The 2020 NBA Draft is roughly three months away and that means the Philadelphia 76ers will have some decisions to make despite having to first focus on the season resuming in Orlando on August 1 for them.
They currently possess the 22nd pick in the draft, but that can change if the Oklahoma City Thunder happen to lose too many games in Orlando. If they do happen to be able to keep the pick, they are going to have to get ready in an unusual draft process.
In the latest mock draft by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, he has the Sixers selecting Arizona prospect Josh Green who offers a 3-and-D option for the team.
Vecenie on Green for the Sixers:
The 76ers could use depth in the backcourt, or more options on the wing from a 3-and-D perspective. Really above all, they just need shooters and perimeter players they can trust. I’m not quite sure I totally trust Green on the shooting front, but he’s an absolutely high-level defensive prospect that at least has the potential to shoot the ball at some point if he can work through some mechanical tweaks.
Coaches in the Pac-12 were immediate fans of Green due to the effort and intensity that he plays with on defense. He’s an elite on-ball defender already, and generally is pretty active off-ball. And at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, mixed with the kind of intensity and motor that Australians have been come to be known by on the basketball court, it’s expected those skills will translate well to the next level. Ultimately though, it comes down to what you think of the jumper. Green hit 36 percent from distance on over 100 attempts from 3 last season, but his mechanics aren’t particularly strong and will take some real work. There is a slight hitch and an unnatural elbow bend that it would be beneficial for him to work through from a consistency perspective. Still, with Josh Richardson set to hit free agency in 2021, the team could use even further true wing options, especially given the depth of the guard class later in the 30s.
Philadelphia could absolutely use a shooter in this upcoming draft and that is something that Sixers Wire has discussed when it comes to this team’s specific needs in this upcoming draft. If Philadelphia is fortunate enough to be able to have this pick, they should definitely look into whatever shooter is available at that spot. [lawrence-related id=34673,34662,34653]