2011 NBA Draft Grades: Consensus On Sixers Pick Is "Ok"

ESPN's draft guru Chad Ford published his 2011 NBA draft grades this morning and was pretty much lukewarm on the Sixers haul. With the 16th overall pick they took Nikola Vucevic, a seven footer from USC and with their second pick they grabbed local product Lavoy Allen from Temple.

The Sixers needed size and so they took the biggest guy on the board, but this was a case of drafting need over talent. I think better players were on the board, even if they weren't 7-footers. Vucevic will be solid in the NBA, but he's far from being a potential star.

Allen doesn't exactly get you excited after a lackluster four years at Temple.

As for some teams that he did like last night, The Pistons earned a A for getting Brandon Knight at #8, Kyle Singler and Vernon Macklin. He gave the Heat and A- for grabbing PG Norris Cole late in the first. Minnesota also earned a A for grabbing Derrick Williams with their first pick and then picking up some extra value by repeatedly trading their following pick.

With the 16th overall pick in last night's draft, the 76ers took center Nikola Vucevic from USC. Our pals over at Liberty Ballers more or less hate the pick, but it hasn't seemed to draw much criticism nationally. Of course, it would seem tough to criticize most picks in this draft given how subpar it really was. Vucevic might be just a "meh" pick, but it was just a "meh" draft. It doesn't seem likely that this pick was ever going to set the franchise back or move them forward in a significant way. Of course, that doesn't the team shouldn't be trying its best. So what are people saying?

Here's a roundup of what is being said around the net.

Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo's The Dagger - "There aren’t many true centers in this draft, which is why 7-foot, 260-pound Nikola Vucevic’s stock has climbed steadily, culminating with him going 16th to the 76ers. Vucevic isn’t especially athletic, but he has a sturdy frame, good touch around the rim and the ability to knock down an open mid-range jump shot if his defender doesn’t respect his outside game. He fills a need for a Philadelphia team that started Spencer Hawes at center last year."

ESPN's Chad Ford - "The Sixers wanted size and got the biggest player in the draft. Vucevic is huge and skilled. I doubt he'll become a star, but he's going to be solid on both ends of the floor."

Nick Prevenas of Fox Sports - "76ers need size, so why not take one of the biggest guys in the draft? Vucevic wasn't a hot prospect heading into last season, but posted tremendous measurements at the combine (6-11.75 in shoes) and showed deft touch around the hoop during workouts. Vucevic is tremendously skilled. He can score with either hand and shoot it out to 20 feet. He's not very fast or athletic (much like current Sixers Spencer Hawes and Marreese Speights), but he can score and rebound."

SBNation's Tom Ziller - "Vucevic was considered a late first-round pick or worse before impressing at the NBA Draft Combine in early May. Vucevic measured as one of the biggest players in the draft and figures to have a quick impact on defense and the glass for a Sixers team without remarkable depth in the frontcourt. Philadelphia has Elton Brand on a long-term deal, but starting center Spencer Hawes is a restricted free agent."

Lavoy Allen won’t have to move very far for his first post college job. The former Temple star is now a 76er. The Sixers picked the 6-9, 225 power forward with the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

The pick will likely be lauded by the many Temple fans in Philly, but could a bit of a head scratcher for the non-Owls contingent. Allen absolutely has talented, but many draftniks were projecting him to go undrafted. While it’s always hard to say how accurate those projections are, you certainly don’t want to be spending a draft pick on a guy you could have had for nothing.

That said, there are certainly things to like about Allen. He’s got good size and strength at 6-9, 225. He’s also shown the ability to be a very good rebounder and can be a plus defender. However, as I’m sure many Owls fans will attest, there were many times when he seemed to disappear. A guy with Allen’s ability and size should have been a lot more dominant than he was in the Atlantic 10.

He’ll make for a lot of nice stories as a local kid who went to a local college and no gets to play for a local team. He’s already got a built in local fanbase among Temple fans. He also does truly have the talent to be a rotational player in the NBA… but there will certainly be a lot of people who question the need to actually spend a draft pick on him and the biggest issue with him is usually not one that guys fix in the NBA. Players generally don’t often become more committed and more tenacious when they move into the pros.

Of course, you could also argue that this is a late pick in a very weak draft. So the Sixers take a local kid with some upside? It’s not like they really passed on much.

The Sixers came into this draft looking for size and that’s exactly what they got in seven footer Nikola Vucevic from USC. The 20 year old from Montenegro is seven feet tall, 260 pounds with a big 7-5 wingspan. This is a straight up need pick for the Sixers and Vucevic is a guy that should step in the rotation at center right away.

He doesn’t seem like a guy the projects as an offensive or defensive star, but can be solid on both ends of the court. He has a decent post game and has displayed a jump shot that stretches all the way to the three point line. He was also a solid rebounder at USC, which is a skill that projects well to the NBA.

