Sixerdelphia

2013 SIXERS DRAFT PREVIEW: BIG MEN

Figuring out what a team is going to do in an upcoming player draft is pretty much a crapshoot, regardless of the sport. Teams don't want to tip their hand to their rivals for fear of the possibility that rival will snatch up the pick that particular team coveted.

For a team that has been in as much flux as the Philadelphia 76ers have been for the past 8 months, it really becomes difficult to discern what they're thinking and what their philosophy is. The 76ers had traded for Andrew Bynum last year but he never set foot on the shiny hardwood of the Wells Fargo Center all year. Doug Collins resigned as coach at season's end. The Sixers did make one big move in May when they hired Sam Hinkie from Houston to be their general manager. Hinkie is basketball's counterpart to Billy Bean, a "sabermatrician" of sorts who leans heavily on statistical analysis to help improve decision-making. He is considered an expert in analytics, day-to-day management of basketball operations, the salary cap and scouting players, both college and professional. He was with the Houston Rockets for eight seasons, the last 4 of them as executive vice president of basketball operations.

I have no doubt that Hinkie has been hard at work analyzing the Sixers' current roster, team needs and what players are available in the upcoming draft. The problem is that the Sixers have a lot of needs. Based on articles from multiple sites, I am offering a preview of some of the players that the Sixers have their eye on as a potential first round draft pick this year. The NBA draft starts on June 27 and the Sixers drew the 11th pick in the lottery. Below, in no particular order, are some of the players that the Sixers have shown interest in the last 1-2 months:

Cody Zeller:

Zeller is a 7-foot, 230 pound power forward/center from Indiana. At the NBA draft combine, his test results were among the best: 2.69 seconds in the modified lane agility drill, 34.5 inches in the standing vertical leap and 3.15 seconds in the three-quarter-court sprint, which was the fastest among power forwards and centers. He is considered to have an excellent basketball IQ and runs the floor very well for someone his size. He is durable, having never missed game during his tenure at IU. He is unselfish and cares about the team, not accumulating individual stats. However, this is also viewed as somewhat of a weakness as Zeller is not considered a "fiery" personality and prefers to be one of the guys instead of "the guy". He would have to work on his defensive game because, in spite of his size, he is not a great shot-blocker and was intimidated by stronger opponents. However, I think that for a team like the Sixers, who pretty much have needs at every position, Zeller could be a great addition. As a rookie, he would be someone who would be willing to learn and pour himself into becoming a good player. Additionally, during the combine he demonstrated that he could shoot the jump shot, which apparently he wasn't given the freedom to do much at Indiana.

Mason Plumlee:

Plumlee is a 6'11, 238 pound power forward from Duke, who played 3 of his 4 years there with older brother Miles but is considered to be more talented. He is athletic around the basket, having averaged 10 rebounds per game his senior year. He is a great finisher and developed some post moves but is still considered to be somewhat robotic and stiff. However, he is great at crashing the boards and getting putbacks. He still needs to work on his defensive game—he averaged just over 1 block per game and one steal. However, he has continued to add bulk and strength during his offseasons while at Duke. It will be interesting to see if the Sixers think Plumlee could be a factor for them in the frontcourt.

Lucas Nogueira:

Nogueira is a 7'0, 230 pound center from Brazil who is considered somewhat raw but has lots of potential. For a large player, he has excellent footwork and is a solid rebounder. During the first day of Adidas' Eurocamp on June 8, 2013, Nogueira was clearly the standout star, scoring 13 points as well as blocking 4 shots and collecting 3 rebounds. He is felt to have a very high ceiling because of his athletic ability and had a solid season playing in the ACB, which is one of the top leagues in Europe. He showed progress in his defensive game as well as his mental maturation the past few years. As he is only 20 years old, he is still a work in progress but on a team like the Sixers, who will likely be building around their young core of Jrue Holliday and Thaddeus Young, Nogueira could be a great piece. Also, Sam Hinkie wants to bring in a young coach who is willing to grow with the team. Hinkie attended the Eurocamp and saw Nogueira's performance. He could be the sleeper pick of the first round.

