Sixers' Bryan Colangelo open to trading the third pick

The 76ers worked out six prospects during Monday's predraft workout who could be second-round candidates or free-agent acquisitions.

However, their being at the team's practice facility was a sidebar. Most of the focus centered around the team's options with the third-overall pick in the June 22 NBA draft.

Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo hasn't ruled out trading the draft pick. He also revealed the team is considering six or seven players for the pick, assuming the team keeps the selection. And Colangelo added that the Sixers have already had private workouts and interviews with several top prospects at agent-run workouts on the road. He declined to disclose the names of those prospects.

However, you can get an idea of who he's talking about.

Of the projected top 10 picks, point guard Markelle Fultz (University of Washington) and Lonzo Ball (UCLA) are the only two that have declined workouts with the Sixers. Fultz is the presumed first overall pick. He'll only work out for the Boston Celtics, who have the top pick.

Meanwhile, Ball doesn't plan to work out for any team other than the Lakers. The Sixers are planning to meet with his representation to see if they can schedule a workout.

There's a good chance the Lakers will select Ball, a Southern California native, with the second pick.

"We're already scheduled, or have conducted workouts, with just about everybody else," Colangelo said of projected top draft picks.

Swingman Josh Jackson (Kansas), point guard De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky), small forward Jayson Tatum (Duke), shooting guard Malik Monk (Kentucky), forward Jonathan Isaac (Florida State), and point guard Dennis Smith (North Carolina State) are most of the players Colangelo is talking about. They are candidates to be taken by the Sixers.

"We have a choice of multiple wings that would address things with our team that we have said that we would like to address," said Colangelo, whose squad needs shooters who like to play defense, and use pace and space on offense.

"There are some guards that you have to look at that would dramatically improve our guard play."

The Sixers' approach could change if Los Angeles picks say, Jackson or Fox, instead of Ball. They would have to decide if the talented Ball, who comes with his outspoken father, LaVar, is a good fit. That's why the team wants to get a feel for Ball before the draft.

But . . .

"I think that should we move or if there's a transaction that comes out that gives us a chance to perhaps increase what impact No. 3 can have in terms of its return, I think we will look at it," Colangelo said of a potential trade. "There's some discussions that have been fairly interesting."

He added that the Sixers are not motivated to trade the No. 3 pick. However, teams explore all their options at this time of the year.

It will be interesting to see if the Sixers use any of their four second-round picks on one the players who worked out Monday.

Former Colorado combination guard Derrick White was the headliner of a group that included guards Isaiah Briscoe (Kentucky), Melo Trimble (Maryland) and Philly native Tahjere McCall (Tennessee State) and forwards Reggie Upshaw Jr. (Middle Tennessee State) and Tyler Cavanaugh (George Washington).

The Sixers had interviewed White at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in April. He's someone that is rising up the second-round draft charts after an impressive showing at the NBA Draft Combine in May.

In addition to the Sixers, White has worked out for the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks. He is scheduled to work out for the New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets among others.

Not bad for someone who played his first three seasons at Division II University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Standing just 6-foot-1 in high school, the Colorado native said he was overlooked by colleges. The first-team all-Pac-12 selection now stands 6-5.

"I think if you look at him, you look at the tools that he brings," said Marc Eversley, the Sixers vice president of player personnel. "He's very versatile, he's got a great handle, he's got terrific vision. He's a great passer. I think he can shoot with range. . . . And I think he's a very good defender."

White thinks he could be a defensive fit and someone to space the floor offensively for the Sixers.

Meanwhile, McCall displayed a lot of enthusiasm in the portion of the workout open to the media.

"You know, it's a dream," he said of working out for the Sixers. "I always see all the players - Rob Covington went to my school, so we're close friends. So being home and just seeing the nice facilities and getting to meet the coaches and stuff - it's awesome."

On Wednesday, former Oregon shooting guard Tyler Dorsey will be among the next group of prospects working out for the Sixers.