NBA Draft 2011: 6 Second-Round Steals to Propel Philadelphia 76ers into Playoffs
Despite making the playoffs three times in the past four years, the Philadelphia 76ers are still a few players away from challenging the elite teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
With the 76ers right up against the salary cap, they'll likely need to find the players they need through the draft. While it's nearly a given that they'll go with an interior player with their first-round pick (No. 16 overall), they'll have a number of different options when they make their selection in the second round.
By making the right call with their second pick (No. 50 overall), they'll have yet another player to add to a rotation that notched an impressive 41 wins last season.
A .500 record won't satisfy Doug Collins in 2011-12, and neither will a first-round loss in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Here is a look at six players the 76ers could draft in the second round that may help them avoid another five-game exit.
1) Andrew Goudelock, PG, College of Charleston
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If the recent pre-draft combine is any indication, Andrew Goudelock would be a solid option off of the bench for the 76ers.
Goudelock, a 6'2" point guard from the College of Charleston, was impressive in Chicago, going 19-for-25 from behind the NBA three-point line during shooting drills. He also excelled during April's Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, shooting over 59 percent from beyond the arc.
Goudelock is best playing off of the ball, but his size limits him to the lead guard position in the NBA. While his lack of speed at the point is a concern (both offensively and defensively), there's always a spot in the league for a player who can consistently knock down a 23-footer.
Drafting Goudelock would not only give Philadelphia a consistent outside threat, but he fills a need at the backup lead guard spot. With Jrue Holiday the only true point guard on the roster, Goudelock could quickly carve out a niche with the 76ers' second unit.
2) JaJuan Johnson, PF, Purdue
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Originally slotted as a mid-to-late first-round pick, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson may still find himself on the board when the 76ers make their second-round selection.
Johnson is solid offensive threat, and his impressive wingspan (7-2, according to pre-draft measurements) allows him to be a disruptive force on the defensive end.
The major knock on Johnson is his weight or, more specifically, his inability to add it. At 6'10", he plays at only 220 pounds, and struggled to bulk up from that number while at Purdue.
With his difficulty keeping muscle on during the college season, it's unlikely that he could maintain it through an 82-game NBA season.
With his height and skill set, he projects to the 4 position at the next level. However, as a power forward, he would be giving up 40-plus pounds to opposing big men every night.
Even so, Johnson would be an intriguing option in the second round. If he could add 15 pounds to his frame (and keep it), he may very well be the steal of the entire draft.
3) Jeremy Tyler, PF, International
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Power forward Jeremy Tyler did Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings one better, choosing to leave the States after his junior year in high school in order to hone his talents (and get paid) for two seasons overseas.
By all accounts, his debut season in the Israeli league was an unmitigated disaster, and he left Maccabi Haifa after just 10 games.
Playing in the Japanese professional league this season for the Tokyo Apache, the 6'11" Tyler averaged 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game.
A few days shy of 20 years old, he's still understandably raw, especially since he hasn't played against top-flight competition as a professional. But many observers feel that with the right coach, he has the physical gifts needed in order to blossom into a star.
4) Shelvin Mack, PG, Butler
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Butler's Shelvin Mack has the skills of a combo guard, but will likely man the point in the NBA. But that's not to say that his scoring ability is all for naught, however.
For the Bulldogs this past season, Mack was second on the team in scoring with 16 points per game, and his knack for putting the ball in the basket (aided by his well-stocked offensive arsenal) will likely lead to him getting serious consideration in the back end of this year's draft.
With the loss of Gordon Hayward to the NBA, defenses were allowed to key on Mack this past season, and his shooting percentage dipped by nearly five full percentage points.
He rewrote the story on his shooter at the Chicago pre-draft combine, where he hit 17 of his 25 NBA-range three-pointers, and he was one of the best scorers in the building, regardless of position.
As a 6'2" point guard who can knock down an open jumper, Mack is just the type of player Doug Collins dreams about (other than a defensive-minded power forward, of course). If he's still on the board when the 76ers pick at No. 50, they'll think long and hard before passing on him. And with good reason.
5) Keith Benson, PF/C, Oakland
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The 76ers were one of the worst shot-blocking teams in the NBA last season. Keith Benson could change all of that immediately.
While playing for the unheralded Oakland Golden Grizzlies, Benson was one of the premier defensive talents in all of college basketball last season, averaging 3.6 blocks per game.
That skill, paired with his burgeoning offensive game (17.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG in 2010-11), makes Benson a prospect that the 76ers are definitely coveting with their second-round pick.
The questions surrounding Benson have to do with the talent that he faced while playing in the Summit League. No matter how impressive they may be, double-doubles against Centenary and Southern Utah don't move the meter for NBA scouts, so Benson is going to have to shine on the pre-draft workout circuit.
While Benson and Purdue's JaJuan Johnson have similar builds, the belief is that Benson will be able to keep the weight on during a six-month NBA campaign.
Much like with Johnson, an extra 15-20 pounds on Benson's frame would make him a force to be reckoned with around the basket in the NBA.
6) Jordan Williams, PF, Maryland
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Ask five different people where Jordan Williams is likely to go in the draft, and you'll get five different answers. The one thing they'll all agree on is that Williams would have been better served by spending another year in College Park working on his game.
Then again, he did average a double-double last season in the ACC (16.9 points, 11.8 rebounds), and that's usually enough of a resume builder for a player to enter the NBA Draft early, as Williams did after his sophomore season. However, his low-post game still needs some work, and isn't exceptionally long for a player of his size.
One thing Williams does bring is the ability to bang, something the 76ers are lacking outside of Elton Brand. In fact, the two of them share a similar build, and Williams could grow immensely as an NBA power forward with Brand serving as a de facto mentor.
Since the end of the regular season, Williams has dropped a few pounds and is looking more athletic than he ever did for the Terrapins. Once his body and his basketball IQ catch up to his motor and rebounding ability, Williams could be a problem for opposing power forwards for years to come.
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