Sixers head to NBA scouting combine
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Sixers head to NBA scouting combine
Bob Cooney
Sixers president Rod Thorn and coach Doug Collins are leading a small delegation of front office types in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine, which officially begins Thursday.
The Sixers have the 15th pick in the first round and Nos. 45 and 54 in Round 2.
The target area for the Sixers would seem to be in the middle as a big, strong athletic player in the paint appears to be first on their wish list, followed closely behind by a long wing who can shoot the ball. If the team does indeed lose Elton Brand via amnesty, perhaps the one of those areas can be addressed via free agency.
"With the 15th, 45th and 54th picks we're looking at the overall talent but we're also lookinkg at the specifics," Thorn said Wednesday from Chicago. "At 15 we've picked out 10 guys or so who may or may not be there. The great thing about being here is that somebody can really jump out that you weren't thinking of as highly. We've got to observe. We have 18 interviews scheduled (Wednesday through Friday) with players we have some interest in. Of all the things that are done in the postseason, this is where you get the most information and feel for the people you're interested in."
Some of the big men the Sixers could be looking at for the 15th pick may include North Carolina's John Henson, Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, North Carolina's Tyler Zeller, Illinois' Meyers Leonard and Baylor's Perry Jones.
More in Thursday's Daily News.
Royce White.— bearsfriend- The Sixers are in a very good position in this draft. After A.Davis, MKG, T.Robinson, Beal and possibly Drummond the next 10 to 13 players are all based on if you really like a kid. The Sixers also have been mentioned as a potential trade partner with the Warriors for the 7 pick and Iggy. GS is a very young team that would like to add another veteran to their starting lineup and already had interest in Iggy last year but fell thru while the Sixers were being sold. This will be interesting to say the least.— Facts before ignorance
- I think Sullinger will drop to 15— NYC - Philly
- Thorn is there observing. What a display of leadership. We can't be paying this guy enough!
— pedge - Thorn's going? Hope they have chicken nachos— OG
- Yes, Rod will be confused. Not over the 7/8 PFs that will go in the first round, or whether Terrence Ross, Doron Lamb, or John Jenkins is the shooter he needs...It's whether it's Deep Dish,the Italian Beef (please don't dunk the roll), or those silly hot dogs with the entire salad bar on them....Personally, it should be a juicy Rib Eye,as I hope he notices the corn fed beef raised in Minnesota, and cultivated in Iowa...Get Royce White! — bearsfriend
- I'm liking all the bigs from North Carolina.— blah
- So we want Thorn to do more than observe? Shall we have him run the combine? What scouts, coaches, and executives do is they observe and ask questions. Sheeeesh— tommazza
- I'd pass on Sullinger. People get too hyped up on undersized guys who play in big programs. Best case scenario he's Glen "Big Baby" Davis or Tyler Hansbrough a career backup. Worst case scenario he's Sean May. You're more likely to get an NBA shooter at 15 than an NBA low post scorer. PJIII has the most upside of this group, I'd pass on the rest.
— caught-u-sleepin - Sullinger has skills for the pick and pop and good footwork, but he's SLOW and can't get over a Saturday Daily News....Sound like anyone we know around here? — bearsfriend
- -cus:really good scenerios, by the way. — bearsfriend
- Sullinger won't drop that far. If you draft him, you're drafting him for rebounding anyway. Neither will Zeller.— HandNik
- sullinger might drop that far, im still hoping the sixers dont take him. im personally hoping for henson— HDemetriou
- Sullinger = Big Baby Davis
Tyler Zeller = Kosta Koufas
Meyers Leonard = Robin Lopez
John Henson = Samuel Dalembert
Arnett Moultrie = Brandon Bass— caught-u-sleepin - Sullinger's double is spot on. Sammy wishes he could stroke it like John Henson...don't know about that Tayshawn Prince body,though....Moultrie reminds me of Mo Speights, before cheesesteaks...Everybody likes Zeller, but nobody loves him (perfect for Milwaukee)...Meyers Leonard reminds me of a meaner Tim Mosgov that can run some. — bearsfriend
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
