Bigs in 2011 Draft
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Bigs in 2011 Draft
After yesterday's Live Chat, it seemed as if a lot of folks wanted to talk about the potential big men available in June's NBA Draft. If you read Thursday's entry, you know that the 76ers have very little wiggle room via free agency, and therefore almost certainly will use the draft and trade market to make improvements for the 2011-12 season.
The Sixers hold the No. 16 selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 23. The Sixers also have a second-round selection. And while we're not yet at the point where we can narrow down the prospects the Sixers are targeting (the Chicago combine is May 18-22 and the Sixers will begin inviting prospects for workouts toward the end of the month), we can certainly take a look at some of the big men that will be available under the assumption that the team will want to add frontcourt depth.
Some of these guys are slated to go much higher than the Sixers' No. 16 spot, but a draft-day trade isn't an impossible scenario, so we include even the big men that are projected as top 5 picks. This year's draft isn't particularly mind-blowing, but there are a few intriguing interior players.
Here goes, in no particular order:
1.) Enes Kanter, projected anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8 in various mock drafts, a 6-foot-10 center from Turkey, 18 years old, 250 pounds, 7-1 wingspan, working out at the University of Kentucky, but ineligible because of his pro career in Turkey. Sixers would need to make a draft-day trade (a considerable piece, their No. 16, possibly an in-between guy like Marreese Speights in exchange for the other team's high pick and a considerable high-salary player to match the trade) to get into Kanter's range. The book on Kanter is that he's a legitimate low-post scorer as opposed to some big guys who want to play away from the basket. He isn't overwhelmingly athletic, but his basketball IQ allows him to make the correct interior plays more often than you'd expect.
2.) Jonas Valanciunas, projected anywhere from No. 4 to No. 11, a 6-11 center from Lithuania, 19 years old, and 240 pounds. Similar trade likely needed to move up for Valanciunas, although depending on how the combine and draft shake out, he could drop as some mock drafts already have him at No. 11. Seems like Kanter and Valanciunas have had some matchups coming up through the ranks, with Kanter being the more polished of the two. Very skinny, raw talent -- a guy that is developing and would likely be more of a project.
3.) Bismack Biyumbo, projected in the No. 5 to No. 8 range as more than one mock draft has him at No. 7, a 6-9 power forward from the Congo, 19 years old. Seems like this guy has burst onto the scene in the last month, specifically impressing scouts at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland. His toughness seems to be his greatest asset: he blocks shots, rebounds, and gets to the free throw line. Undersized, but emotional is how the scouting report reads. Kind of reminds one of Reggie Evans, including poor free throw shooting. Sixers are still too low to snag this guy, so this would be deal territory.
4.) Donatas Montiejunas, projected anywhere from No. 11 to No. 20, a 7 footer from Lithuania, 20 years old, and 215 pounds. The scouting report reads best-case like Toronto's Andrea Bargnani and worst case like Phoenix's Channing Frye, this just doesn't seem to be the interior presence the Sixers need as both those guys prefer hanging out on the perimeter and impressing with their jump shots.
5.) Marcus Morris (Kansas), 6-9 power forward, Markieff Morris (Kansas), 6-9 power forward, Tristan Thompson (Texas), 6-8 power forward, Tobias Harris (Tennessee), 6-8 power foward, Kenneth Farried (Morehead State), 6-8 power forward, and Trey Thompkins (Georgia), 6-8 power forward. This list of guys basically gobbles up the mock draft area from No. 12 to No. 20. Clearly the list of 6-8 power forwards is long and the Sixers will have an opportunity to draft one of them at the No. 16 spot. The question will be whether or not the Sixers want to make a move to get a dedicated low-post player higher in the draft.
The Sixers also have the 20th pick of the draft's second round (50th overall), with which to snag a project big man. One mock draft in particular (draftexpress) has the Sixers selecting 6-11 center Jeremy Tyler with that pick. Tyler is 19 years old and weighs 240. He's from San Diego, but currently playing his first season of professional basketball overseas. That worked out well for Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings, but Tyler has had a rougher time of it. For a more in depth look, you can check out this New York Times piece about Tyler: Overseas.
