Evan Turner, no longer a rookie
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Evan Turner, no longer a rookie
We're getting closer to more specific talk about the NBA Draft. The combine in Chicago is May 18-22 and then the 76ers will start bringing in players to PCOM for workouts. Today, we'll just continue with our coverage of some of the smaller questions surrounding the Sixers. On Monday, we discussed the future possibilities with young big man Craig Brackins. If you missed that post, you can find it here: Brackins. On Tuesday, we talked about the future of center Spencer Hawes and whether or not the Sixers would want to re-sign the 23-year-old starting center. If you missed that post, you can find it here: Hawes.
Today, per the e-mails I've received, people seem to be interested in Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. The question I've received more than any other? If the Sixers could make that selection again, would they still draft Turner? The question I've received the second-most amount of times? Where do the Sixers see Turner playing? At point guard, at starting shooting guard, at small forward?
The point of today's post is to paint a picture of how the franchise views Turner, at this exact moment in time. We all have opinions about how Turner's rookie year went, and nobody believes it was earth-shattering, but I'd like to toss one idea out there that we haven't fully discussed previously. Turner went through the fire. Sixers coach Doug Collins didn't hand him anything. He had a handful of games where he didn't play, per coach's decision, and we'd be naive to think those moments didn't knock the wind out of Turner. But also, in an old-fashioned way, it was probably the best thing that could have happened to him. Because he impressed people with the way he handled himself last season. Nothing was given to him and in the long run there's belief within the organization that this will make him a stronger, more dedicated, more mentally tough player than some rookies who received 35 minutes a game, a starting role, and a prime-time spot on a 20-win team.
So in answer to the most asked question: who would the Sixers draft if they could do it all again? I still think they draft Turner; I think people within the organization -- and I know I agree with this -- still believe he will raise to the level of a No. 2 pick, even if his rookie year numbers don't reflect that status immediately.
By all accounts, at Turner's exit interview the day after the loss to the Miami Heat, he made it clear he understands what he has to do this summer. And he's excited to do it. He is keeping in good contact with everyone and preparing himself for a breakout sophomore season. In addition to improving that mid-range jumper, Turner understands that he must be in absolutely ideal physical condition when he enters camp next September. Toward the end of last season, because his minutes were often sporadic and traveling isn't the healthiest style of living, Turner probably wasn't in tip-top, prime-time shape. But he will be next season. And that will go a long way toward allowing him to defend on the low block, improve his first step, and be more explosive on the floor.
He's excited for what he can do next season, and so is the franchise.
So in answer to the second most asked question: what position is Turner? I'm going to give all Sixers' fans something else to think about in saying that it's possible you might see Turner playing more small forward next season. I know we've talked about his potential for starting at the shooting guard spot, as well as how well he plays when given minutes as the main ballhandler, but if you move forward under the premise that the point guard position absolutely belongs to Jrue Holiday, then you have to ask yourself where might Turner find the most minutes? Are his skills perhaps best suited to playing the small forward? If he can get himself into prime condition, can add some strength to effectively defend on the low block, then keep an eye on Turner's potential as a small forward.
Of course, there are plenty of other factors the team must address as this summer moves forward. Right now, the starting small forward position rightfully belongs to Andre Iguodala. If the right deal doesn't come along in the next few months, then Turner's minutes will -- as they were this season -- be much more difficult to come by and will be patched together across three positions: point guard, shooting guard, and small forward.
But the main point of this blog is to answer the lingering questions about Turner: the franchise considers him a crucial piece for the future and Turner has been straight-forward with telling them he's prepping for a legitimate sophomore season.
Here are a few lineup ideas to consider:
Status Quo: 1.) Holiday, Meeks, Iguodala, Brand, Hawes. (Obviously worst case because there's no improvement.)
Idea #1: 1.) Holiday, Player X, Turner, Brand, Player X. (Obviously dependent on making a trade involving Iguodala for a scoring guard and perhaps drafting a big man.)
Idea #2: 1.) Holiday, Turner, Iguodala, Brand, Player X. (Dependent on acquiring a big man, whether by draft or trade, but could be a very difficult lineup to push because of the lack of shooting.)
