SB Nation Philly - 2011 NBA Draft Grades: Consensus On Sixers Pick Is "Ok"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48987/philly-fave.png2011-06-24T09:54:47-04:00http://philly.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19401212011-06-24T09:54:47-04:002011-06-24T09:54:47-04:002011 NBA Draft Grades: Chad Ford Gives Sixers A "C"
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<p>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.</p>
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<p><b></b>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.</p>
<p>Allen doesn't exactly get you excited after a lackluster four years at Temple.</p>
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<p>As for some teams that he did like last night, The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a> earned a A for getting Brandon Knight at #8, Kyle Singler and Vernon Macklin. He gave the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Heat</a> 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.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/24/2241628/2011-nba-draft-grades-chad-ford-gives-sixers-a-cJason Brewer2011-06-24T06:30:32-04:002011-06-24T06:30:32-04:002011 NBA Draft Grades: Consensus On Sixers Pick Is "Ok"
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<p>With the 16th overall pick in last night's draft, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">76ers</a> took center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53703/nikola-vucevic">Nikola Vucevic</a> from USC. Our pals over at Liberty Ballers <a href="http://www.libertyballers.com/2011/6/23/2241078/2011-nba-draft-just-how-un-athletic-is-philadelphia-sixers-draft-pick-nikola-vucevic" target="new">more or less hate the pick</a>, 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?</p>
<p>Here's a roundup of what is being said around the net.</p>
<p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft;_ylt=AlYwKc9jcTBfE_Z9TJtShqo5nYcB?round=1" target="new">Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo's The Dagger</a> - "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 <span>Spencer Hawes</span> at center last year."</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/rounds">ESPN's Chad Ford </a>- "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."</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/2011-NBA-Draft-pick-by-pick-analysis-Kyrie-Irving-Derrick-Williams-Enes-Kanter-062311">Nick Prevenas of Fox Sports</a> - "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 <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/player/spencer-hawes/466345">Spencer Hawes</a> and <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/player/marreese-speights/551553">Marreese Speights</a>), but he can score and rebound."<b></b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/nba-draft/2011/6/23/2240663/2011-nba-draft-results-nikola-vucevic-philadelphia-76ers">SBNation's Tom Ziller</a> - "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 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nba/players/21756/elton-brand">Elton Brand</a> on a long-term deal, but starting center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nba/players/24279/spencer-hawes">Spencer Hawes</a> is a restricted free agent."</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/24/2241352/2011-nba-draft-grades-consensus-on-sixers-pick-is-okJason Brewer2011-06-24T06:00:35-04:002011-06-24T06:00:35-04:002011 NBA Draft Results: Sixers Draft Nikola Vucevic, Apologies To Jrue Holiday
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<figcaption>The Sixers drafted a younger version of Spencer Hawes to back up Spencer Hawes. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Sixers' 21-year-old point guard is going to have to keep waiting for a big man who can provide any kind of help on either end of the floor, Nikola Vucevic is merely more of what they already had.</p> <p>When the Philaelphia <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">76ers</a> selected Nikola Vucevic with the #16 pick in tonight's NBA draft they added perhaps the largest man available. Unfortunately, the seven-foot, 260-pound center from USC doesn't fill a hole for the Sixers.</p>
<p>Vucevic is, for the most part, a carbon-copy of <span>Spencer Hawes</span>. They're similar in size, their games are similar. Vucevic may wind up being a better rebounder and a slightly better shooter. Hawes will probably always be a better passer, but forget about their strengths for a moment, and let's concentrate on their weaknesses. More importantly, let's talk about how their weaknesses affect the play of the other guys on the team, especially the team's budding point guard, <span>Jrue Holiday</span>.</p>
<p>Last season, Holiday was forced to play the point guard position essentially by himself. By that, I mean on the defensive end, he never had a big who could disrupt the pick-and-roll. Hawes, Brand and Speights were all too immobile to be able to show or trap without disastrous results. Essentially, they had to play off their men and force Jrue to play two-on-one on the perimeter, covering both the ballhandler and the pick-setter. Hawes' slow feet also made him an extremely poor weak-side shotblocker. Again, this left Jrue on an island at the point. Whenever his man beat him off the dribble, it was a free pass to the hoop. Obviously, these defensive deficiencies made things harder on the entire defense, not only Jrue, but Jrue was the guy guarding the ball more often than not. He was the guy doing double duty with the increased pressure of knowing there was no help if his man got by him. That's a lot for a point guard to handle.</p>
<p>On the offensive end, again Jrue was without help from his bigs. Brand, Hawes and Speights were all capable of running the pick-and-pop. They could all knock down a jumper from 15-20 feet, with varying degrees of reliability, but none of them was able to roll on those plays. None of them was able to cut to the hoop, catch the ball in traffic and finish. None of them could seal their man and receive a lob pass for a dunk. In fact, even crisp entry passes from Jrue went to waste more often than not because of Hawes' terrible finishing skills.</p>
<p>The Sixers had height last season. They had big men, with big bodies. What they were lacking was athletic big men who could make things easier for their talented playmakers on both ends of the floor. Well, in Vucevic they've added another big body with the same athletic limitations shared by every big on the roster.</p>
