Will Sixers use No. 3 pick to take D'Angelo Russell?

NEW YORK - "There's been a lot of talk, but you never know what's going to happen. I don't know what they want. I know they need a wing, a guard or whatnot."

Those were the words of Ohio State product D'Angelo Russell last night following the NBA draft lottery at the Hilton Midtown Hotel in which the 76ers came away with the third overall pick. The Minnesota Timberwolves garnered the top pick while the Los Angeles Lakers got No. 2. The hometown Knicks fell to No. 4 with Orlando rounding out the top five.

It would seem to be a perfect fit if Russell falls to the Sixers. Should Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns go with the first two selections, as many believe they will, the 6-5, 193-pound Russell would be sitting there prime for the plucking for general manager Sam Hinkie and company on June 25. It would give coach Brett Brown a point guard to work with and another piece to add to what could be a formidable front line of Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel.

Russell is a terrific ballhandler, an above-average shooter who can create his own shot from outside and in and sees the floor extremely well.

Most would label the night a success for the Sixers, who could have fallen as low as the sixth spot, but it could have been better. The Sixers did not get their picks from Miami, which was top-10 protected (the Heat got the 10th pick) or the Lakers, which was top-five protected and nullified as LA got the second pick. Still, it was a good night for the team, and those picks will carry over to next year. The first-round breakdown is this for next year: The Sixers will have the Lakers pick, which is top-three protected; Miami's, which is top-10 protected; Oklahoma City's, which is top-15 protected; and their own selection.

"If I end up there, man, it would be a blessing," said Russell, who averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5 assists in his lone season with the Buckeyes. "I know I'm going to make the best out of the situation and I'm ready for it. Nerlens is my guy and Joel and I went to the same high school together [Montverde Academy in Florida] and we shared the same laughs . . . and being on the bench half of the time. It's good to be in the position that we're in right now.''

Whether Russell ultimately winds up in Philly won't be known until draft night. And with Hinkie's penchant for trading, no one can be sure.

"It will be interesting to see how it all plays out," Hinkie said. "I think it's too early to know. I think at this time of the year everyone gets wed to what one mock draft or another says and then over time that doesn't appear to be true very much. Let's sort of see how things go. Not only us, but I think the Timberwolves and the Lakers and the Knicks around us will do what we all do; they'll spend a lot of time trying to analyze the players that are likely to be available to them. That time might yield different results than what the prognosticators have laid out."

Noel represented the Sixers on the stage of 14 lottery teams and flashed open his sports jacket that revealed a white PHILA jersey on one side and a blue one on the other. Both had the number 15 (the year and not a tribute to Hal Greer).

Afterward, the improving big man gave his thoughts on what the third pick may mean.

"Obviously we're going to work it the best way we can with the best available player," Noel said before poo-pooing the idea that he may be traded at some point. "I'm focused on helping build this team on the right path, building the right culture and bringing in young guys so we can really make our way.

"I've gotten to know a couple of these young guys through this process all summer. Going back, I know Willie [Cauley-Stein] and I know Karl [both went to Kentucky, as did Noel] from last summer. I think this is a great crop of guys. I think they can come into the NBA and make a splash relatively sooner than later."

Funny to hear Noel, all of 21 just a month ago, talk about the young guys. But that's where the organization is right now, with him and other youngsters handed the roles of leaders.

"I think you can go back to midseason when you started to feel the excitement," said chief executive officer Scott O'Neil. "When you get to the point and weather the storm, you felt it in the office, with the people in the city. We all had a feeling and a sense that we're getting there and it's coming. I'm excited. Everything that Sam and Brett have talked about is in front of us. You see Embiid before games. Nerlens' rookie year. We have high lottery picks. We have [possible] four No. 1 picks next year and then [Dario] Saric coming back. So this is happening. I can feel the energy in the office, like during a big game. I can feel energy in the city. This is fun, and that's why I came here."

It may get a lot more fun in June, whether they land what may be the point guard of the future, or something else happens that allows them to corral either Towns or Okafor.

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