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.
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
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Safe pick. Good player. no issues here. Please stop this brand at the 5 bull$hit. acknowledge the mistake and bench him. put the ball in his hands. turner 6'5" iguodala 6'6" thad 6'7" sp8ts 6'10" smith 6'10" both bigs can hit the j. leaving the lane wide open. jrue, green, nocioni, brand, hawes. NO LOG JAMS THERE!!! jrue is the back up pg. lou is looking like the odd man out. But I like lou. kapono and meeks. 13 and 14. leaving that last roster spot open for the mle.— combocancer1975
Phils have been exciting. So were the Flyers. Eagles should be good. Now I'm actually pumped for the Sixers!- Good selection Sixers. The beginning of a two or three year process to make the Sixers a very good team.— GOLDY2007
No hating on leeks, go ramps. Look it up.- Good start,, you gotta start somewhere,, we now have our backcourt of the future. Also, even though he is not MJ, Iggie is a pretty good 3. Now get us a great center and a Banger of a power forward(a Rambus,Iveroni type of player)and we can compete for the top spot in the East. May take a year or two but as I said, Good Start.— phillyroni
- Hey Birdman, why are you so interested in our city of losers. Where were you two years ago when the Phillies won the World Series? Why are fans like yourself so negative. The fans in Phoenix are the same way. Teams can't win all the time. By the way, Ryan Howard is not going anywhere. Sit back and relax. In a few years the Sixers will be good. Didn't the Flyers just play foe the Stanley Cup? Try living in San Fran or Detroit. How about Houston, Phoenix, Minnesota............— GOLDY2007
- @damobetta...Karl Malone did not have a jump shot (remeber when he tried one from 15 feet away game six at home against he bulls) and neither did Ewing. A jump shot (in my far from professional opinion) is someone who can pull up a shoot before they are set. Malone and Ewing were set up players. They needed to hold the ball and make a move first then maybe they could drain a 8 foot shot. The other I mentioned could drain a shoot from anywhere anytime they were open. But honestly basketball, particularly the NBA is at the bottom of my sports list. I still have it above MMA though— BentLogic
- Before we had the 2 pick people were saying we should take Hassan Whatshisname with the 6 pick and now that dude is still around. Funny— CBent1
- Tonka = Career failure in the present.
- really, an orlando magic fan? come on, at least ride the bandwagon of a team with some class or... maybe even uhhh heart. That magic team, other than jameer, are a bunch of gutless clowns. Sixers now have a true leader who will work hard and make big time shots, way to go!— jc2178
- Agreed damobetta. For someone to say that Karl Malone did not have a 'jumper', is the height of ignorance. It appears as if his logic isn't the only thing thats -bent-.— BennGleck:)
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- i like the pick but sure hope Cousins doesn't become the next Dwight Howard— Four4Four
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.
