With 2013 top selection Nerlens Noel sidelined for the season, it was up to Michael Carter-Williams to learn all he could in his rookie year at any expense. You probably learn a lot by going 19-63.
76ers have two chances to secure elite talent
The Sixers have the No. 3 and No. 10 selections in the 2014 NBA Draft and are looking to solidify their future. Will they find the right players to cement their rebuilding effort?
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The Sixers' 2013-14 campaign was marked not only by Carter-Williams' emergence, but by the hot play of Thaddeus Young as the trade deadline approached. It appeared for a while that Young was a prime candidate to be moved after he began scoring and rebounding like an animal come January and February. But at the deadline, the player that was moved from Philly was not Young, but a far less useful player -- guard Evan Turner. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft was swapped to Indiana for Danny Granger, who was waived by Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is in the middle of a rebuild, that's to be sure. But if Sam Hinkie can get a guaranteed star out of the 2014 NBA Draft with one of his two picks, he should be able to at least move the Sixers out of the dregs of the Eastern Conference in the next two seasons.
The assets
Picks: Nos. 3, 10, 32, 39, 47, 52, 54.
Free agents: Casper Ware
Cap space: $32.8 million
Depth chart
PG: Michael Carter-Williams, Casper Ware (UFA), Adonis Thomas
SG: James Anderson, Tony Wroten
SF: Hollis Thompson, Jason Richardson
PF: Thaddeus Young, Arnett Moultrie, Nerlens Noel
C: Henry Sims, Byron Mullens, Brandon Davis, Jarvis Varnado
Team needs
If the Sixers are set with Carter-Williams and Noel at their respective positions, the obvious choice is going to be at the 2 or the 3. Young is secured contractually through next season, but has an early termination option for 2015-16, so Philadelphia has some doubt there, as well.
Adding a second scorer and another rebounding post to slot next to Noel is probably the best way to improve over the next season. The Sixers could also use a defensive specialist on the wing, something they’d likely be hoping for in a big way should Wiggins fall to them at No. 3.
Three-point shooting was also a big concern for Philadelphia. Last season, it took the 13th-most threes out of any team in the NBA but was dead last in percentage. That should naturally open up with another scoring threat, but grabbing a shooter or two will be on the top of Hinkie’s list.
Targets
If the 76ers are willing to roll the dice on his health, Joel Embiid could join Noel in a frontcourt that would be absolutely terrifying for opposing guards, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds over those without the gift of wingspan. However, the rumor floating around lately is that the Sixers would prefer Wiggins. Hinkie may even want to trade up in the draft in order to get him, lest the Cavaliers or Bucks jump the gun. Dante Exum is also reportedly getting a serious look even though Carter-Williams is already there.
Of course, this could all just be a smokescreen. Remember last year when Rudy Gobert was skyrocketing up boards two weeks before the draft? He went No. 27 overall to the Jazz. In the top segment of the draft, the only thing the Sixers don't want to do is draft the dud.
With their second first-round pick, the 76ers may look for shooting in the form of Gary Harris or Nik Stauskas, but they can also gamble on the upside of Dario Saric or Zach LaVine. On a team as bad as Philadelphia, pretty much everyone is a target.
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