Kelly Olynyk:

At 7'0, 238 pounds, Olynyk, who played for the Gonazaga Bulldogs for 3 seasons, has good skills in the post as well as being a very effective half-court player for a big man. He is not the most athletic player and lacks explosiveness but he has spent time developing his game and could be an asset for the Sixers. He is motivated and coachable and has a good work ethic, which has led to his improvement in his skills over the course of his career at Gonzaga. He was a very productive player as a junior, averaging 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists/game and 1.1 blocks/game. During the draft combine in Chicago in May, Olynyk stood out among centers for his ability to hit the jumper during shooting drills. He was named the West Coast Conference player of the year in helping to lead Gonzaga to a 16-0 record in the conference along with the school's 15th straight appearance in the NCAA tournament and its' first as a number 1 seed. If the Sixers decide to move on from Andrew Bynum, Olynyk could be a good choice as a big man as the Sixers look to rebuild.

Laurie Dougherty

REFERENCES:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1656185-top-nba-draft-options-for-philadelphia-76ers-to-get-it-right-with-no-11-pick http://www.nbadraft.net/players/cody-zeller

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/mason-plumlee http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22727&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=204812457&Q_SEASON=2012

http://nbadraft.net/players/lucas-nogueira http://nbadraft.net/adidas-eurocamp-day-1-recap

http://nbadraft.net/players/kelly-olynyk http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/46207/kelly-olynyk http://www.gozags.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=627536&SPID=90846&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26400&ATCLID=205173776&Q_SEASON=2012

http://www.gozags.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=627537&SPID=90846&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=207326244&DB_OEM_ID=26400

http://articles.philly.com/2013-05-21/sports/39421313_1_draft-combine-7-foot-olynyk-kelly-olynyk

Sixers "probably" make coaching decision after the Draft

     

    Photo: Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post

 The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last night that two sources close to new 76ers' president and general manager Sam Hinke anticipate that Hinkie "will probably find a coach after the draft." In addition, the sources also doubt that Hinkie will have any interest in George Karl as the Sixers' new head coach, saying that Hinkie will prefer a younger coach who can grow with the team that he inherits. The latter part of this report coincides with another report that came out yesterday that the Sixers have shown interest in Nuggets assistant coach Melvin Hunt and Heat assistant coach David Fizdale. 

    Hunt has been coaching in the NBA for over a decade, and he has spent time with the Rockets, Lakers, Cavaliers, and Nuggets. While in Cleveland, Hunt helped in developing the game a young LeBron James. Hunt was also a part of the coaching staff that led the Cavaliers to winning a franchise best 66 games in 2008. In Denver, Hunt has also shown the ability to blossom young players, as he has taken the responsibility of developing young international players like Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov. Hunt would be a great addition to the coaching staff because of this ability to coach and develop young players, but I'm not sure if he is ready to make the jump to a head coach quite yet. 

    Fizdale, on the other hand, is a much more attractive candidate for the head coaching position. He's been an assistant coach since 2003, having stints with the Warriors and the Hawks before joining the Heat in 2008, where he is also currently the Director of Player Development. As I've stated before, the Sixers need a coach who knows how to develop young players, so the fact that Fizdale holds this title in Miami makes him a very attractive candidate for the Sixers. The Sixers will most likely ask for permission to interview Fizdale once the NBA Finals have concluded.

    Now that Sixers fans know that they can stop holding their breath on the coaching decision, it is time to look forward to the Draft on June 27th. By waiting to choose a coach until after the Draft, Hinkie has pushed the weight of the decision on whom to draft onto his shoulders. This will be Hinkie's first official player personnel decision as the new GM of the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Follow me on Twitter @blairhopkins

 

Sixers Hold Pre-Draft Workout on Thursday

 

(Photo: AP/Chuck Burton)

  The 76ers hosted five prospects today in their latest pre-draft workout. They were: Norvel Pelle, Shabazz Muhammad, Kelly Olynik, Scott Wood, and Mason Plumlee. Most likely, out of these five, you recognize one name. Muhammad will probably go in the top 10, and my colleague Jovan Alford wrote a great piece evaluating him as a prospect. Olynik led his Gonzaga team to a number one seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, and I assessed his strengths and weaknesses here.  

Now let's talk about the others.

