Players that Could Interest the Philadelphia 76ers to Trade into the Second Round
Could the 76ers trade into this year’s second round?? And for who??
The Philadelphia 76ers do not have a second-round pick in this year's NBA Draft due to tampering violations in free agency last summer. The 76ers also lost their first-round pick this year in the trade that brought James Harden to Philadelphia. However, there is still the opportunity for the 76res to trade back into the draft, perhaps in the second round, and get some young talent.
First, the 76ers need to get younger and bigger. If you take a glance at the 76ers' roster there are a plethora of NBA-seasoned veterans that the 76ers are hoping will lead them to a championship run this upcoming season. However, there is not enough young depth on this team which ultimately led to the Sixers' demise in the playoffs this season. Here are a few players that I believe can lead the Sixers not only off the bench this season, but into the future for seasons to come.
Emoni Bates, SG, Eastern Michigan 6’8” 179 pounds
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Bates is a player that I believe can make the switch to a small forward or power forward position. Or he can continue to be a 6’8” shooting guard that has a freakish height in the NBA for that position. According to CBS Sports, they have Bates listed as the 53rd-best prospect coming into this draft and there were reports a few months ago that the 76ers sent scouts to take a look at Bates. While he is skinny at 179 pounds for his height of 6’8” Bates could be a player that has potential upside. In CBS reports it says that Bates “is a big-time scorer who can create his shot with the dribble.” That feeds right into my point about an on-ball scorer, something that was lacking off the bench for the Sixers this past season. Bates would need to bulk up heading into this off-season.
Marcus Sasser, SG, Houston 6’1” 196 pounds
https://uhcougars.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/marcus-sasser/6992
Don’t let the size fool you with Marcus Sasser, he is a hungry-driven player that could be what the 76ers need off the bench. CBSsports rates Sasser as the 49th-best prospect coming into this year’s draft. Sasser was a leader this past year for Houston, has a good outside shot, and could be a solid defender for the 76ers' bench. The bench this past year for Philadelphia was again one of their biggest weaknesses. While Sasser may not last until late in the second round, some teams may feel that his height will be a reason to pass up on him. All the more reason for the 76ers to sneak in late in the second round and scoop him up.
Adama Sanogo, UConn, 6’7” 258 pounds
https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/adama-sanogo/12464
If you paid attention at all this year to March Madness you have heard of the name Adama Sanogo. You watched as he averaged 19.7 points per game (PPG) and 9.8 rebounds per game (RPG). You saw how Sanogo led the UConn Huskies to their sixth NCAA National Championship. Sanogo knows what it takes to win, and CBS Sports has him as the 47th prospect in this year’s draft. The 76ers new coach Nick Nurse took a similar size in Pascal Siakam and made him into an NBA All-Star. Could he do the same with Sanogo if provided the opportunity?
Drew Timme, Gonzaga, 6’10” 243 pounds
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Drew Timme is the 67th prospect in this year’s draft according to CBS Sports. Now this may not mean that he gets drafted at all and the 76ers can pick Timme up as an undrafted player. However, if Daryl Morey the 76ers President of Basketball Operations gets wind of a team looking to draft Timme, he may consider trading for the power forward. Timme right away would be one of the tallest players on the 76ers. Tied with Dewayne Dedmon, Drew Timme would be the second-tallest player on the team, behind Joel Embiid. Timme provides a good post presence in the paint. However, Timme is not one of the quickest players to come out of this year’s draft and will most likely start off in the G-League, but with enough time and patience, Timme could be a good forward off the bench.
