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Philadelphia 76ers Keeping it Simple with Best Player Available Approach

By Jake Hyman

Sep 29, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie talks with reporters during media day at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie talks with reporters during media day at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s in a fan’s nature to hypothesize different scenarios that will benefit their team’s future. When it comes to supporters of the Philadelphia 76ers, that’s what they’ve been doing since the team entered phase one of “The Process.”

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Fans have trusted “The Process” and they’ve been rewarded. Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and Robert Covington are currently the youthful core that management expects to elevate the Sixers back to the elite in the East. Add the No. 3 pick to the fold and optimism is a bountiful theme.

Will it be D’Angelo Russell out of Ohio State? Do they go international, draft upside and select Emmanuel Mudiay? Can they shock everyone and trade down for more assets? All of these questions are reasonable propositions for a team as unpredictable as they come in sports.

However, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers seemingly will go BPA with their first pick:

"It’s hard to build around a cornerstone if you’re not completely certain he’s the cornerstone you want to build around. That’s the reason they’ll prefer best player available over need in the 2015 NBA Draft."

His reasoning is valid and follows recent trends from the organization. With a pick as high as No. 3, premier talent is certainly accessible.

Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell make up the top three prospects on universal big boards. Whether GM Sam Hinkie has his own list of the elite is anyone’s guess.

Minnesota is set on either Towns or Okafor after capturing the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. With their pressing need in the frontcourt, both would give the Wolves a franchise piece down low. The Lakers situation at No. 2 ties into what Philadelphia does with the following selection.

With Jordan Clarkson absolutely breaking out late in the season en route to a First-Team All-Rookie nod, point guard has become less of an issue than initially thought midway through the season.

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    • However, writing off the possibility of Mitch Kupchak taking a guy like Russell or Mudiay is closed-minded. The Lakers could cement their backcourt of the future with either player teaming with Clarkson and possibly a year of Kobe.

    Taking Russell, the Lakers would hijack the Sixers plans of taking the best PG on the board and open up a franchise-altering dilemma.  But the question remains if Russell is even viewed as Hinkie’s valued PG in this year’s draft.

    The Ohio State product is universally viewed as the premier floor general in this year’s class with Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman calling Russell the best point guard to come out since Kyrie Irving.

    Let’s say Minnesota goes with Towns and LA takes the Big Ten’s second leading scorer. Okafor would assume the best player available role at No. 3.

    Creating a logjam in the frontcourt, going in the BPA route, and selecting Okafor renders the organization with a franchise-altering dilemma. However, Mudiay could occupy the third slot if management believes he could inevitably reach the illustrious ceiling he’s touted to have.

    Mar 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Emmanuel Mudiay of Prime Prep Academy poses for a portrait. He is a finalist for the USA Today Player of the Year Award. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
    Mar 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Emmanuel Mudiay of Prime Prep Academy poses for a portrait. He is a finalist for the USA Today Player of the Year Award. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

    That’s the beauty of Pompey’s take. No one can gauge the order of Hinkie’s board. Going with a point guard over Okafor, the organization can eliminate the fan’s ire by acknowledging the talent and need both Mudiay and Russell provide. While differing opinions exist in the fan base, we’ll have a better understanding of the direction the team wants to go in after their first pick is made.

    It also seemingly eliminates the possibility of trading down and acquiring more assets. Going with the best player available approach, the team seemingly will stick at pick No. 3.

    In a simple yet appropriate direction, the Sixers will be sticking with their board. Whatever that elaborate list looks like is the question that alters the course of the franchise.

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