    Norvel Pelle (PF/C 6'10", 207)

    Peele is probably the most interesting prospect that the Sixers brought in today. He has never actually played a minute of college basketball, despite the fact that he originally intended to play basketball for St. John's when he came out of high school. He ended up being ruled ineligible in 2011; he then went on to Iona, but was ruled ineligible once again. So his last real basketball experience was at Los Angeles City Prep, his high school. He showed great athletic ability while being recruited out of high school, but his inexperience at the collegiate level has him projected to be drafted in the late second round, if at all. If the Sixers drafted Pelle with their last second round pick (#42), he would be a project, to say the least. He needs to bulk up his upper body in order to play power forward successfully in this league, and his offense away from the basket is very raw. He will have to blow away prospects in the pre-draft workouts in order to get drafted.

Scott Wood (SF 6'6", 169)

    Wood played his college ball for the North Carolina State Wolfpack. He averaged a career best 12.6 points per game this season, and shot the ball very well from deep (44%). However, Wood's game is very one-dimensional, as he lacks solid passing and rebounding skills. He is also a liability on defense, as his size would be taken advantage of by many NBA small forwards. The Sixers could look at Wood in the second round, but like Pelle, Wood will have to make a very strong impression on scouts in these pre-draft workouts in order for him to get drafted at all.

Mason Plumlee (C 6'11", 238) 

    Plumlee is a name you very well may have heard throughout this year's college basketball season. This year he was a leader of Duke's men's basketball team, averaging career highs in points (17.1), rebounds (10.0), and assists (1.9). Plumlee is expected to be a lottery pick, and there is a good possibility that he will be there for the Sixers at pick 11. The Sixers could use his offensive competence, as they lack a big man who can produce consistently at the center position. Plumlee needs to continue working on his outside shot, but his post offense and his ability to run a solid pick and roll could be utilized immediately. He can also provide a post presence for this team. He averaged 1.4 blocks per game last season, and he has proven that he can hold his own in the paint and on the block. I would be content with the Sixers choosing Plumlee, but there are other big men out there like Cody Zeller, or even Rudy Gobert, that have a higher upside than Plumlee does in this league. 

Follow me on Twitter @blairhopkins

 

Sixers Begin Pre-Draft Workouts

(Photo: USA Today Sports Images)

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers unofficially began their pre-draft workouts since the NBA Draft is only 22 days away. They are doing this without a head coach as the coaching search still continues for the team. According to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers brought in Louisville's Peyton Siva, Temple's Scootie Randall, and Kentucky's Archie Goodwin for an unannounced workout. 

Out of all these players, Peyton Siva is the most NBA ready and I could see him definitely being drafted in the second round by the Sixers since they do have two second round picks. If the Sixers do draft Siva in the second round he would be a great backup to all star point guard Jrue Holiday. Siva led the Louisville Cardinals to the Final Four two straight years, and then in April won the National Championship. This past season, Siva averaged 10.0 points and 5.7 assists per game. If you could get that from your backup point guard then you should win most games. 

Between Randall and Goodwin, Archie Goodwin has the biggest upside and could be a possibility for the Sixers if they want to go that route with their first round pick. But taking Goodwin would be a huge risk at No. 11 because he came out as a freshman and his game is really raw. You would be drafting more on potential than anything. Lastly, Randall could be an option in the second round since he is a local product and this past season at Temple as a fifth year senior he was pretty productive scoring 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Finally, the report also stated that the Sixers had Davidson's big Jake Cohen in for a closed session last week. Cohen is also a local product as he went to Conestoga High and is definitely an option in the second round. This past season as a senior, Cohen scored 14.9 and grabbed 5.3 per game and almost led the upset of No. 3 Marquette in the NCAA Tournament.

Follow me on twitter @Jovan10 for Sixers, College Basketball, NFL, MLB, and all sports updates.

 

Sixers Coaching Candidate: Larry Brown

 

  A report came out Tuesday evening that the Philadelphia 76ers have reached out to former Sixers head coach Larry Brown about their coaching vacancy. Brown coached the Sixers from 1997 until 2003, and during his tenure here he led the team to the NBA Finals in 2001, while also winning the NBA Coach of the Year award in the same season. Brown is currently the head coach for Southern Methodist University's men's basketball team and, while he states he is perfectly happy there, I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity to stroll the sidelines once more as the head coach of an NBA team. We all know of the success that Larry had with the Sixers in the past, but how would he fare with this current Sixer team? Let's get into the pros and cons of this coaching candidate.