As for the negatives, he doesn’t seem like a great athelete. He’s not a guy that’s super fast or is a big leaper, but at seven feet tall he really doesn’t have to be. He’s one of the few true centers in this draft, a good value at #16 and fills a clear area of need for the Sixers. No one will probably call this a home run pick, but it’s solid.

It's been known that the Sixers liked Vucevic, in fact in his latest update on the player, ESPN's Chad Ford said that he was likely to go to the SIxers at #16. So it seems like the Sixers got their guy.

Vucevic continues to impress NBA teams with some excellent workouts, including a standout session with the San Antonio Spurs. It sounds as if Vucevic is seriously in the picture as early at the 16th pick to Philadelphia, and he probably won't slide past the Spurs.

The Sixers came into this draft looking for size and that’s exactly what they got in seven footer Nikola Vucevic from USC. The 20 year old from Montenegro is seven feet tall, 260 pounds with a big 7-5 wingspan. This is a straight up need pick for the Sixers and Vucevic is a guy that should step in the rotation at center right away.

He doesn’t seem like a guy the projects as an offensive or defensive star, but can be solid on both ends of the court. He has a decent post game and has displayed a jump shot that stretches all the way to the three point line. He was also a solid rebounder at USC, which is a skill that projects well to the NBA.

As for the negatives, he doesn’t seem like a great athelete. He’s not a guy that’s super fast or is a big leaper, but at seven feet tall he really doesn’t have to be. He’s one of the few true centers in this draft, a good value at #16 and fills a clear area of need for the Sixers. No one will probably call this a home run pick, but it’s solid.

ESPN NBA draft insider Chad Ford has released his seventh and final 2011 NBA mock draft just a few hours ahead of the actual draft itself. His top five does have some changes from his previous mock. The Cavaliers are still taking Kyrie Irving first overall and the Timberwolves still take Derrick Williams second. However, he now has Jazz taking Enes Kanter at #3 and the Cavs going with Jonas Valanciunas at #4. Brandon Knight goes #5 to the Raptors.

The rest of his top 10 sees Jan Vesely at #6, Kemba Walker at #7, Tristan Thompson at #8, Kawhi Leonard at #9 and Klay Thompson going to the Bucks at #10.

For the 76ers, Ford's mock doesn't play out particularly well. In the five pick prior to #16, Bismack Biyombo, both Morris twins and Nikola Vucevic all come off the board. All would be potential Sixers targets. Ford has them taking Texas forward Jordan Hamilton from what it left.

The Sixers need size, but with Thompson, Vucevic and Morris all off the board, the only other big man worth taking here is Kenneth Faried. If Faried were a little bit bigger, I think they'd do it. Instead, I think the Sixers will prepare for the inevitable trade of Andre Iguodala.

It may not come on draft night, but most believe it will happen sometime before the season, and that's why Hamilton is the pick. Donatas Motiejunas is another possibility here.

Ford also did a full ssecond round mock, where he once again has the Sixers taking Oakland center Keith Benson.

The Sixers continue to need bigs and Benson is one of the biggest players in the draft. He's skilled and a very good athlete for his size, he just needs to get stronger and improve his motor.

Benson is 6-11 with a big 7-4 wingspan and a 9-2 reach. He's very long and lanky is a good leaper and runs the floor well. However, his defense and overall toughness have been called into question. Still, with so few true centers in this draft class, Benson has become a bit of an interesting prospect.

Check our Sixers 2011 NBA Draft Preview and our NBA Draft storystream.

With the 2011 NBA Draft just a few hours away, many teams are scrambling to figure out all their options. The Sixers have been linked to a few rumors in the past couple of weeks. Andre Iguodala-for-Monta Ellis, Andre Iguodala-for-Chris Kaman, Andre Iguodala-for-Jonny Flynn, Andre Iguodala-for-Lamar Odom are just a few that come to mind at this very moment. What the Sixers absolutely need, however, is a true center. They haven’t had one in years and because of that, the Sixers haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 2001, when they lost the series 4-1 against Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers. Who could forget?

Dennis Deitch of The Delco Times had this to say about the Sixers’ situation (this article was written DURING the 2010-2011 season):

“If it weren’t for Elton Brand, who has been terrific this [past] season, the Sixers would be losing by 20 points every night. But a power forward only can offer so much in terms of support on the blocks.

Spencer Hawes is laughably soft. The Sixers’ starting center has 30 rebounds this season. That’s one less than Minnesota’s Kevin Love had in 41 minutes against the Knicks Friday, [November 12, 2010]."

While a trade for Monta Ellis is enticing, it still leaves the Sixers with a small roster (average of 6’4" if you count the loss of Iguodala). Chris Kaman is like a small, irrelevant cousin of Dirk Nowitzki, in a sense. And no, it’s not because they’re both of German descent. Kaman is a 7-foot scorer who has a career average of 8.3 rebounds per game; he also has some nagging injuries and only played in 32 games this past season. Not the type of productivity-or reliability, for that matter-you want to trade your best defender for.