We could play the lineup game all day. If you want all of the quick-hit info, please follow on Twitter. You can do that 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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- These are good kids we have and hopefully we get to watch them grow up together. I like this core. We didn't even have a core 3 seasons ago. I like them because there is no egos. Turner Jrue Meeks and Lou are supportive of each other. With a couple of big men added to the mix, I can't see any team in our division that worries me.
Many posters were excited by the tough games the Sixers played against the Heat, but first round games often see the overwhelming favorites play down to the competition. For a clearer view of where the Sixers are, rewatch the Heat-Bulls game tonight and watch brutal, bloody defense, serious playoff action, where the Bulls were held at 29 points in the second half, 10 in the fourth quarter, while the Heat scored 37 points in the second half, with 14 in the final quarter, with James becoming the go-to guy down the stretch. Not bad shooting, but sensational shut-down defense, including against Rose and Wade. Sixers were a better team defensively this season, but not in the class of the Heat and Bulls, and still lack a go-to scorer.— chuckw- Good point Vil, no disrepect Mrs.Mack, i mean Fagan, but as long as we get these daily write ups about who to keep, who should go, everyone(including myself) will continue playing E-GM. The sad part is everyone has given better suggestion than Eddy Stef.
Let me pose this thought. Let's say Thad decides to stay for a bargin in the range of $7.5M-$8M in exchange for a chance to start. And let's say iggy isn't moved. you're line up will now have player X, brand & thad C,PF,SF respectively. Sooo iggy becomes you're SG, which isn't bad but he's not paid to score, but to lockdown the other teams best offensive swingman and do the intangibles. Now do you start turner or jrue? isf it's jrue than is turner a back up SF?
Can we stop mentioning the name howard please? There's a better chance of Ryan Howard being on the sixers' bench as a PF than dwight coming here.— Mack of the Pack - @BigVil: ok, just WHY do you think Young should remain a PF? He gets ABUSED by the likes of Al Jefferson, Zach Randolph, even Rashard fn Lewis back in '09, and HE'S a 3 himself. '09 first round, game in Memphis this year, tells me all I need to know. Just don't think the offense mismatch is worth it. Perhaps in spurts, but even then, this guy was supposed to be our star (not superstar) wing at one point.— BlackFeet01
- Okay he isn't going to play the PF. I don't want him hanging around the arc. When he is most effective is when he is in the paint. He can post up other SF. When we go small he does play PF if the match up is in our favor...... BTW you pick two of the best at there position and a third guy that made him look bad when he was a rookie. Our current PF wouldn't look that good against them either.
- Mack: the way Howard is swinging the bat right now, perhaps he would be a bigger help to the Sixers. As many of us have posted previously, Iguodala is a key to next season, as far as Young, Turner, Meeks and even Hawes is concerned. If Iguodala stays, do you sign Young to be a back-up four, what happens to Turner and Meeks, does Hawes remain the starting center? Like a number of posters, I wonder whether Young could play the three. Would a starting five of Holiday (6:4) and Turner (6:6) as combo guards, Young (6:8) at the three, Brand (6:9) at the four, and X (6:10+ by the trade of Iguodala) at center be the best team the Sixers could start, with Meeks, Williams,and Hawes off the bench for instant offense?— chuckw
- @ chuck..Instant offense = instant oatmeal. It's Hot except i don't believe in hawes like i don't believe in organized religion. Katz are saying "well he's only 23", so is bow-wow and that kid stinks. I noticed people make excuses for who they want to make excuses for. If hawes wanted to remain on this team, i'd say look son, you need to lower that $4.whatever to $2.7M. I don't see how ppl say hawes has potential but but a glass ceiling over iggy's. I'm not the biggest Ai9 fan but fair is fair. If anything, hawes was in the same draft as young and taken higher and in the west. If anything going up constantly against, duncan,gasol,yao,& caveman should have made him more competitive on the boards and with blocks. But maybe i'm thinking logically which is the opposite of mgmt.- shrugs-— Mack of the Pack
- All of the position talk is just crazy to me. Because we all these guy should be on the floor more. Thad is a 3 or 4 or whatever he needs to be on the floor. Is Turner a 2 or 3 or even a 1 he has to be on the floor. Basically fellas this means someone and we all know who needs to go. Whether you like Kaman or Bynum or my suggestion some bench help, he has to go.