<p>In college, Vucevic used his three years to develop a post game. A post game that probably isn't going to translate to the NBA for the same reason Spencer Hawes can't play near the hoop, he has no lift. His nifty moves to get half-hooks off are going to result in blocks. He's not going to be able to overpower anyone, and eventually his game is going to move further and further away from the hoop, just like Hawes'. It took him three years as the biggest guy on the floor most nights to put together a solid college season. In the NBA, he's not going to be the biggest guy on the floor and he's not going to be able to use his length (which is impressive) alone to get those shots off in the paint. </p>
<p>I'm sure Vucevic is a great kid, and I'm sure Doug Collins will put him in a position to reach his potential. The problem is that his potential is to become perhaps a more efficient version of Spencer Hawes, and that's not what this team needs. That's not what Jrue Holiday needs. </p>
<p>We're talking about the #16 pick in what will probably go down as one of the weaker drafts in the past couple of decades, so it's not like this team has made some kind of horrible mistake they'll never be able to recover from. There were definitely guys available at number sixteen who would've given the Sixers more, but this is by no means a defining moment for the franchise. The troubling thing about this pick is that it's the first real look we've had at the direction Rod Thorn wants to move the roster in. This is the first real personnel decision he's made and this was clearly the guy he wanted. In fact, Ed Stefanski said they were willing to trade up to get him. They were extremely motivated to obtain more of the same in the front court. I think we've moved on from the "<i>you can't teach height</i>," period of talent evaluation, though it seems our front office has not.</p>
<p>With their second-round pick, the Sixers made what appears to be a sentimental pick in Temple senior power forward LaVoy Allen, who wasn't projected to be picked at all.</p>
<p><i>Brian has more reaction to the SIxers draft at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.depressedfan.com/">Depressed Fan.</a></i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/24/2240910/sixers-draft-nikola-vucevic-apologies-to-jrue-holidayBrian Ward2011-06-23T23:49:25-04:002011-06-23T23:49:25-04:002011 NBA Draft: Sixers Take Temple Product Lavoy Allen In Second Round
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<p>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 <span class="caps">NBA</span> draft.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 <span class="caps">NBA</span>… 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 <span class="caps">NBA</span>. Players generally don’t often become more committed and more tenacious when they move into the pros.</p>
<p>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.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/23/2241032/2011-nba-draft-sixers-take-temple-product-lavoy-allen-in-second-roundJason Brewer2011-06-23T22:54:45-04:002011-06-23T22:54:45-04:002011 NBA Draft: Sixers Select USC Center Nikola Vucevic
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<p>The Sixers came into this draft looking for size and that’s exactly what they got in seven footer Nikola Vucevic from <span class="caps">USC</span>. 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.</p>
<p>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 <span class="caps">USC</span>, which is a skill that projects well to the <span class="caps">NBA</span>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/23/2240920/2011-nba-draft-sixers-select-usc-center-nikola-vucevicJason Brewer2011-06-23T22:54:45-04:002011-06-23T22:54:45-04:002011 NBA Draft: Sixers Select USC Center Nikola Vucevic
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<p>The Sixers came into this draft looking for size and that’s exactly what they got in seven footer Nikola Vucevic from <span class="caps">USC</span>. 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.</p>
<p>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 <span class="caps">USC</span>, which is a skill that projects well to the <span class="caps">NBA</span>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>It's been known that the Sixers liked Vucevic, in fact in his latest update on the player, <a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/results/players/news/_/id/19626/nikola-vucevic">ESPN's Chad Ford</a> said that he was likely to go to the SIxers at #16. So it seems like the Sixers got their guy.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/23/2240919/2011-nba-draft-sixers-select-usc-center-nikola-vucevicJason Brewer2011-06-23T13:25:31-04:002011-06-23T13:25:31-04:002011 NBA Mock Draft: Chad Ford Releases Final Mock 7.0
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<p>ESPN NBA draft insider Chad Ford has released his seventh and final <a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-110623">2011 NBA mock draft</a> just a few hours ahead of the actual draft itself. His top five does have some changes from his previous mock. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nba/teams/cleveland-cavaliers">Cavaliers</a> are still taking <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../ncaa-basketball/players/123465/kyrie-irving">Kyrie Irving</a> first overall and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a> still take Derrick Williams second. However, he now has <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a> taking <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123766/enes-kanter">Enes Kanter</a> at #3 and the Cavs going with Jonas Valanciunas at #4. Brandon Knight goes #5 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Raptors</a>.</p>
<p>The rest of his top 10 sees Jan Vesely at #6, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52415/kemba-walker">Kemba Walker</a> at #7, Tristan Thompson at #8, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100718/kawhi-leonard">Kawhi Leonard</a> at #9 and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53727/klay-thompson">Klay Thompson</a> going to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a> at #10.</p>
<p>For the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nba/teams/philadelphia-76ers">76ers</a>, Ford's mock doesn't play out particularly well. In the five pick prior to #16, Bismack Biyombo, both Morris twins and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53703/nikola-vucevic">Nikola Vucevic</a> all come off the board. All would be potential Sixers targets. Ford has them taking Texas forward Jordan Hamilton from what it left.</p>
<blockquote>The Sixers need size, but with Thompson, Vucevic and Morris all off the board, the only other big man worth taking here is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/28601/kenneth-faried">Kenneth Faried</a>. 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.
