stock, and unfortunately the Indy program was just a mess the last two months. If the NBA draft happened in early February, after a good 17-20 games of the season and halfway through Big 10 play, Eric Gordon would be a lock for the #3 or #4 pick…he was an absolute monster the first three months of the season. I’m relying on that, and not the quasi-healthy Gordon surrounded by a new coach and turmoil.
Dave T: First of all, I was probably the biggest EG fan this year in college basketball and followed Indiana closely. I understand Gordon’s injury and the turmoil at IU very well, but my concerns with him go beyond that:
He is an undersized 2 in the league and doesn’t have the requisite ball handling skills that the NBA game is going to require. As an off-guard at Indiana (because Indiana tried him at the point and it didn’t work out), in those first 3 months of the season, Gordon averaged close to 3.5 turnovers/per game. And again, this is as an off-guard, not on the point. I am concerned at how that translates to the NBA game. And what he lacks in handle, he also lacks in court vision–further exacerbating the concerns I have about Gordon due to the fact that he is understand. You are right about
Gordon’s unlimited, deep range and there is no question he has a decent first step, but I think that will continue to get neutralize against larger 6′4-6′6 defenders in the NBA. These are the concerns that scouts have. In the end, why are Bayless and Mayo rated higher (among other reasons) because they have a proven ability to handle the ball, regardless of being undersized. Again, I loved Gordon in college just concerned at how his game translated to the next level. But, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
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