    Pros:  Larry is known to be a great teacher of the game of basketball. He obviously has had his share of experience in the game, spending over 40 years of his life dedicated to either playing it or coaching it, so his knowledge would be invaluable for the young players on this team to be exposed to. I've stated in previous articles that the Sixers need a coach who has a proven track record in developing young players, and Brown fits the bill. When Allen Iverson won the Most Valuable Player award in 2001, he credited his development as an all-around player to Larry Brown, calling him "the best coach in the world".  Brown's ability to help players develop their skills would be extremely useful to this Sixers' young core of Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Thaddeus Young, as they each will need guidance in improving their respective games. 

    Cons: To state it bluntly, Larry Brown is old. He will be 73 years old by the time next season rolls around, and he hasn't stepped foot on an NBA court in two years. Brown is also known to flee any job at the first sign of trouble, and that is the last thing that this Sixers team needs. With a team going through so many changes within the past few years, from head coaches to general managers to owners, this team needs some well-deserved stability. The Sixers need a coach who is in it for the long haul. They need a coach who realizes that this team is a work in progress and not only accepts that fact, but is willing to take the time to work with the team and make it better. Brown has also been recently outspoken about his feelings for advanced analytics, and his views on this front would clash greatly with new GM Sam Hinkie's strong support for these same analytics. Along with these issues, Brown also has a history of being too harsh on his players (in particular the point guards). This could be extremely dangerous because, as we saw with Doug Collins this season, once a coach loses his team, they can become painfully hard to watch. 

    Larry Brown has had a long, decorated career in the game of basketball, but I do not believe he is the right fit for this young Sixers team. And, given his advanced age, Brown would most likely be more inclined to sign with a team closer to achieving championship status than this current Sixers team is. The NBA Draft is about three weeks away, so I assume the coaching search will be heating up within the upcoming weeks/days.

Follow me on Twitter @blairhopkins

2013 NBA Draft Player Profile: Rudy Gobert

  

    The Sixers are going into this month's NBA Draft with a definite need at the center position. Luckily for them, this year's draft class offers many solid prospects to choose from at this position. With the strong possibility of very promising center prospects like Nerlens Noel, Cody Zeller, and Alex Len all being taken within the top 10 picks, I decided to assess some sleeper prospects at the center position that the Sixers could go with at pick 11. One prospect that looks very promising to me is the 7'2" center from France, Rudy Gobert.

    Gobert has spent the past three years playing overseas professionally in the French League, but his production this past year led to the quick rise of his NBA Draft stock. Many draft experts believe that Gobert is the top international prospect in this year’s draft, as he produced career highs in nearly each major statistical category such as points (8.4), rebounds (5.4), and blocks (1.9). Although these stats may not seem impressive to the naked eye, if you put on the game tape, you can see that this guy makes an impact on the game in many different ways. First of all, as I mentioned earlier, the guy is a tower at 7'2", with a wingspan measured at a whopping 7'8". These measurements alone will allow Gobert to be a presence to be dealt with on the defensive end. However, with the lack of bulk in his upper body, he may have a hard time adjusting to the physicality of NBA basketball.  

    Gobert has shown his worth on the defensive end of the basketball court, impressing many NBA scouts at the 2012 adidas Eurocamp, and also averaging just under two blocks per game this season for the professional French team that he played for. With that being said, his offensive development will be a project. He is very coordinated; he runs the court very well, he has great rebounding instincts, and he catches just about any ball thrown to him. However, he lacks a mid-range jump shot and he struggles playing offense with his back to the basket. These skills may very well take a while to develop, but if he successfully improves his offensive game, he will be a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the basketball court. 

    I will be posting about more potential center prospects that the Sixers could choose with pick number 11 in the near future so stay tuned Sixerdelphia!

Follow me on Twitter @blairhopkins

 

2013 NBA Draft Player Profile: Shabazz Muhammad

 

(Photo: Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

One of the most controversial players in college basketball this season could be a Sixer with the 11th pick overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. The player that I am talking about is UCLA freshman shooting guard Shabazz Muhammad. Every day it seems like there is something new coming out about his life but that does not take away from his tremendous talent and skill. 

 

Before I talk about Muhammad's skills, let's get this straight he is 20 years old and not 19 as many people thought. Now Shabazz is a big guard coming in at 6-6 and 222 pounds. He is an athlete and could help the Sixers off the bench or maybe playing next to Jrue Holiday, who also went to UCLA. Muhammad is being compared to Michael Redd and MarShon Brooks; if the Sixers or any team can get that type of player out him then he will have a long successful career in the NBA. 

