Sixers expect a big man at 16th pick
Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski said yesterday that he loves having the 16th pick in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft, so much that it doesn't make sense to move up."We've explored it," Stefanski said. "But where we're sitting, at 16, we have a handful of guys that we think - one or two or three - could be on the board when we draft."
That's the advantage of coveting a big man in this year's draft, Stefanski said. Good power-forward prospects probably will be available at that pick.
"Most of the time, we just go for the best player available," Stefanski said. "Right now, the best player available for us, we feel, is going to be a big guy."
He said the team has seen most of the prospects at power forward. Kansas' Darrell Arthur and Rider's Jason Thompson will visit later this week.
Syracuse's Donte Greene, Nevada's JaVale McGee and Florida's Marreese Speights have already worked out for the team. The 76ers brass saw Ohio State center Kosta Koufos at a workout for the New Jersey Nets and watched Texas A&M's DeAndre Jordan in a private workout.
These players, Stefanski said, are the ones the team will target at 16.
"I'm not saying this kid is going to jump in and help you right away," he said. "I think there would be a consensus that the Sixers didn't think Thaddeus [Young] would come in and help right away [last season]."
Stefanski said the Sixers would have a little more than $11 million in cap room beginning on July 1. He said even if the team drafts a forward prospect, that doesn't preclude signing a free agent at that position, too.
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