Without a big man down low, the half court offense is a tough one to successfully execute. If the Sixers trade Iguodala for Chris Kaman, they would put themselves in a bigger hole since Iggy is their quarterback in transition. The Sixers would, essentially, be a half court team with no big, reliable center under the basket and a bunch of small guards and undersized forwards. That’s a recipe for disaster.

Should the Sixers trade Iguodala? Yes and no. There are obvious reasons why and why not, but the tiebreaker in this case is going to be the salary owed to Iggy. If he didn’t cost so much, I’d be all for keeping him. In fact, I still think the Sixers should keep him, unless they get great value for him in return. I don’t necessarily think Lamar Odom is great value since he is 31. However, he’s an experienced player and, more importantly, he’s a champion.

Of course, the Sixers could attempt to solve these problems tonight by drafting a true center like Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas, USC’s Nikola Vucevic, or Fresno State big man Greg Smith. The Sixers have a young core of solid scorers, contrary to popular belief; ESPN’s Chad Ford seems to disagree.

For my next point, I’ll call on one of my favorite quotes of all time and it comes from Lorenzo in A Bronx Tale:

            “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.”

It would be a shame to waste the talents of guys like Jrue Holiday, Elton Brand, Thad Young, Lou Williams, and Evan Turner due to the absence of a center to get the team over the hump.  

Calling Dwight Howard!

Check our Sixers 2011 NBA Draft Preview and our NBA Draft storystream.

The 2011 NBA draft takes place tomorrow night and yet there still is very little consensus among the mock drafters as to who the Sixers might take. The running theme amongst the picks is certainly size, which everyone seems to agree the SIxers will focus on. Which big guy it will be, is another question.

Sitting at #16, basically right in the middle of the first round, it's very difficult to guess who might drop, especially in a draft like this. Many experts have called 2011 one of the weakest drafts in years and it's likely that the talent level  after the top three or four picks down through the twenties isn't terribly varied. For instance, a guy like Bismack Biyombo will go top ten in certain mocks and fall past even where the Sixers are in others. So whatever happens on draft night is all but assured to be a surprise.

In all the mocks we surveyed, the Sixers picked six different players.

Sporting News - Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas

The Sixers could go big with Biyombo, Motiejunas or Markieff Morris. But they were impressed by Hamilton.

Hoops Hype - Bismack Biyombo, PF, Fuenlabrada (Spain)

The Sixers would like to add a beast inside to do the dirtywork and Biyombo fits the bill. Bismack's lack of offensive skills were readily apparent in his workout in Treviso. How much offensive game he can develop is debatable as is his true age. A tremendous shot blocker using his quick reflexes, length (7-foot-7 wingspan) and explosiveness to protect the rim. Nikola Vucevic and Markieff Morris are possibilities here too. If the team indeed decides to move Iguodala, a forward such as Hamilton or Singleton are possibilities.

Hoops World - Chris Singleton, SF, Florida

SBNation - Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas

SBNation Writers Draft - Tristan Thompson, F, Texas

While Tristan Thompson isn't the polished, low-post scorer and defensive rebounder the Sixers need in the short term, he can develop into a possible cornerstone of the franchise with the right teaching. He'd fill the void left by Thaddeus Young (if he leaves) on the offensive glass, because Tristan was one of the nation's best at cleaning up after his teammates. With Elton Brand's contract on the downside of tradeable, he could slip into the starting lineup midseason or next year if Elton gets moved. While he's got the length, I don't think he and Brand would work well as a starting front court, so it's likely that Spencer Hawes would retain the center position for this season.

The Hoops Report - Donatas Motiejunas, PF, Lithuania

CBS Sports Ben Golliver - Chris Singleton, SF, Florida

CBS Sports Matt Moore - Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas

ESPN Chad Ford - Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas

The Sixers need size, but they also need shooting. With Andre Iguodala on the trading block, don't be surprised to see them grab Hamilton.

His ability to shoot the ball from range, combined with solid rebounding ability, could make him a surprise pick for Philly. Nikola Vucevic, Donatas Motiejunas and Markieff Morris are also possibilities here.

ESPN's NBA draft guru Chad Ford has released his sixth 2011 NBA mock draft with just a day to go before the actual draft is upon us. His top five has just one change from his 5th draft. The Cavaliers take Kyrie Irving, T’Wolves take Derrick Williams, Brandon Knight heads to Utah, Enes Canter to the Cavs and Jan Vesely goes to Toronto at #5. Previously he had the Cavs taking Jonas Valanciunas at #4. He says Cleveland is still very high on him, but a complicated buyout situation with his team in Lithuania may prevent him from coming to the NBA next season.

The rest of his top 10 had only one change. Bismak Biyombo replaces Kawhi Leonard at #8 to the Pistons. The rest of his top 10 are as follows: #6 Enes Kanter, #7 Kawhi Leonard. #8 Kemba Walker, #9 Marcus Morris, #10 Klay Thompson.

