The Sixers got lucky Tuesday night when they beat the odds to land the No. 2 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
The Sixers moved up from sixth to second in the lottery.
The Washington Wizards landed the top pick moving from fifth position. They will likely pick between a pair of underclassman, Kentucky’s John Wall and Ohio State’s Evan Turner, with the Sixers left with whomever the Wizards don’t pick.
The Sixers could really use an all-around player like Turner. The 6-foot-7 swing guard was the National Player of the Year last season while averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and six assists per game with the Buckeyes.
Wall is widely considered to be the top pick. The Sixers already have a point guard of the future in Jrue Holiday so they wouldn't need Wall as much as Turner.
Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski talked to reporters about specific players and wouldn't rule out the Sixers taking anyone from Wall to Turner to Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors.
"When you get the No. 2 pick you have to pick the best available players," Stefanski said.
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Likely that player will be Turner. The 76ers' GM raved about Turner's abilities and college accomplishments.
The big loser in the draft seems to be the New Jersey Nets who will pick third after posting the worst record in the NBA.
The NBA Draft is June 24 in New York.
The 76ers have a mixed bag of picking second in the Draft. The last time the Sixers picked No. 2 they grabbed Keith Van Horn then traded him to the Nets in 1997. They also drafted Shawn Bradley No. 2 overall in 1993 in what was largely considered a terrible pick.
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