Breaking Down Philadelphia 76ers' Best 2nd-Round Options in 2015 NBA Draft
The Philadelphia 76ers have been synonymous with asset management since Sam Hinkie took over as general manager in 2013, and this summer is a perfect example of why.
While the Sixers will make a lone selection in the first round of this month's draft at No. 3 overall, they have accrued five second-round picks—two of which they will make during the early stages of the draft's final stanza.
And despite crediting pick No. 33 to the Boston Celtics, the Sixers will still select 35th and 37th before going on the clock at No. 47, No. 58 and No. 60 overall. So with 16.7 percent of Round 2 controlled by Hinkie's army of mad scientists, Philadelphia should have plenty of opportunities to uncover diamonds in the rough once again.
Remember, the Sixers experienced some moderate success in that regard last year. They snagged K.J. McDaniels with the 32nd pick, and he proved to be a human highlight reel with a knack for swatting shots into the stratosphere before the team dealt him to the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline.
Jerami Grant—acquired at No. 39 overall—proved to be a developmental success during his rookie season, too. Over the course of 65 appearances (11 starts), Grant averaged 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes while hitting a total of 49 threes. Throughout two years at Syracuse, Grant made a total of six treys.
That's the kind of developmental platform the Sixers can offer incoming second-round picks.
So as we turn our attention to the 2015 draft, it's worth projecting obtainable Round 2 talents at picks 35 and 37 who could benefit from playing time in Philadelphia's developmental program.
Before we get started, here's a look at Bleacher Report NBA draft guru Jonathan Wasserman's latest big board:
Andrew Harrison, PG, Kentucky
Kentucky's Andrew Harrison projects as an early second-round selection, and he fits the mold of a guard with untapped potential whom the Sixers could help flourish with playing time at the next level.
While Harrison could be a redundant selection for Philadelphia if it settles on Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay with the third pick, the former Wildcat's size would afford him flexibility upon arrival.
At 6'6'' and 213 pounds, Harrison is big enough to guard both point and shooting guards, and he could even switch onto smaller 3s if necessary.
But right now, so much of Harrison's game is dependent upon physicality. The tape shows he's not very agile, and even when he can use a few dribbles to pick up momentum, he needs to employ crafty step-throughs or crossovers to get by opponents.
"His athleticism doesn't leap off the page, as he lacks great quickness or explosiveness, which really hampered his transition from the high school to the college game, particularly inside the paint," DraftExpress' Josh Riddell wrote.
To wit: Harrison shot a sub-optimal 53 percent at the rim last season, per Hoop-Math, which was the worst mark among any Kentucky player who attempted at least 200 total shots.
However, Harrison did shoot an improved 38.3 percent from distance, and that three-point proficiency could help buoy his success in the NBA.
"A lot of the point guards in the league now are shoot-first point guards," Harrison said, according to NBA.com's Taylor C. Snow. "Of course you’ve gotta make the open shots, so that’s what I’ve been working on; just being consistent on my NBA three."
There are still plenty of holes in Harrison's game that need to be patched up, but the 20-year-old has the makings of a player whose skills could be amplified by a forgiving system.
Jarell Martin, SF/PF, LSU
The Sixers love transforming athleticism into realized potential, so it stands to reason that Jarell Martin would be a great fit for their uptempo scheme.
A 6'9'', 239-pound physical specimen, Martin has the look of a tweener, meaning he's a tad big to play the 3 but a little undersized to take on opposing 4s. However, Grant entered last year's draft with the same label, and the Sixers turned him into a productive open-floor player who slowly and steadily honed his three-point stroke.
Martin could be a similar success story.
The LSU forward absolutely flies in transition for a guy his size, and he has a surprising ability to put the ball on the floor and use spins and straight-line drives to get to the rim.
But as Wasserman cautions, Martin's jumper is still a work in progress.
"He's a strong, above-the-rim athlete who can face up and attack," Wasserman wrote. "But he lacks a post game and threatening outside jumper."
On the bright side, the 21-year-old did shoot 33.3 percent from three during his freshman year in Baton Rouge before experiencing regression (26.9 percent) last season. But at least there's proof of concept when it comes to his jumper. Grant didn't even have that much when he came into the league.
If Martin puts in time with a shooting coach and refines his mechanics, he could wind up turning into a poor man's stretch 4 who can keep opponents guessing with explosive finishing ability around the cup.
Jordan Mickey, PF/C, LSU
It's an SEC extravaganza.
If the Sixers decide they want to fortify their frontcourt depth behind Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid with a bona fide shot-blocker, LSU's Jordan Mickey will do the trick.
No, Mickey isn't a legit 7-footer or even close to one. He measured just over 6'8'' in shoes at the NBA draft combine, according to DraftExpress, but a 7'3'' wingspan and 8'10'' standing reach are indicative of the pain he can inflict around the rim.
Better suited for the 4 than the 5 due to his size, Mickey led the NCAA with 3.6 blocks per game last year—up from 3.1 as a freshman. But he's hardly limited to shot swatting.
"In addition to his shot-blocking prowess, Mickey also does a nice job of containing smaller players on the perimeter thanks to his excellent lateral quickness, showing the potential to guard multiple positions," Riddell wrote for DraftExpress. "He is especially impressive in the pick-and-roll, where he can hedge out well beyond the three-point line and slide recover with great agility back into the paint."
With quick feet, Mickey is the sort of big man NBA teams are starting to covet. Since he can switch onto smaller players and hold his own, he can help the Sixers play a frenetic style of defense that allows them to switch all over the floor a la the Golden State Warriors.
Mickey's also not an offensive liability, evidenced by his ability to catch-and-shoot jumpers as far out as the free-throw line.
Michael Qualls, SG/SF, Arkansas
Let's round things out with a wing.
We've hit on hybrid options across the board, and Michael Qualls is an attainable solution capable of playing the 2 or 3 who is already on the Sixers' radar.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey, the Sixers have hosted Qualls for a workout, and the 6'6'' swingman has expressed interest in making the City of Brotherly Love his professional home.
"I feel like I can help right now," Qualls said, per Pompey. "I can be a force right away to help change that atmosphere and [turn] that program around."
And like so many of the Sixers' successful second-round picks during the Hinkie era, Qualls has the bounce and speed that translate well to an offense that operates with a quick-strike mindset.
"He can jump out of the gym, is one of the best dunkers in the game and is very long," CSNPhilly.com's Amy Fadool wrote. "He’s a tweener on size, but his athletic ability and tenacity puts him in the league."
As a junior, Qualls averaged 15.9 points on 43.6 percent shooting, including 33.3 percent from three. However, he's far from a finished product as a scorer, evidenced by his 28.6 percent conversion rate on two-point jumpers, according to Hoop-Math.
Qualls could be a stretch at No. 37 overall, but he checks all the boxes from a physical standpoint.
Alec Nathan covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @AlecBNathan.
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