For the 76ers, Ford has flipped back and forth between the two big Texas prospects over the last couple weeks. True to form, he had them taking Tristan Thompson last week, but has them grabbing Jordan Hamilton this time around.

The Sixers need size, but they also need shooting. With Andre Iguodala on the trading block, don't be surprised to see them grab Hamilton.

His ability to shoot the ball from range, combined with solid rebounding ability, could make him a surprise pick for Philly. Nikola Vucevic, Donatas Motiejunas and Markieff Morris are also possibilities here.

Ford also mocked the second round, where he has the Sixers taking Oakland center Keith Benson.

The Sixers continue to need bigs and Benson is one of the biggest players in the draft. He's skilled and a very good athlete for his size, he just needs to get stronger and improve his motor.

Benson is 6-11 with a big 7-4 wingspan and a 9-2 reach. He's very long and lanky is a good leaper and runs the floor well. However, his defense and overall toughness have been called into question. Still, with so few true centers in this draft class, Benson has become a bit of an interesting prospect.

Check our Sixers 2011 NBA Draft Preview and our NBA Draft storystream.

CBS Sports' Ken Berger is reporting that Texas forward Jordan Hamilton "appears headed to Philly at #16." We've seen Hamilton as a Sixers pick in a few mock drafts in the past few months and he does pass that "you must be 6-8" test.

Hamilton is one of the best scorers in college basketball, which certainly would fill a need on the team right now. Here's a scouting report for the 6-9 small forward.

NBA scouts have always loved his talent. They believe he's one of the few guys in this draft who could average 20 ppg in the NBA. He measured well for a small forward (6-8 with an 8-8 standing reach) and I'm told he was very good in interviews. If teams feel confident that he'll mature and quit taking crazy shots, he's a very interesting prospect who could go as high as the Kings at No. 7. The Bobcats, Warriors, Suns and Rockets also have major interest.

Chad Ford had the Sixers taking Hamilton in his fourth mock of the season.

The Sixers have been looking for a big man in the draft but the team could go in a different direction now that it appears Andre Iguodala is back on the block. The Sixers have also been hungry for shooters, and Hamilton is one of the most lethal scorers in the draft. Markieff Morris, Nikola Vucevic and Kenneth Faried are also possibilities here.

ESPN basketball insider Chad Ford has released his fifth 2011 NBA mock draft with less than a week to go until the actual draft is finally here. This time around there is a shakeup in his top five. He still has the Cavaliers taking Kyrie Irving at #1 and the T’Wolves taking Arizona F Derrick Williams at #2. Just like his previous two mocks he’s got the Jazz taking Kentucky PG Brandon Knight at #3.

The change comes at #4 where he previously had the Cavs taking center Enes Kanter. However, this time around he hears that Cleveland has become high Jonas Valanciunas, who is the new #4 pick. He’s still got Jan Vesely going to Toronto at #5.

The rest of his top 10 are as follows: #6 Enes Kanter, #7 Kawhi Leonard. #8 Kemba Walker, #9 Marcus Morris, #10 Klay Thompson.

For the Sixers, there is a change as well. In his previous mock, Ford had them taking Texas SF Jordan Hamilton. This time he’s got them grabbing his Texas teammate Tristan Thompson.

Thompson could go as high as No. 5 or No. 6. But he also could slide. Just about every team I spoke to likes him a lot, but I’ve yet to find the team that’s fallen in love. I doubt he slips further than this though. The Sixers need more size, toughness and rebounding. Thompson provides all three. Jordan Hamilton and Markieff Morris are also options here.

As for other possible Sixers targets, he’s got Bismack Biyombo at #11, Nikola Vucevic at #14, Jordan Hamilton at #18, Markieff Morris at #19, Donatas Motiejunas at #20 and Kenneth Faried at #21.

Bismack Biyombo has become a darling of our pals over at Liberty Ballers, where the community voted him at #1 on their big board. The general feeling is that while he'd be a great fit with the Sixers, he won't be there when they pick at #16. However, after what is being called a disappointing performance at the Adidas Eurocamp, there might be a chance he slips a bit. Chad Ford was in Treviso, Italy for the workouts and wasn't impressed with the 6-9 PF from the Congo.

Biyombo decided to skip the game and workout portion of the camp and instead held a one man workout for about 100 NBA scouts.  The workout seemed to focus on everything he isn't good at and ignored his strengths.

 Instead of being reminded of why so many fell in love with him at the Nike Hoop Summit -- his amazing rebounding and shot-blocking -- we were shown his weaknesses for roughly 30 minutes.

As one GM summed it up, "Bismack Biyombo played one-against-none today … and he lost."

Ford said that Biyombo missed "75-80%" of the perimeter shots he took in the workout. That said, Ford doubts the poor workout will do much to his draft stock. After all, it's not as if anyone was thinking he was a great shooter anyway. Any team that takes him is doing so for rebounding and defense. Ford says he could go anywhere "between 8 and 20."

