NBA Draft 2012: 5 Wise Options for the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 15

In this year's NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers can't afford to take a step back. In order to improve on a successful season, the Sixers must target safe role players who will be able to contribute from day one.

With pick No. 15 in the first round, the Sixers will have an opportunity to add a strong contributor, one who can make an instant impact for a club that is in win-now mode despite being one of the youngest teams in the NBA.

A team loaded with wing players, the Sixers will be searching for some stability in the frontcourt as well as some scoring options to contribute off the bench.

Here are five wise options for the Philadelphia 76ers at pick No. 15.

Dion Waiters

A Philadelphia product, Dion Waiters is the type of shooting guard that the Sixers have been searching for. Waiters is going to look for his shot often, but that doesn't mean that he won't be able to gel with Doug Collins' team-first style of play.

Waiters would also fit nicely with the Sixers because of his prowess on the defensive end. In his sophomore season at Syracuse, Waiters averaged nearly two steals per game.

Although he's undersized for a shooting guard (6'4''), Waiters could take the spot of current backup two-guard Jodie Meeks, who is a restricted free agent. While Waiters may not shoot the three as efficiently as Meeks, he's a much more complete scorer and can create his own shot, something Meeks has never been capable of doing.

Terrence Jones

Although he may not have a definitive position in the NBA, Kentucky's Terrence Jones is the perfect type of player for the 76ers.

Jones is a very aggressive player in the post, but he is also capable of pulling defenders out 18-20 feet from the rim.

What makes Jones so special is that his versatility allows him to play two positions, and his strength makes him effective at both.

Jones is a scrappy player who prides himself on playing strong defense. After averaging nearly two blocks per game in his sophomore season, Jones could be the physical presence down low that the Sixers desperately need.

With some improved moves down low on the blocks, Jones could become a very successful player at the professional level.

Moe Harkless

Like Terrence Jones, Moe Harkless has no definitive position. Although Harkless would add to the Sixers' hefty collection of wing players, he's a more natural scorer with the basketball than either Andre Iguodala or Thaddeus Young.

Harkless' jump shot could use some polishing, but it's developed enough that he shouldn't hesitate to shoot the ball inside of 18 feet.

In his lone season at St. John's, Harkless averaged 15.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in 36 minutes of work per night, a remarkable number of minutes for a freshman.

While he may not fit an immediate need, Harkless gives the Sixers some flexibility on the wing, especially if they decide to deal Iguodala for a veteran center or scorer.

Tyler Zeller

If Doug Collins wants to draft an immediate replacement for unrestricted free agent Spencer Hawes, Tyler Zeller is his guy.

Fresh off of four years at North Carolina, Zeller has good height at 7'0'' and possesses all of the fundamental attributes to be a quality NBA center.

Zeller is capable of playing with his back to the basket, a luxury the Sixers have not enjoyed for the last two seasons. Hawes was always more comfortable facing up and taking jumpers or penetrating off the dribble, skills that hindered the flow of the Sixers' offense.

Although the Sixers drafted center Nikola Vucevic with pick No. 16 a year ago, he's still a very raw prospect who's learning how to play at the professional level. With Zeller, the Sixers could plug in an NBA-ready center right away.

John Henson

A teammate of Zeller's at North Carolina, John Henson is the imposing force in the middle that the Sixers would ideally like to add. A proven shot-blocker with superb length, Henson is projected to be drafted somewhere in the lottery, but there's a chance he could fall to the Sixers at No. 15.

For Henson to fall to the Sixers, he would have to bypass teams like the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets.

Henson would be an ideal fit for the Sixers because of his ability to take on lengthy centers, especially in a conference where they have to face the likes of Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah.

The Sixers were dominated time and again by opposing centers, and Henson would be able to combat that problem with his stellar length and athleticism.

Henson is not quite as efficient as Zeller on the offensive end, but there is certainly room to improve. Henson possesses decent post moves, and if given significant minutes he could prove to be a double-double threat.