The playoffs spotlighted the Sixers’ glaring lack of two-way wings and bench scoring. Now that we know the team will have the 23rd overall pick in the NBA Draft on June 23, let’s look at five prospects who could be available in that range.
Christian Braun – 6-5 ½ wing, Kansas – 21 years old
Braun’s athleticism and defense were major factors in Kansas’ win over North Carolina in the national championship game.
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He blanketed UNC star guard Caleb Love in the second half and crashed the boards with relentless abandon, finishing with 12 rebounds from the wing spot.
Braun tested extremely well athletically at the NBA Draft Combine, recording a 40-inch vertical jump, and he projects as a deluxe glue guy who gets his points off threes (38.6 percent last season) and in transition. He’s also a capable passer who knows how to play in half-court offense. Braun plays with an edge the Sixers were sorely lacking in the playoffs. He’s the type of feisty player that opposing fans will despise by the end of a playoff series.
Dalen Terry – 6-6 guard, Arizona – 19 years old
Offensively, Terry was more of a playmaker than a scorer at Arizona, but his NBA calling card is going to be defense.
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A member of the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, Terry could be this year's Herb Jones — a switchable perimeter defender who brings enough to the table offensively to stay on the floor.
He’s both wildly athletic and a crafty passer, a combination you don’t usually see in a player his age. He shot 36.4 percent from three-point range as a sophomore last season, but rest assured, NBA defenses are going to dare him to make that shot. If he can, there’s a lot to like.
Jalen Williams – 6-6 wing, Santa Clara – 21 years old
Williams helped himself big-time at the NBA Draft Combine, playing well in 5-on-5 action and testing as an above-average athlete with a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
He can score at all three levels and is a solid passer with potential as a secondary playmaker. His shooting percentages were outstanding as a junior — 51.3 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from three and 80.9 percent on free throws. You can check out some YouTube clips of Williams abusing Chet Holmgren on multiple plays in West Coast Conference games last season to get an idea of his skill set.
There’s potential here as a two-way wing in the NBA, though Williams was more of an offensive player than a defensive player in college.
EJ Liddell – 6-5 ½ forward, Ohio State – 21 years old
Liddell is a bit of a tweener with a power forward’s build at only 6-5 ½,. He'll have to make it in the NBA as a Grant Williams type who plays strong on-ball defense, rebounds and can space the floor from the three-point line.
His motor defensively would be a major asset for the Sixers or any playoff team. Despite his lack of height, Liddell blocked 2.6 shots per game last season for the Buckeyes, in large part because he refuses to give up on a play. He also shows off the lateral quickness to switch on pick-and-roll actions, which is vital for any power forward in today’s NBA.
Liddell improved his three-point percentage in all three seasons at Ohio State, topping out as a 37.4 percent long-range shooter as a junior.
Kennedy Chandler — 5-11 1/2 guard, Tennessee — 19 years old
You might be surprised to see a small guard here, but Chandler could give the Sixers some serious juice off the bench with a combination of slashing ability, passing and three-point shooting.
He’s a Tyrese Maxey-style finisher in traffic and a better playmaker than anyone on the Sixers' second unit right now. He excels running the pick-and-roll and could find rim-runners like Paul Reed and Charles Bassey while also shooting well enough to punish teams like the Bucks who prefer to play drop coverage. He was a 37.2 percent three-point shooter in his lone college season.
He’s small and skinny, so there will be teams able to punish him in the post. But Chandler is a pesky defender, excellent at forcing steals with his 6-5 wingspan, and he’s an impressive athlete, leading everyone at the NBA Draft Combine with a 41.5-inch vertical jump.
Chandler could step right in as a backup point guard, and there’s potential to be a starting point guard down the road.