ESPN's Chad Ford has released his fourth NBA mock draft of the season and with the event less than two weeks away, he has little changes at the top. He still has the Cavaliers taking Kyrie Irving at #1 and Derrick Williams going #2 to the Timberwolves, as well as the Jazz taking Kentucky PG Brandon Knight at #3, Enes Kanter going at #4 and Jan Vesely going to Toronto at #5.

He does however, have a change for the Sixers. In his previous mock, he had them taking Philly native Markieff Morris. This time around, it's 6-9 Texas SF Jordan Hamilton.

The Sixers have been looking for a big man in the draft but the team could go in a different direction now that it appears Andre Iguodala is back on the block. The Sixers have also been hungry for shooters, and Hamilton is one of the most lethal scorers in the draft. Markieff Morris, Nikola Vucevic and Kenneth Faried are also possibilities here.

Hamilton could potentially be a real steal at #16. He's a very good story, he's got a long range game, he can play in the post and hit jumpers as well as being a good rebounder. He's not even a bad defender either. This begs the question, why wouldn't a guy that be a top 10 pick? Well, for one, maybe he will be... but overall the one general criticism you'll see from scouts about Hamilton is that while he doesn't have a glaring hole in his game, he might not be a great at anything. Some have also questioned whether he has the "killer instinct." At least as much as one can have that as a Sophomore in college.

ESPN's Chad Ford noted in a recent column that the 76ers and Knicks seem to be interested USC PF/C Nikola Vucevic. The 20 year old from Montenegro measured out as the tallest player at the NBA combine, just a shade under seven feet without shoes. He also had a huge 7-5 wingspan and a 9-5 standing reach, which is better than Greg Oden measured out at. 

The reach is extra important for Vucevic because he's not seen as a particularly athletic player. He's not really fast and doesn't really play "above the rim" but he is a good shooter with a well developed mid range game already. He has an NBA center body and is stout at 260 pounds, but certainly could stand to get stronger and more physical.

Ford says that he may be "the only true NBA center in the draft," however it should be noted that he didn't always play in the middle at USC. Given his size and athleticism however, teams at the next level will likely want him at the five.

The 2011 NBA draft is less than a month away and the mock drafts are coming fast and furious. The top of the draft is getting a lot of consensus. Everyone seems to have Kyrie Irving at #1 and Derrick Williams at #2, with some combination of Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker or Jan Vesely making up the rest of the top five. 

There is a lot of variation as we get outside the top 5 however, which is probably a symptom of the subpar draft class this year (BTW Liberty Ballers wrote a compelling post defending this years' class). For the Sixers, while some of the names are different, the size really isn't. Mostly everyone has them taking a big.

CSNPhilly - Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State

No one in college basketball rebounded the ball better than Faried last season – he led the nation with 14.3 per game. But his skills aren't limited to the boards alone. He averaged close to 2.5 blocks last season and 17.3 points. He broke onto the national radar in Morehead State's first round upset of Louisville in the NCAA tournament, grabbing 17 rebounds and blocking the potential game-winning shot at the buzzer. With four years of college experience, Faried will be ready to contribute immediately on the 76ers' thin frontline. He won't need the ball to be a factor in the NBA; he's content protecting the rim and rebounding. 

Sean Deveny, Sporting News - Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas.

He is not as smooth offensively as his brother, but he is tough inside and would fit in well with the Sixers, who need frontcourt depth.

HoopsHype - Markieff Morris, Kansas

The Sixers are looking to add a 4 in this draft and will hope that a player such as Markieff Morris falls to them. Morris would give them a Carl Landry type of PF to add depth. The Morris Twins have built a reputation for bringing intensity and toughness every time out. As long as no concerns arise about character, look for both twins to end up in or just outside the lottery.

SBNation  - Alec Burks, SG, Colorado

Andre Iguodala will be 54 years old, and we'll still be wondering if this is the summer the Sixers trade him and start anew.

A shooting guard? Doubt that... Our pals at SBNation.com clearly didn't get the memo.

Hoops World - Markieff Morris, Kansas

Matt Moore, CBS Sports - Lucas Riva Nogueira, Asefa Estudiantes (Spain):

7-0, high upside. The Sixers can afford to take a project with the core they have. Nogueira could replace Hawes by end of season if things go right, or be the long-term solution.

The Hoops Report - Marcus Morris, Kansas

The Sixers need help down low with some post depth. Marcus Morris is a versatile forward that can rebound and score in the post but can also handle the ball and knock down jumpers. He will add a scoring punch to the Sixers frontcourt.

In all likelihood the Sixers will take a big man in this year’s draft.  The front office has said it, Doug Collins has said it, and every fan in the tri state area has said it.  All that being said, that doesn’t completely rule out the 76ers going after the best player available if he matches the direction they want to go.   Along with the help of the brain trust, I will now break down the other options for the Sixers at 16, and beyond.

