The 2020 NBA draft is now eight days away and now is the time for the final preparation on things to get ready for the day. For the Philadelphia 76ers, that means anything and everything is on the table in order to improve the roster.
The Sixers will enter this draft with the 21st pick in Round 1 they received from the Oklahoma City Thunder, but there is no guarantee they make that selection. New president Daryl Morey is one who is known for making bold moves and the possibility of trading their first-round pick is on the table.
In a new mock draft performed by The Athletic’s John Hollinger, he has the Sixers selecting North Carolina guard Cole Anthony, but he also has a mention that the pick is being included in trade talks.
Hollinger on the Sixers’ draft situation:
Anthony’s stock is definitely sinking, but at this point in the draft it might be an overreaction. He can create shots and is a pretty decent shooter from distance, two things that are in extremely short supply in Philly. The Sixers are in win-now mode, and Anthony might be able to give them bench scoring immediately. Also, analytics models that weigh AAU production would likely show Anthony as undervalued at this point.
This pick is also very much for sale if it returns the right player, but even if it moves I could see another team grabbing the value proposition on Anthony at 21.
In order for the Sixers to make any type of big move when it comes to their big contracts like Tobias Harris or Al Horford, they will definitely have to include the first-round pick to move the deal. That is why there is no guarantee that this pick gets made by Philadelphia.
In terms of Anthony as a player, he does bring a lot of what the Sixers need. He is a good perimeter scorer, he can shoot it from deep, he is a solid ball-handler, and he is also a guy who can get after it on defense. He would be a solid addition to this team right now. [lawrence-related id=38958,38962,38956]