- i think turner is a 1. the problem? he cant defend the position. the problem at the 2.. he cant catch and shoot. the problem at the 3 he's too short and below the rim. He needs to become a nba athlete. not a ymca athlete. he's a very good point guard though. but jrue's a good one also. and written in pen. his only hope is to beat jodie. j.r. smith is what we want turner to become.. he's 25. and unrestricted.. i have an idea... LETS STOP WAITING! WISHING! KILL THE LEARNING CURB! AND GET SMITH IN HERE! lou or turner noc for smith. I say take the kid at 16.. rodman and longley. shaq and horry. duncan and robinson. thorpe and dream. HIGH SKILL! AND ATHLETIC INTENSE REBOUNDERS.... total opposites with one common denominator. 7ft. kaman... would byombo be available at 16? varejao? or cleveland could just TAKE THE SALARY.. would they do it? im goin in circles. kaman and aminu would be enough for me. for 9 and hawes... sorry. hawes would be a very nice backup for 4mil... to deandre jordan.— combocancer1975
- YMCA? Combo you just gonna diss the guy like that. I think we fall in love with flashy players. Turner didn't have to catch and shoot. I think he can learn and be enough of a threat to make people respect him. Turner will give you assists. Turner will rebound the ball. I guarantee Turner will have a better year than JR Smith next season. (per minutes played) Besides JR Smith is disrespectful we don't need a player like that. And there is no one at 16 that are as good as any of the players you mentioned. Otis Thorpe would be a top five pick in this draft. Take a look at the eruo projects available none of them will give us the toughness we need.
- Mack: Right now, all Hawes can contribute is a 15-18 foot jumper from around the arc, which he showed on occasion, but not consistently. Williams and Meeks would be instant offense and if Hawes is hot, would also contribute offensively. Apparently, he is better at knowing where to be on the floor offensively than Speights, who brings the same skillset. I would think that one or the other will get traded, but not both, unless the Sixers trade for a big and draft another big. To give some posters their due, bigs take longer to develop, and he is only 23 and the son of a coach. Key is whether Collins likes him or not. I still like bringing in Ryan Howard to add some muscle unless he starts to hit more consistently on what is becoming the worst offense in the National League. Knowing Stefanski he will get confused and think he is bringing in Dwight.— chuckw
- Bismack Biyombo! Smack is seriously phenomenal and exactly what we need. This kid will be a star. Crazy raw...but he will be atleast a Serge Ibaka type if not more with a lot of coaching. trade, sell whatever it takes to get this guy. http://www.nbadraft.net/players/bismack-biyombo— murdock101
- @BigVil: it was his sophomore season, and I'd bet my GI Bill that a healthy Lewis would f*** Young's world up in the post any game of the season. And you imply I'm being idealistic, but isn't that how your supposed to strategize, and prepare for worst case scenario? To be the best, you gotta beat the best, that's why everyone's all hyped about size, because of the Celtics and Lakers. And because of PG's like Ty Lawson, that some believe Turner's better off not guarding PG's, even though there'll be PG's like Calderon, Billups, Arenas, and Chalmers that Turner could absolutely rape.— BlackFeet01
- You're right. Second season... But what are you saying Young could get off against Lewis in the post?
Always prepare for the worst.
Ty Lawson would be ate up against our guards. He is fast, that's an understatement. But like John Cheney would say speed kills. I love our guards. It going to come down to match ups. But I'm not going to get hung up on the positions. I think there be times when Jrue is on the floor with Turner and Evan will be the primary ball handler. There will be times when it is Jrue running the show. It's the versatility and they way compliment each other that will make this group special. Is Jrue going to have to work on his playmaking? Of course. Is Turner going to have to work on him game without the ball? Of course. Is Meeks going to have to work on him ball handling and driving? If he is still here yes. But this is the beauty of it all. These guys are good right now. I don't know them personally, but they seem like good guys that want to be better. But to lay out a scenario... Say they play Denver. Jrue or Turner will post up Lawson at will. Would Lawson get the best of them on the other end maybe, maybe not.
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.