Jimmer Fredette

Ok everyone sit down please and relax…Preferably keep your hands above your waist.  I understand the very sight of this name causes sweating, fainting and possible giddiness, but we still need to see if he is a proper fit for this team.

Jimmer is a complicated case.  On one hand he would cause an immediate spike in attendance and an interest in the Sixers once again.  Merchandise sales would receive a significant boost with kids throughout the area sporting a Fredette Sixers jersey.  There would be a buzz in the city comparable to the Phillies.  Then he would step onto the court…That is when it could all come crashing down.

I will be the first to admit I wasn’t a huge Jimmer fan from the start.  A 2010 Census has the white population at around 224,000,000…which means that I may be 1 of 224,000,000 who is not currently suffering from Jimmermania.  That doesn’t mean I have a general dislike for the guy, I am just saying I don’t always agree with his shot selection. 

As a basketball instructor I see the effects of his popularity everyday, as the high school and college kids I train continually pull up from 6 feet beyond NBA range for no apparent reason.  I am reminded of the infamous AND 1 Mix Tape epidemic of the early 2000’s.  Both are almost hindrances on the game of basketball.  I appreciate Jimmer’s ability to continuously hit near half courters, but for a kid trying to crack a high school starting lineup it is far more discouraging.

In regard to Fredette’s game, I do see several positives.  He is an unbelievable shooter, there is no denying that.  He has a knack for scoring, and scoring in bunches.  He extends defenses creating openings for the rest of the team.  He is a physical player who is strong enough to defend.  My biggest issue with Jimmer is his shot selection and height.

Let’s start with his height.  Jimmer, who is listed at 6’2", is not quick enough to be an NBA point guard, but may not be big enough to play any other position.  In college he wasn’t exposed like he could be in the league.

Fredette’s shot selection may also come into question.  Yes he was the main option at BYU, therefore when he crossed half court and fired a three, it was not a huge issue.  However in his pro career it will be.  Jimmer must learn the right and wrong time to shoot the ball.  If he doesn’t, he could draw the wrath of his teammates.

To be perfectly honest, I feel like Jimmer is the only player to consider outside of a big man.  There are players like Jordan Hamilton and Tyler Honeycutt who can shoot the ball, but not consistently enough.  Klay Thompson, if he falls, could be discussed as well, but I don’t see him falling.  Personally I don’t think the Sixers will waste a draft pick on anything other than a big, unless they are a big name.

The second round however could be the time to lock up that shooter they are looking for like say…

Kyle Singler

Another big name, who could be had at a discount.  Again large question marks surround Singler.  According to one member of the “brain trust” he is “A way worse pro version of Mike Dunleavy.”  He could make a case because of his leadership, heart and ability.  A player in the mold of Shane Battier but a few inches smaller.

Singler would have to fall out of scouts favor over the next few weeks if the Sixers would have a chance with the 50^th pick.

Depending on how the first round goes, the Sixers may still have a need for size in round two.  Of the players who may be available at 50 only one really intrigues me.

Keith Benson

I am a big Keith Benson fan.  I have heard the knocks against him…He’s from a small school.  His stats are inflated because of this.  He is too skinny.  These all sound familiar to me because I had a similar scouting report coming out of college.  Though, unlike me Benson is a tremendous athlete. 

The pros about Benson, in my opinion, outweigh the cons.  He is able to step out and shoot, plays with energy, can rebound and defend.  He is also very coachable, which can greatly improve his potential.  His weight will increase once there is an NBA strength coach working him out.  If he happens to fall, this is a pick the Sixers need to make.

Early last week, Philly.com quoted a Sixers source who said that the team was focusing on big men in the upcoming NBA Draft. The exact line from the story was, "a source close to the team said they will not be looking at anyone 'under 6-8. We need a big." The mock drafters around the web have taken this "no one under 6-8" rule to heart and have mocking big men to the Sixers.

The most popular name still continues to be Morris, Markeiff or Marcus, the Philly born twins who starred for Kansas last season. All but two of the mock drafts in our roundup have the Sixers taking one of the twins, with Markieff being the most common.

Ben Golliver, CBS Sports - Markieff Morris, Kansas

With contract decisions coming on the horizon, Philly's young frontcourt gets one man deeper.

Dave Del Grande, CBS Sports - Markieff Morris, Kansas

The 76ers need someone more like Samuel Dalembert, but he doesn't exist this low in the draft. So taking the most defensive minded power forward has to suffice.

Matt Moore, CBS Sports - Lucas Riva Nogueira, Asefa Estudiantes (Spain):

7-0, high upside. The Sixers can afford to take a project with the core they have. Nogueira could replace Hawes by end of season if things go right, or be the long-term solution.

