Could Arizona's Stanley Johnson be in mix for Sixers?
CHICAGO - Stanley Johnson was asked a simple question and responded with an eyebrow-rising answer. "Why should an NBA team draft you?" the former Arizona forward was asked at the NBA draft combine.
CHICAGO - Stanley Johnson was asked a simple question and responded with an eyebrow-rising answer.
"Why should an NBA team draft you?" the former Arizona forward was asked at the NBA draft combine.
"Because I'm the best player in the draft," Johnson responded matter-of-factly. He has been projected to go anywhere from fifth to 10th in the June 25 draft.
The Sixers apparently are doing their due diligence on the confident 6-foot-7, 242-pounder just in case he becomes an option on draft night. They interviewed him Thursday night, one of their 18 interviewees at the NBA combine.
The Sixers are guaranteed a top-six pick after finishing with the league's third-worst record (18-64). They have a 15.6 percent chance to get the top overall pick. And the Sixers could land two more second first-round picks: They have a 17 percent chance to nab the Los Angeles Lakers' protected top-five pick and a 9 percent chance to get the Miami Heat's top-10-protected selection.
"They're a winning franchise," Johnson said of the Sixers. "They told me the facts about how much they've won thus far [in franchise history] and the players that they've had and what they are trying to do . . .
"They are trying to make players get the work ethic part down and that's what I'm about, so [the interview] was awesome."
The 19-year-old averaged a team-leading 13.8 points to go with 6.5 rebounds in his lone season at Arizona. He was named the Pac-12 freshman of the year and helped lead the Wildcats to their second straight Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Phila. ties
Chester native Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a 6-7 small forward who was an Arizona teammate of Johnson's, is projected to be a mid- to late first-round pick.
"I see myself making a good impact not just on the court, but in the lives of the players," he said at the combine. "You know, just making them feel comfortable. Nobody wants to come in and see a knucklehead no matter if you are drafted top five or top 30."
Hollis-Jefferson competed in Thursday's drills but did not play in the five-on-five scrimmages. Former Academy of New Church and Syracuse standout Rakeem Christmas did and excelled.
The post player had a game-high 20 points and six rebounds.
Embiid in the house
Sixers rookie center Joel Embiid is part of the Sixers contingent at the draft combine. The 7-footer even took part in some of the player interviews.
"I saw him in the hotel lobby prior to the interview," said former Texas center Myles Turner, who interviewed with the Sixers. "Seeing him in there was kind of funny. He's a cool dude. He was my host when I [visited] Kansas."
Embiid's first question to Turner in the interview was: "Why didn't you go to Kansas?"
Lucky charm?
Nerlens Noel will be the Sixers' onstage representative at Tuesday's NBA draft lottery.
"It's a true honor and I'm ecstatic to see how things play out with our plethora of picks," said the power forward, who finished third in the rookie-of-the year voting. "I think it is a big day for all of us."
Somerdale native Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Hornets) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) are other notable players who will represent their teams at the draft lottery.
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