One thing that came to my mind when Shabazz Muhammad is being compared to Redd and Brooks is scorer and can put the ball in the basket, in which the Sixers need tons of help doing that. This past season as a freshman, Muhammad scored 17.9 points and grabbed 5.2 rebounds per game.

But the thing is with Muhammad coming out as a freshman his game is not totally developed yet. Meaning drafting him at 11 could be a huge risk for the Sixers or could be a huge reward if he pans out. The risks meaning that he will not play defense and if his shot is not falling he will zone out and have bad body language. The second risk definitely reminds me of current Sixers shooting guard Evan Turner.

Finally, if the Sixers do draft Muhammad with the 11th pick overall, he will not be rushed as the team already has an established backcourt in Holiday and Turner. So Muhammad can sit and learn behind this backcourt as he is more of a prospect than a NBA ready player. 

Follow me on twitter @Jovan10 for Sixers, College Basketball, NFL, MLB, and all sports updates.

For any questions contact me via email: jovan.alford@gmail.com.

2013 NBA Draft Player Profile: C.J. McCollum

(AP Photo)

Okay Sixers fans; let's begin the first of many player profiles as we are about a month away from the 2013 NBA Draft. The first player profile that I want to examine is a player that could definitely be sitting there at the taking when the Sixers make their selection with the 11th pick overall. The player that I am talking about is senior combo guard out of Lehigh University C.J. McCollum. 

McCollum is an interesting player that has skied up many peoples draft boards even though he missed majority of his senior year due to an injury. But we all remember his junior year, where in the NCAA Tournament his Lehigh University Mountain Hawks defeated the Duke Blue Devils. One of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history and he was apart of it. 

McCollum is a pretty big guard coming in at 6-3 and 197 pounds and is being compared to great guards such as Damian Lillard and Steph Curry. If McCollum falls to the Sixers and if he pans out to be like Lillard or Curry, then they have a good two guard to go with all star point guard Jrue Holiday.

With that being said, McCollum can score with the best of them! It has shown through his stats. As a freshman he averaged 19.1 points, then as a sophomore he averaged 21.8 points, then as a junior he averaged 21.9 points, and even though he only played 12 games his senior year, he still scored 23.9 points per game.

This is good to have in his arsenal since he is a seasoned guard staying all four years in school which is not normal but he did. The only weaknesses of his game is his defense and he is injury prone but other than that, McCollum is a great guard and the Sixers would be more than happy to have him wearing Sixers red. 

Follow me on twitter @Jovan10 for Sixers, College Basketball, NFL, MLB, and all sports updates.

Sixers Coaching Candidate: Brian Shaw

    Since Doug Collins decided to step down as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers over a month ago, there have been many names tossed around as to who will be his replacement. I wrote last week about the possibility of Houston Rockets' assistant coach Kelvin Sampson becoming the next Sixers head coach, but since then there has been little movement on the coaching front. However, there were some reports on Tuesday, the day of the NBA Draft Lottery, that the newly hired general manager of the Sixers, Sam Hinkie, missed the Draft Lottery in order to meet with head coaching candidate Brian Shaw. Shaw is currently the associate head coach of the Indiana Pacers and, if the rumors are true, this was a very smart move by Hinkie. Shaw is currently a hot commodity in the NBA, so finding time to talk to him may be at a premium, especially with his Pacers team currently battling the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

    Many people know Brian Shaw as the favorite to replace Phil Jackson as the Lakers' head coach when Jackson stepped down a few years ago. Although he did not get the job as the Lakers' coach (much to the displeasure of Lakers fans and Kobe Bryant), Shaw has continued to have success as a coach in the NBA. In 2011, he moved on from the Lakers to a young, talented Indiana Pacers team, where he became associate head coach. Since Shaw has been with the Pacers, they have improved their win total each year, and have surprised many people along the way. 

    Despite having no experience as a head coach in this league, Shaw has been mentored by legendary head coach Phil Jackson, and has mastered the complex Triangle Offense that Jackson wielded to perfection in Los Angeles and Chicago. Shaw is also known to be loved by his players. This would be a nice changeup for the Sixers players as there were many reports that the players were getting sick of Doug Collins and his philosophies. However, one trait that Collins and Shaw share is their passion for defense. Collins coached the Sixers to having an elite defense in each one of his years in Philadelphia. Shaw has also demanded dominant defense from his players, as the Pacers had the best perimeter defensive team in the league this year. 