The Hoops Report - Marcus Morris, Kansas

The Sixers need help down low with some post depth. Marcus Morris is a versatile forward that can rebound and score in the post but can also handle the ball and knock down jumpers. He will add a scoring punch to the Sixers frontcourt

SBNation - Tristan Thompson, Texas

Chad Ford, ESPN - Markieff Morris, Kansas

The Sixers really need a big man, and Morris, a Philly native, is the best left on the board. Morris has a rep as a good defender, shot-blocker and rebounder -- but he also proved at Kansas this year that he can step out and hit the 3. He's a bit rawer than his brother, but he's a good get at this point in the draft.

ESPN's Chad Ford has released his third NBA mock draft of the season and has some changes at the top. He still has the Cavaliers taking Kyrie Irving at #1 and Derrick Williams going #2 to the Timberwolves, but in this latest update the Jezz are taking Kentucky PG Brandon Knight at #3. That's the pick Utah got in the trade of Deron Williams to the Nets.

Ford has Cleveland taking Enes Kanter with their second pick and Jan Vesely going to Toronto at #5. 

For the Sixers, he's got a familiar name in Kansas C/F Markieff Morris.

The Sixers really need a big man, and Morris, a Philly native, is the best left on the board. Morris has a rep as a good defender, shot-blocker and rebounder -- but he also proved at Kansas this year that he can step out and hit the 3. He's a bit rawer than his brother, but he's a good get at this point in the draft.

At 6-10, Morris would fit that "must be this tall to be drafted by the Sixers this year" rule.

If the board falls like Ford projects, the Sixers will have their pick of a lot of interesting big man prospects. He's got 7 foot Lithuanian Donatas Motiejunas going to the T'Wolves at #20, Kevin Owens' favorite Kenneth Faried at #21 and another 7-footer in Nikola Vucevic from USC heading to the Celtics at #25.

So while this draft class is widely seen as one of the worst in recent years, it does have a measure of depth that could help fill the Sixers' biggest need, size.

Back in high school I surrounded myself with likeminded individuals.  Even though we had our discrepancies, a common love for the game of basketball kept us close.  Some of us played together in high school, while some of us were cut freshman year, developing a grudge that still carries on to this day.  We would watch college basketball games together and at least once a week would drive over to a 76ers game after practice. 

As the years went on we each chose different paths in life.  While several still live in the Philadelphia area, a few have moved away.  Although we are all located sporadically throughout the world, that common love of Philadelphia sports keeps us close.  This week I had the pleasure of gathering the "brain trust" together for a few nights of basketball talk. 

It couldn't have come at a better time.  With the NBA playoffs about to reach its exciting conclusion, the NBA Draft Combine showcasing the talent which will be available in June, and the lottery sealing the order for the upcoming draft, there was plenty to discuss.

My initial thought was to have us all perform a mock draft, but after six or seven drinks that idea quickly dissipated.  Instead we decided to discuss the options the Sixers could have with the 16^th pick.

In terms of needs, the Sixers should be looking at either a big guy, who can defend, rebound and preferably score, or a guy that is a knockdown shooter.  My preference would be a big.  Luckily for us this draft, although not deep with talent, is deep with potentially good big men.

We devised a list of several players, fitting these categories, which could be available.  We tried to make a case for each player in either a good or a bad way.  Since there are several players at each position, I decided to break down the potential big men today and the shooters later this week all leading up to the NBA Mock Draft 2011.

Kenneth Faried

If I were the Sixers this would be my pick.  Faried is an energy guy who could really make a difference in Philadelphia.  If there is one thing this city loves it is effort, and this player has plenty to spare.  I will admit, prior to the NBA Draft Combine, I did not know much about Faried.  He was described to me only as a "bull in a china shop".  However after watching his performance in Chicago, along with watching some of his college games, I have become a fan. 

Interior "toughness" is definitely lacking in Philadelphia.  Although I think Elton Brand plays a physical game, the need for his offense limits his defense.  A guy like Faried would be great to pair along with Brand, making them a tough team to score against.  The biggest knock on Faried is his size.  Listed at just 6'7.5" with shoes on, he is definitely undersized.    However, Faried posses a 7'0" wingspan and a 9'0" standing reach, longer than many taller players in the draft.  His overall length, combined with his athleticism could translate well in the NBA.

Donatas Motiejunas

Shockingly enough when it came time to discuss the foreign players, we could not tell one from the other.  And this year with six predicted to be drafted in the first round, the names became important.  Aware that Jonas Valanciunas, Bismack Biyombo, or Enes Kanter should all be lottery picks, it was time to focus on Motiejunas. 

From what I have heard about Motiejunas' game, he resembles a young Dirk Nowitzki.  This has also been said about every foreign player drafted since the 1998 NBA Draft, a year infamous to Sixers fans since we passed on both Dirk and Paul Pierce in favor of Larry Hughes.

Although Motiejunas may never be as talented as Nowitzki, if he occasionally shows the same flashes of brilliance, he could be a steal at 16.  Listed at 7'0" and 240 pounds and with a jump shot to match, he is predicted by some to be the most complete foreign player in the draft this year.

