The NBA is resuming as they will send 22 teams to Orlando and finish up the 2019-20 season after suspending operations on March 11 due to COVID-19. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of those 22 teams as they will be sent down there to the league’s “bubble site” and chase a championship that they so desperately crave.
There are still eight other teams who won’t be able to head to Orlando and get in on the fun, but what if each of those eight teams could send a player to one of the 22 teams still playing?
The Athletic put together a sort of “mock draft” as a way to keep the other eight teams involved with the season. Each of the remaining 22 teams playing would pick a player off one of the teams not playing in a “draft” order. The Sixers had the 11th pick and they selected Minnesota Timberwolves point guard D’Angelo Russell.
The Athletic’s James Edwards on Russell:
The 76ers could use a creator at guard, one who can play in the pick-and-roll and off the ball. Russell, who is also the best player still on the board, is an easy pick.
Russell would be a very nice addition to this Sixers squad. As a guy who can create off the dribble for himself and his teammates, he would fit right in next to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Coach Brett Brown has been finding ways to move Simmons off the ball effectively and Russell would be somebody who can come in right away and make that idea happen.
On top of that, he is shooting 36.7% from deep this season split between the Golden State Warriors and the Timberwolves and he is averaging 23.1 points. If the Sixers could have a guy like him on their roster for this playoff run, it would be one perfect addition. [lawrence-related id=32874,32861,32853]