<p>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.</p>
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<p>Ford also did a full s<a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-Round2-110623">second round mock</a>, where he once again has the Sixers taking Oakland center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../ncaa-basketball/players/27696/keith-benson">Keith Benson</a>.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
<p><b><i>Check our Sixers<a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/23/2237901/philadelphia-76ers-draft-preview"> 2011 NBA Draft Preview</a> and our <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/5/17/2176080/nba-draft-order-2011">NBA Draft storystream</a>. </i></b></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/23/2239529/2011-nba-mock-draft-chad-ford-releases-final-mock-7-0Jason Brewer2011-06-23T11:17:32-04:002011-06-23T11:17:32-04:00The Absence of a True Center Continues to Plague the Sixers
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<p>With the 2011 <span class="caps">NBA</span> 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. <a href="../../../../../nba/players/21587/andre-iguodala">Andre Iguodala</a>-for-<a href="../../../../../nba/players/21527/monta-ellis">Monta Ellis</a>, <span>Andre Iguodala</span>-for-<a href="../../../../../nba/players/21754/chris-kaman">Chris Kaman</a>, Andre Iguodala-for-Jonny Flynn, Andre Iguodala-for-<a href="../../../../../nba/players/21877/lamar-odom">Lamar Odom</a> 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 <span class="caps">NBA</span> Finals since 2001, when they lost the series 4-1 against Shaquille O’Neal and <a href="../../../../../nba/players/21869/kobe-bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>’s <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a>. Who could forget?</p>
<p>Dennis Deitch of The Delco Times had <a target="_blank" href="http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/11/15/sports/doc4ce0af10b363b211242391.txt?viewmode=2">this to say about the Sixers’ situation</a> (this article was written <span class="caps">DURING</span> the 2010-2011 season):</p>
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<p>“If it weren’t for <span>Elton Brand</span>, 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.<br> <br> <a href="../../../../../nba/players/24279/spencer-hawes">Spencer Hawes</a> is laughably soft. The Sixers’ starting center has 30 rebounds this season. That’s one less than Minnesota’s <a href="../../../../../nba/players/35085/kevin-love">Kevin Love</a> had in 41 minutes against the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> Friday, [November 12, 2010]."</p>
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<p>While a trade for <span>Monta Ellis</span> is enticing, it still leaves the Sixers with a small roster (average of 6’4" if you count the loss of Iguodala). <span>Chris Kaman</span> is like a small, irrelevant cousin of <a href="../../../../../nba/players/21721/dirk-nowitzki">Dirk Nowitzki</a>, 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 <span>Lamar Odom</span> is great value since he is 31. However, he’s an experienced player and, more importantly, he’s a champion.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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:</p>
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<p> “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.”</p>
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<p>It would be a shame to waste the talents of guys like <a href="../../../../../nba/players/71917/jrue-holiday">Jrue Holiday</a>, Elton Brand, Thad Young, Lou Williams, and <a href="../../../../../nba/players/111979/evan-turner">Evan Turner</a> due to the absence of a center to get the team over the hump. </p>
<p>Calling <a href="../../../../../nba/players/21602/dwight-howard">Dwight Howard</a>!</p>
<p><b><i>Check our Sixers<a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/23/2237901/philadelphia-76ers-draft-preview"> 2011 NBA Draft Preview</a> and our <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/5/17/2176080/nba-draft-order-2011">NBA Draft storystream</a>. </i></b></p>
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https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-76ers/2011/6/23/2239229/the-absence-of-a-true-center-continues-to-plague-the-sixersdperilli