Staff Predictions: Who The Sixers Will Be Taking Tonight
For the first time in three years, we have no clue who the Sixers will be taking before the commencement of the NBA Draft. It’s very exciting and also very scary seeing as, you know, we don’t have a GM and don’t know who’s making the picks. The Sixers front office is a lot like Charlie Browns parents, because it’s assumed they exist but you never really know. Since we don’t know who they Sixers will pick and who will be picking, we decided to give our staff a try.
Vince S – Luka Dončić
The reason Dončić is the only choice in the draft this year (and is well worth a large package of picks) is threefold. First, the dude is a STUD. I’m going to copy and paste his Wikipedia career highlights and awards for you and I’ll see you in an hour when you get to the bottom of them:
- EuroLeague champion (2018)
- EuroLeague Final Four MVP (2018)
- EuroLeague MVP (2018)
- All-EuroLeague First Team (2018)
- 2× EuroLeague Rising Star (2017, 2018)
- EuroBasket All-Tournament Team (2017)
- 2× Liga ACB champion (2015, 2016)
- Liga ACB MVP (2018)
- All-Liga ACB First Team (2018)
- 2× ACB Best Young Player (2017, 2018)
- 3× ACB All-Young Players Team (2016–2018)
- 2× Spanish King’s Cup winner (2016, 2017)
- FIBA Intercontinental Cup champion (2015)
- EB Next Generation Tournament champion (2015)
- EB Next Generation Tournament MVP (2015)
…the kid is 19. What were you doing before 20? It sure as hell wasn’t any of this.
This is also the second reason he’s the only pick. He’s young and already producing at a professional level. There are grown ass men over there in the EuroLeague that he’s making look like your fat cousin playing pick-up at the 4th of July barbeque. This also means he’s cheap so we can save up money for a big name free agent.
The last reason that the Sixers are going to trade up for Dončić is the biggest one.
He’s move-in ready.
Scouts are calling him the most league-ready player in years and this is what I’m trying to say is the key to a lottery win the Sixers need to change the narrative.
Joe D – Mikal Bridges
I’ve been on record saying that it’s virtually impossible for the Sixers to screw up this draft. For one, certain individuals who shall not be named with burner accounts and apparently normal-sized collars are no longer in decision-making positions. But more importantly, the core is in place and the rebuild is over, so a bust really can’t hurt this squad in any way. That being said though, the Sixers shouldn’t take this draft for granted. They could really use more depth at the wing position along with guys who can defend multiple positions and stretch the floor. That’s why Mikal Bridges is the guy for the job. He’s Robert Covington 2.0, but possibly even better. The prototypical 3 & D guy, he shot at a pretty high clip especially from 3-point range (43.5%), plays unselfishly on the offensive end as well, and has the height, length, and quickness to defend 1’s, 2’s, 3’s, possibly even 4’s. He doesn’t constantly need the ball in his hands to be effective, therefore it’s a match made in Process heaven for the Sixers. Plus he’s a Nova kid, so it’d be a cardinal sin for the Sixers not to take him if he’s still on the board at 10.
Kyle J – Mikal Bridges
Aside from being Philly born and raised Bridges has developed a championship pedigree with Villanova. Playing the small forward position he may finally be the solution we need with 3-and-D ability to compete with Robert Covington for a starting role. At 6’7″ 209 pounds Mikal is already ahead of the curve when it comes to being NBA ready out of college. This guy averaged almost 18 points last season not to mention a spot on the NCAA All Tournament team during the march madness run where Nova blew teams out of the water. Bridges also turns 22 before he steps foot on an NBA court so you wont see him fighting people up in Boston like other lottery picks we know. With maturity, a hunger to win at every level, and the chance to be a hometown hero I don’t see the Sixers passing with the number 10 selection.
Aidan P – Trae Young
Nah, I’m just messin around. Wanted to get the people going. I am have been all in on Mikal Bridges for awhile and he seems to be the safest pick. He has the wingspan and athleticism necessary to be an elite defender in this league for a very long time. I’m curious to see what he molds into on offense because he doesn’t seem like “the guy” but he also seems more than capable of giving you 22 a night. My main issue with Trae Young, aside from him being the biggest defensive liability since Ryan Gosling in Remember the Titans, is that I don’t think he will be there at 10th overall. If Chicago were smart (they are not), they would take him at 7. If he is still around when the Sixers are on the clock, you can’t pass up that offensive upside. He has the potential to be the deadliest shooter since:
Damn, Ricky…RIP in peace. Right after he got a 710 on his SATs too.
Brian C – Mikal Bridges
With the 10th overall pick in the draft, the Sixers would be foolish to pass up on Mikal Bridges if he’s still on the board. The local kid from Villanova could come in and fill an immediate need for the Sixers: a wing player with the ability to consistently score off the bench. Bridges has the length to become a solid two-way player in this league. Standing at 6’7” with a 7’0” wingspan, he could theoretically guard four positions on the court effectively. The defensive instincts are already there, as long as his athleticism continues to develop the sky is the limit for this kid. He will be 22 heading into the season, so the room for potential growth may not be as large as someone like Markelle Fultz, but being that old does mean that his game will be refined to a certain degree. If the Sixers were to draft Bridges I would expect an immediate impact from him off the bench. I really don’t want to draft someone who won’t be able to contribute right away, and I don’t think we’d get that with Bridges. I think he would be able to step right in an be a productive role player and a pivotal piece to the Sixers’ success not only next year, but for years to come.