RECAP: Long Night For Sixers Results In 7 New Players
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) -- The Sixers entered the NBA Draft with a league leading seven picks and the team walked away with seven new players. Not all of the newest Sixers will be on next season's roster, nor will they all play in the first game. However, the team amassed a haul of new pieces and some future draft picks that have to have Sam Hinkie and Brett Brown happy.
Despite the rumors that the team was looking to get to number one, the Sixers stood firm at three and selected Kansas center Joel Embiid with the pick. Embiid will more than likely not be ready for opening night as he rehabs from foot surgery. The Sixers will have the task of trying to mesh him with Nerlens Noel.
The Sixers then drafted Elfrid Payton at 10, but dealt his rights to the Orlando Magic for Dario Saric, a future second round pick and a future first round pick. Saric has a contract with a Turkish team, but he did attend the draft and seemed excited to be picked by Philadelphia.
The Sixers went into the second round with five picks and came out of it with five new players. The team took small forward and defensive specialist K.J. McDaniels at 32. McDaniels won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award last season and will add freakish athleticism to the Sixers frontcourt. The Sixers added more athleticism by taking Syracuse power forward Jerami Grant at 39. Grant and McDaniels add depth to a Sixers frontcourt that was clamoring for it.
The Sixers then took Russ Smith out of Louisville, but traded his rights to the New Orleans Pelicans for Pierre Jackson. Backup point guard was a need for the Sixers and Jackson will slot in behind Michael Carter-Williams. His scoring ability was on full display in the D-League a year ago where he had a league record 58-points in a single game.
The team used their final two picks to select some more foreign born players to presumably stash away for the future. The Sixers selected Serbian players Vasilije Micić and Nemanja Dangubic.
With the Summer League just around the corner, the Sixers have some intriguing prospects to put on the floor with Nerlens Noel. The team also has players in Embiid and Saric who may not make an impact right away, but who could come together soon to be a solid core for Brett Brown and the Sixers.
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