Sixers should think small in draft

THE NEEDS are multiple, as they usually are for a team that finishes a season with just 34 wins. The pickings in tonight's NBA draft are slim. Considered one of the weaker drafts in quite some time, there will be no quick fixes, or perhaps much long-term help (let alone immediate help) for the 76ers, who will make their first of three selections at No. 11.

Let's take a look at the current roster and see the areas in which the Sixers especially need improvement.

In point guard Jrue Holiday, the Sixers have someone they can build with - not around, but with. At just 22, Holiday was an All-Star last season and averaged 8.0 assists on a team in which he was the leading scorer and didn't have many offensive weapons to share the ball. He sorely needs to improve his decision-making, which will help cut down on his turnovers. But he is your starting point guard and should see about 35-38 minutes a game. The problem is, there is no one on the roster now to back him up, so that is a priority.

As for shooting guard, there is not a person on the roster right now who can fill that area, either as a starter or backup. Jason Richardson probably is out for the season after major knee surgery. Damien Wilkins was the starting "two" guard for the most of the last half of the season for the Sixers, but he's an unrestricted free agent and, if you're looking to improve, is he who you want there? The Sixers will need not one but a few capable shooters, if not through the draft then by free agency.

Can't break this down to forwards and centers because there are so many players here who are playing out of position or have to be able to play two spots.

For now, Evan Turner is probably your starter at small forward. This will be a huge season for him. Will he prosper under a new coaching regime? Will he find his niche in this league? Will he learn to take the ball strong to the basket, resulting in more trips to the free-throw line? This is probably his make-or-break year in Philly. His inconsistency shooting the ball won't allow him to be a "two." I've heard all the arguments from people that he should be handling the ball more, but he can't do it. If you truly watch him when he's handling the ball, you'll cringe at the number of bad decisions he makes.

Thaddeus Young bulked up - as advised - and was the Sixers' most consistent player last season. He still was grossly outmuscled on many nights but made up for it with his endless supply of energy. If he could consistently hit the midrange jumper, he could pose a serious matchup threat to teams at both the small and power forward spots. But putting on all that upper-body muscle didn't help his shot at all, as evident by his career-low 57.4 percent foul shooting. Though a tweener, he has to, and will, be on the court for 30 or so minutes a game.

Spencer Hawes was labeled a power forward before last season, and spent time there and at the center spot. He is what he is - a hybrid big man who is a good shooter, passer and ballhandler but limited in his big-man skills. Relying on him to be your pounding, starting center is a stretch.

Though he has shown signs at times of being a very good backup, Lavoy Allen's inconsistencies override his positives.

Arnett Moultrie is still an unknown, having shown a nice ability going after the ball on the offensive boards but not as much at the defensive end. If he gets a substantial number of minutes this season, it probably means the team is looking to the future.

Kwame Brown is the final player under contract for this season, but it would be surprising if he is back with the team. Some kind of agreement will probably be reached.

So, short of a legitimate power forward and forceful center, or a small forward who can shoot the ball consistently from the perimeter, the Sixers are pretty much set with their bigs.

The needs are plentiful, and it's hard to imagine many will be filled tonight.