Philadelphia 76ers: 5 options for pick No. 24 in 2019 NBA Draft
By Derek Hryn
The Philadelphia 76ers hold pick No. 24 in the 2019 NBA Draft. Barring any unforeseen trades, here are five suitable candidates for the first-round selection.
Despite a longer wait than the Philadelphia 76ers organization is used to, there will be no shortage of options in a deep draft pool.
When the lottery gods fail, a front office’s plans quickly become more elaborate. For the Sixers, and general manager Elton Brand in his offseason debut, the 2019 NBA Draft will simply be what they make it.
While it would surprise no one if the Sixers decide to trade their first round pick next month, considering the four others awaiting them in the second round, it could very well be wise to pull the trigger sooner rather than later. In a fruitful medley of prospects such as this, lottery-caliber names could trickle further down the board, but holding five overall draft spots doesn’t mean the Sixers will have five players hoisting jerseys at the podium after June 20.
This year, the aim should be different. The Sixers should consider investing in an individual who is capable of a contributing role out of the gate. (No more redshirting assets, please. This is not college). Back-to-back, 50-plus win seasons signify Philly’s seasonal prolonging tactic is vain and superfluous.
It’s clear that a dearth of bench reliability varying from position to position was one of the main causes for this team’s demise in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The NBA Draft is retrospectively the most advantageous way to amend that. One more move, pick, or trade could be the difference in being “playoff contender” and “title contender.”
The Sixers are simply a playoff contender for the moment. Nothing more, nothing less. This is due to some of the noteworthy gaffes the front office has made in recent years. Superstars are mostly in place and have a few loyal, complementary veterans. One more young addition could be all that is necessary during a summer where free agency is the surefire priority.
But who should be the lone target?
Certainly, this won’t be the most entertaining draft in Sixers history. Yet, it could be argued they’ve had better long-term luck in the later segments than in the lottery, anyway. Landry Shamet and Shake Milton are the latest examples (and, well, Markelle Fultz).
Shamet was snagged at No. 26 last year, and though his tenure was short in Philadelphia, the pivotal Tobias Harris trade deadline acquisition from the Los Angeles Clippers likely doesn’t happen without him. Then there’s Milton, taken with pick No. 54, who ascended to the Sixers’ bench rotation by the end of the regular season, perhaps securing a standard contract in the forthcoming months.
Zhaire Smith fell off the board before both players at No. 16, and is slated to become a significant part of the rotation in 2019-20, where his potential as an athletic two-way wing should begin to unfold — thus minimizing the need to continue stockpiling rookie contracts.
Sure, making a first selection on the cusp of the second round can be about as mundane as it gets. A decision swayed by gut instinct can always have its doubts, but not if it’s made judiciously. Moreover, realizing in February that your team walked away with a diamond in the rough can more than make up for any draft night melancholy.
Taking a lesson from last year’s successful batch of draftees, the Sixers should once again embrace their unfortunate, fortunate opportunities. Bearing all of this in mind, here are five potential options the organization should keep firmly under its hat over the next month.
Honorable Mentions: Daniel Gafford, Tyler Herro, Mfiondu Kabengele