No. 24 – Philadelphia 76ers:
Zachary Padmore: Matisse Thybulle. (Washington)
“Matisse Thybulle will get a lot of looks from teams picking late in the first round, simply because he is arguably the best perimeter defender in this draft class. He has quick hands and long arms, which helps him pick up steals and block shots and be a pest for opposing players.
He’s not the best three-point shooter, but he has shown some promise in that area. He’s also a good athlete, so he’ll be able to finish in transition around the rim. Philadelphia is in for a huge off-season, so picking up a guy like Thybulle who can come in and play right away could be beneficial moving forward, especially if the Sixers lose some key free agents.”
Giovanni Spillman: Chuma Okeke. (Auburn)
“The 76ers currently have a stacked starting lineup, and it was unfortunate for them to lose the way that they did in Game 7 against Toronto. Maybe they could get a little luck to go their way by selecting Chuma Okeke.
He’s a physical prospect that plays the forward position well, and I see serving the 76ers’ bench unit well. It’s unclear how Philadelphia’s starting unit will look next season, so I think Okeke would be a great insurance option, replacing a key bench player if they join the starting unit.
He averaged 12 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals for Auburn last season. His abilities on defense were a major reason as to why Auburn made it to the Final Four before he got injured. I like this selection for Philly, and I think it would tremendously boost their defense off the bench.”