Jordan Williams

One of the members of the brain trust recommended Williams higher than some of the other candidates, mainly because both he and Williams are Maryland grads.  Williams is an intriguing player though.  He put up solid numbers in college basketball's toughest conference and has a new "healthy" mindset going forward. 

My biggest issue with Williams is his work ethic.  He obviously had enough natural talent to succeed at the highest level of college basketball, while carrying unnecessary weight.  At only 20 years old, he may develop the maturity and dedication needed to succeed in the NBA.  I hope so...I for one do not want to see a Marreese Speights clone.

Markieff Morris

Morris, although not as highly touted as his twin brother, would be a solid pick for the Sixers at 16.  The Morris twins are both local products, who grew up in Philadelphia.  Markieff listed at 6'9.25", has done a good job using his quickness and shooting ability to neutralize taller opponents. 

Morris has a stronger offensive game than the other candidates listed, however, as of yet, has not shown the aggressiveness to be the legitimate defender and rebounder this team is so desperate for.  If he is still on the board at 16, the Sixers front office will need to seriously question whether or not they can pass on a player of Morris' caliber.

Tristan Thompson

Very similar to Faried, but with a better offensive game.  Both players are slightly undersized, but make up for it with wingspan.  I honestly don't see him remaining on the board until the Sixers pick, however if he does, he may make Rod Thorn's life easier.

If I have to nitpick, I will say that although he possesses an excellent motor, he doesn't seem to have the same toughness as Faried. 

These players are some of the forward/centers whom I believe may be available to the Sixers with the 16^th pick in June's draft.  Knowing what we currently know, I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them.  Stay tuned this week, as I break down the other positions the Sixers could be interested in next month.

Chad Ford has the Philadelphia 76ers taking Philly native Markieff Morris with the 16th pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Ford recently attended a workout with he and his brother Marcus and came away very impressed.

For starters, I was floored by their ability to shoot the NBA 3. Typically, that’s a major adjustment for draft prospects and, at this early stage, even good shooters are throwing up bricks as they adjust to the difference. But both Morris twins are stroking the ball effortlessly from the big boys’ line. A combination of strength and picture-perfect shooting form gives them a great advantage in making the transition.

For a 6-10 power forward, an outside game can make for a pretty nasty package. Addi in Markieff’s size and toughness and he might be a perfect fit what the Sixers are looking for. Ford says that his brother Marcus is the more athletic of the two and could do well in the NBA as a 3/4 swingman, but Markieff is the superior defender, rebounder and all around post player. He’s also about an inch taller than his brother.

The question is whether he might be there for the Sixers at #16. Ford projects him to come off that board anywhere from #7 to #17.

With the NBA draft lottery finished, the draft order is set and the mock drafts are being unleashed. For the Sixers at pick 16, things are actually pretty simple this year. Their #1 need is clear, size. Luckily, it's a good year to need size in a draft that has been dubbed "The Year Of The Big Man."

So the question isn't what, it's who? Which big man drops, which one might they pick? So far, the popular selection in early mocks is Philly native Markieff Morris from the University of Kansas.

ESPN's Chad Ford - Markieff Morris - PF/C - Kansas

The Sixers really need a big man, and Morris, a Philly native, is the best one left on the board. Morris has a rep as a good defender, shot-blocker and rebounder, but he also proved at Kansas that he can step out and hit the 3. He's a bit rawer than his brother, but he's a good get at this point in the draft.

CBS Sports' Ben Golliver - Markieff Morris - PF/C - Kansas

When in doubt, add a talented big man to the frontcourt. The Sixers have some contract decisions to make after next season

SBNation's Tom Ziller - Jan Vesely - SF - Czech Republic

Another player who should be higher. I guess I'm biased against Euros! Vesely is reportedly more of a gazelle, and Omri Casspi-type transition star with little in the way of halfcourt refinement. That sounds exactly like the Philadelphia 76ers.

Hoops Hype's Aran Smith - Donatas Motiejunas - PF - Benetton Treviso (Italy)

The Sixers are looking to add a 4 in this draft and will hope that a player such as Markieff Morris falls to them. Motiejunas gives them offensive fire power and has come on late. He had a 31 and 13 rebound performance toward the end of the season. He showed flashes and remains a special offensive talent with the ability to score both inside and out. There are few prospects anywhere with the package of size, athleticism and offensive intrigue that he possesses. Improving his strength and defense is key. He's a finesse forward and will need to have a beast playing along with him as rebounding, defense and toughness aren't his strong suit. Does he want to be great? A number of scouts have concerns that he doesn't have the drive/passion to maximize his vast potential.

Draft Express' Jonathon Givony - Tristan Thompson - PF - Texas

With Elton Brand past his prime and Thaddeus Young entering restricted free agency, power forward appears to be the biggest position of need for the 76ers. Thompson could give the Sixers some added toughness and athleticism, which would surely please head coach Doug Collins.