We'll know more about all of these guys by the end of next week. If you want to follow on Twitter, click here: Deep Sixer.
--Kate
Each week, Kate will check in from the road and answer fan questions about the Sixers. Click here to ask Kate a question or e-mail her at kfagan@phillynews.com.
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- I "settle" on a them trading the pick and get more value. Why give a guarantee contract to a project. A second round project you can cut. And what part of my previous postings did you interpret I am calling for a 6'6" tweener. Don't be one of those guys.
Forget all these impostors and bring in the real big man. Sign Clarence Clemons!— scribbles- My draft board would be one of the Morris twins. If they are both gone trade down first round Chicago has 3 pick two in the first. I would ask for 30th and 43rd picks. Trading the 30th the Clippers for their two second round picks 37th and 47th. Leaving us with four picks in the second.
Keith Benson, Jordan Williams and Jeremy Tyler should be there. Trade Songaila for Hasheen Thabeet. Sign Oden if the price is right. - kaman kills this debate. kenyon backs him up. this bismark kid.. havent heard of him.. if hes an ibaka type i would go for it. ANYTHING LESS... NO! the pick? i dunno. i say trade it. i cant get over j.r. smith.. i can see him CLEARLY giving it to wade and lebron. lou noc and the pick.. for smith. he's 25 people. and ready. younger than 9.. damn sp8ts.you gotta step up man.. the people have spoken.. ITS AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY. I again am part of the minority. dont make me look bad. MAN!! UP!! lets go,. kaman kenyon brand sp8ts bring back battie. and a little thad at the 5. would the clips swap picks? 9 or 10 they might. if so we could drop battie. i like him though. and draft a big.. gotta look at this bismark guy. he sounds short. and the 2nd pick if the kid is there head case or not i would take him. sp8ts i just brought in ALOT OF BIGS!! you better step up.— combocancer1975
- If people wonder why less and less people give a sh*t about the NBA, look at this article... While the article is well-written and researched, the top four "big men" prospects are from Lithuania, Congo and Turkey. Who has ever seen these guys play? How exactly would this excite a fan base and sell tickets? Even if any of them can play, you won't have anybody who will be excited to buy a ticket to watch them play any time soon.— Green46
=lol@don't be one of those guys. He has a point though, this management has a terrible past performance record of drafting swingman tweeners. I think they finally wake up this time though. Big Vil, if they draft a Euro and you bounce, there will be no one left to counter jonKap with a funny comment.
What's the deal with all the undersized PF. isn't thad listed by the NBA as 6"8? We need a center first; 6"10 or taller. we can use the 2nd rd or MLE for a back up PF since brand won't be traded and will snag most of the minutes at that position.
Can people please stop requesting for Kaman. What games have you guys been watching? couldn't have been ESPN; They must be avid clippers fans and have NBA league pass. Seriously, dude wasn't even on the bench with a cup of gatorade in any of blake griffin's highlights. i rather draft a big with some potential and let him play. Please stop asking for spencer hawes on steroids. Thanks- Quixote is right that we don't need another 6'6". To be honest we didn't need Turner but he is here now and I like his game. But don't just draft any 7' dude because we need a center. Not one center in this draft class impresses me at all. The PF's are deep get Brands replacement now!
- I think the Morris twins have upside like the Lopez twins. We need someone who can score and defend. No soft European stiffs.— oglejd
- I think the Morris twins have upside like the Lopez twins. We need someone who can score and defend. No soft European stiffs.— oglejd
- Counting international draft picks that pan out does not take long...— Philly Fan in Kuwait
- If Kanter is out of reach, I'd like the Sixers to get Kenneth Faried. At pick 16 he is the only one out of those you mentioned Kate that I think will compete inside against NBA bigs. He led the NCAA in rebounding (maybe twice) and his tenacity on the glass has people comparing him to Dennis Rodman. Let the teams in front of us sleep on him because he's 6'8. If he's there and the Sixers don't take him it would be a mistake.— Aaron B
- need more talent— shawnmac
- This draft is Center-less and really pretty limited on talent. Best chance to draft a big was either Cousins or Favors. With that we'll need to look at a trade for size then just draft the best player available— 7mel11
- keep them coming, kate.— fishtown charlie
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