    Brian Shaw, in my opinion, is the best option to fill the Sixers' coaching vacancy. He has had success as an assistant coach, he has been mentored by one of the best coaches in NBA history, he preaches defense, and players love him. One team will give Shaw his chance this summer, I just hope that team is our Philadelphia 76ers. 

With the 11th overall pick, the 76ers select...

   

The NBA Draft Lottery is over. While it was fun fantasizing for a few days about the possibility of the Sixers getting the top pick, reality has set in, and the Lottery has spoken. The Sixers will be picking 11th in this year's NBA Draft, which will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 27th at 7 o'clock. Despite the fact that this draft class lacks the star power of some of the drafts in the past, I can still see the Sixers picking a player at the 11 spot who can immediately contribute to the team. The Sixers have an obvious hole to fill in their frontcourt - the re-signing of Andrew Bynum seems more unlikely by the day, and the other options on their current roster for the center position are Spencer Hawes, Lavoy Allen, and Kwame Brown. None of the latter names that I mentioned will suffice if the Sixers are serious about building a contender. This draft class, however, has a few big men that could not only fall to the Sixers at 11, but also solve the issue that is presented in their frontcourt. 

Cody Zeller - Indiana (7'0, 240)  

  Zeller had the chance to enter last year's draft, but decided to return to the University of Indiana for his sophomore year. Zeller enjoyed a phenomenal sophomore campaign (16.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg), and burst onto the college basketball scene as arguably the best all-around center in the nation. He was a second team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, and a First Team Academic All-American. The guy has as high a basketball IQ as any other player in the draft, and has the talent to go with it. He is aggressive on the block as he uses his monstrous 7-foot height to his advantage. Many experts have also noted that Zeller was one of the best screen-and-roll big men in college basketball last season. This is what the Sixers could use. Watching Spencer Hawes give Jrue Holiday some of the worst screens this season that I have ever seen, I'm sure Cody Zeller would be a huge improvement and a much needed one as well. Jrue would be that much more dangerous if he had a big man who could free him up with a screen on a consistent basis. This would be a popular pick in Philly, if Zeller falls to the 7-6 at pick 11.

Alex Len - Maryland (7'1, 255)

    Despite a pedestrian 11.9 ppg and 7.8 rpg, Len has shown his worth on the big stage. When he played toe-to-toe against college basketball's most dominant center and most likely the number one pick in this year's NBA Draft, Nerlens Noel, Len showed up to play in a huge way. He scored 23 points to go along with 12 rebounds and 4 blocks, all while holding Noel to just 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Also, when Maryland upset then top ranked Duke, Len carried the team with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, as well as containing Duke's star center Mason Plumlee to just 4 points. Len has the potential to be dominant on both ends of the court. His 7'1 frame and his huge wingspan will benefit him whether he is on offense or defense. Offensively, he plays smart. He towers over most players, and has the vision to see open passing lanes when they present themselves. Len needs to work on his consistency however. As his numbers show, Len could be steaming hot in one game, and ice cold the next. Despite this factor, if Len falls to the Sixers at 11, he would be able to step in and fill their need at center immediately. 

Kelly Olynyk - Gonzaga (7'0, 238)

    Olynyk was the face of Gonzaga's top seeded men's basketball team this season, averaging 17.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, and 1.1 bpg. Olynyk was a First Team Academic All-American this season, and he led Gonzaga to the school's first 1-seed in school history. Olynyk is very quick on the offensive side of the floor, this created problems with many of his opponents this season. His footwork is superb, and he has a beautiful touch around the basket. However, his size lends him to be a liability on the defensive end of the floor. When going up against NBA centers, you need to be ready to play physical on a consistent basis. This was Olynyk's problem last season. When he had a physical advantage over his opponents, he would dominate, almost with ease. But he did not play with that same physicality at a consistent level. Olynyk could help the Sixers with his offensive game, but his defense will need some work. 

The center position is what the Sixers need to address on June 27th, and I am confident that one of these players will be there for them to take. Hopefully it's Zeller, but if not, there are many other big men for them to choose that could step in and have an immediate impact on the team. 

Follow me on Twitter @blairhopkins