Latest Mock Draft Gives Sixers Dream Scenario
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A guy can dream, can't he?
In the latest NBA mock draft on ESPN.com, Chad Ford projects the Sixers to get Andrew Wiggins with the third overall pick and then Julius Randle with the 10th overall pick. This would be a dream scenario for the Sixers and their fan base.
First, with Wiggins, the Sixers are getting the best overall talent in the draft. Specifically for the Sixers, Wiggins fits in right away as a 19-year-old 6'8" wing-guard, who can slash and dash and run all over the court. Adding Wiggins' 6'11" wing-span and 44-inch vertical jump to the Sixers 6'6" rookie of the year point guard in Michael Carter-Williams, creates a lengthy and frightening one-two back-court combo for the opposition.
Adding Julius Randle--who says his foot is fine--a 6'9", 250-pound true power-forward to the front-court with the 10th pick should be equally as appealing as Wiggins for the Sixers. Randle, 19, is a very explosive and skilled offensive talent already, a perfect compliment to the Sixers young defensive-oriented 6'11" center in Nerlens Noel.
While the Sixers currently have two young, long, athletic players in Carter-Williams and Noel, neither are above-average shooters nor particularly smooth offensively. On the other hand, both are excellent defenders and will do a lot of their scoring in transition. Adding two more young players in Wiggins and Randle--guys that have more polished offensive games and fill particular positions on the floor--would be ideal.
While this is all hypothetical until the draft actually takes place on June 26th, it's fun to speculate. Leaving Thaddeus Young out--who makes a little over $9 million the next two seasons and was rumored to have asked for a trade last December--here is what 80-percent of the Sixers starting five could look like if they end up landing Wiggins and Randle.
PG
Player: Michael Carter-Williams
Height: 6'6"
Wingspan: 6'7"
Age: turns 23 on October, 10th 2014
SG
Player: Andrew Wiggins
Height: 6'8"
Wingspan: 6'11"
Age: 19
SF
? (Ideally a pure shooter)
PF
Player: Julius Randle
Height: 6'9"
Wingspan: 6'11"
Age: turns 20 on November 29th, 2014
C
Player: Nerlens Noel
Height: 6'11"
Wingspan: 7'3"
Age: 20
Combined / Average
Players: MCW, Wiggins, Randle, and Noel
Height: 26'10" / 6'8"
Wingspan: 27'8" / 6'11"
Age: 80 / 20
Not sure how that compares to the rest of the NBA, but I'm going to guess, pretty darn good. A guy can dream.