Sixers draft Evan Turner
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Sixers draft Evan Turner
There was a brief, inexplicable moment about a week ago, when something called a “splash page” appeared on the 76ers’ website. It wasn’t supposed to be there. But there it was. The page, which appeared for just a few seconds, identified Evan Turner as the Sixers’ choice with the No. 2 pick in tonight’s draft.
Never mind that similar pages had been prepared for several prospective candidates, and that the correct one, whoever it was, wasn’t supposed to see the light of day until the Sixers actually made their pick.
Turner’s, though, was the one that blinked at the public.
Well, it’s for real now. The Sixers have officially made Turner, the Ohio State guard, their choice. This was the only team for which Turner worked out, passing up an opportunity to work out for the Washington Wizards, who used the No. 1 overall pick to take Kentucky guard John Wall.
“It’s kind of hit me, but it’s still unreal,” Turner told the Columbus Dispatch on Wednesday night in New York, awaiting tonight’s selection. “I mean, I understand what’s about to happen, but just walking the streets and people going crazy for you, that’s a little different. But it’s what you work for.”
He also said, “some people scream out ‘Philly.’ Some people scream out my name.”
The Dispatch reported that Turner already has purchased a house for his mother, Iris James, and a Range Rover for himself. Asked how he could pay for these things before being drafted and signed, he said, “They know I’m good for it.”
Turner, who stands 6-5 3/4 barefoot and 6-7 in sneakers, averaged 20.4 points as a junior, then declared for early eligibility in the draft. He finished with a career scoring average of 15.0, shooting 50.2 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from three-point distance. He led the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding (9.2) and was second in assists (6.0) and steals (1.7). He was the national player of the year according to various outlets, including being the winner of the John Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson Trophy.
Turner, who played both backcourt positions at Ohio State, is expected to step into a Sixers backcourt with second-year man Jrue Holiday, backed by Lou Williams and either second-year man Jodie Meeks or veteran Willie Green.
Before tonight, the Sixers very carefully declined to name their pick. But coach Doug Collins did tell Turner “If you’re passionate and competitive, these fans will love you.”
Collins was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 draft, coming to the Sixers.
“I came in here after a 9-73 season,” he recalled. “Four years later, I was playing Portland in a world championship, [and that’s] how quickly things change.”
As for making a choice at No. 2, Collins said, “we’re looking for someone capable of starting and ready to produce.”
That would be Turner, who amassed 1,517 points in his three college seasons, adding in 414 assists and 159 steals.
-- Phil Jasner
Philadelphia Daily News
Tonka is just an idiot. Johnson is 23 years old and wasn't a consistently dominant scorer in college last year. Nice kid, but he's already hit his ceiling. Our boy Evan Turner, HOWEVER, all he did was win every player of the year award available and singlehandedly won games time and time again for a big time college program. This stupid notion of "he lacks NBA athleticism" is the dumbest argument I've ever heard. Time and again it has been proven that if a guy has at least one above average skill in college it WILL translate. Turner can score. Period. He can do what nobody else on this team can - hit an 18-20 foot jumper reliably and consistently. I can't wait to see how he and Holiday develop. Should be able to push the pace and get out and run (which will hopefully help Iguodala and Young as well). Tonka/whatsthe411....do us all a favor and stop interjecting - all you do is prove your ignorance.— thomaspfoolery- At what pick did Whiteside, the Philly.com expert posters(Zeru, combocancer, et.al.) favorite go? I must have missed it, LOL.— goeagles87
- The beginning of a new era! Evan Turner will put us back on the NBA map and is the centerpiece of the rebuilding project. But I was hoping that we'd trade into the second round and take advantage of all the talent that was there.— NBAdraftRoom.com
- Great pick Ed and Doug. This is the best Sixers move since Malone was acquired from Houston in 1982 and Barkley was drafted in 1984 -- can finally enjoy Sixers basketball again.— marknewberger
- tonka, what kid from syracuse, andy rautins? either somehow become knowledgeable in sports or troll elsewhere clown— NovaNation1024
- we got a winner in town,doug collins will have a high energy team in the playoffs next season,in the finals within 3 seasons..wolf.— wolf 4
- @T_DARB_56 LAST I CHECKED THE MAGIC WENT TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR NOTHING LMAO— beezy
whiteside dropped yeah. but you cant ridicule until after the season. He probably wont do anything buried behin thompson cousins and sam. hopefully he's traded.— combocancer1975- hey everyone who thought this is a good pick: Doesn't this guarantee us mediocrity for the next 7 years? What is easier to trade for, a big man or a guard? If we take the headcase and have a bad year next year too, doesn't that make it better in the long run, easier to trade for a guard and a better chance to go up against Howard in 3 - 5 years? An analyst said this puts them at 35 wins next year and that would be "a success". Wonderful.— justacarpenter
- Sacramento is stockpiling big men: Dalembert, Cousins, Whiteside, Jason Thompson. Hard to imagine the Kings keeping them all.
- Turner will be a good solid player in the league, but nothing to write home about. He's not all that quick a foot. There were guys drafted lower who would've been way more useful to the sixers. The sixers desperately need a center--a banger who can rebound. Cousins was there. Or they could've gone with the more athletic Syracuse guy. The sixers really have nothing much to work with. They will be hurting for rebounders. Brand is finished. Speights has lost his way. Hawes is already a proven bust. A couple of obsolete so so small forwards. Sixers are going nowhere.— Throwback
- Pleased that Sixers drafted a BASKETBALL PLAYER not another ATHLETE. Turner may never be an All-Star where others from this draft might, but he should be a very good NBA player for 10 years. Remember Larry Bird was a BASKETBALL PLAYER not an ATHLETE.— JBP
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- Whatsthe411 - "...everything I've read..."??? Have you watched this kid play?? Did you see the Big 10 Tournament?? This kid is sweet!! Turner isn't gonna be LeBron or Kobe but so what?? Neither is anyone else in the '10 draft!!! He'll be better than Wall - in October and for the next 10 years. And he is better than anyone else in last night's draft too!!! GOOD PICK, Ed!!— golpher300
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.
