Brandon Apter (@bapter23), Managing Editor
Although the Sixers have been playing better as of late, the main focus of the team seems to be swinging more towards next season, when they could have an entirely different look. Currently, the Sixers starting lineup has been a combination of Ish Smith, Isaiah Canaan, Robert Covington, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor with both Jerami Grant and JaKarr Sampson also seeing time in the starting five. Next season, the team could have as many as four first round selections, Dario Saric and a healthy Joel Embiid. We will take a look at what the Sixers will do if Embiid makes a full recovery in a later post, but now we focus on the draft.
With the worst record in the NBA, 5-38, the Sixers currently own their first round pick, which is likely to be number one if things pan out well. In addition to that, they will receive Miami's first rounder, if they finish outside the top 10. The Heat (23-18) currently have the ninth best record in the league, so if the draft happened today, the Sixers would get that selection, which would likely end up being between picks 14 and 20. According to Basketball Reference's projected draft order, Miami has an 11.3 percent chance to land as high as 14 and a 10.7 percent chance of slipping down to the 20th spot. Moving along, the Sixers also have the Thunder's first round pick, which is top-15 protected. As of now, the Thunder (30-12) hold the third best record in the league behind the Warriors and Spurs, putting them late in the first round. Basketball Reference projects Oklahoma City's pick to fall at 27th (34.1%) or 28th (50.3%).
The Lakers hold the pick that could be the Sixers fourth first rounder, but unless they improve, Los Angeles will likely pick either second or third in this upcoming draft. The pick is top three protected in 2016 and 2017 and unprotected in 2018. The Lakers currently sit at 9-34, which is the second worst record in the league ahead of just one other team, the Sixers.
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As it looks now, it seems like the Sixers have a fairly good chance to get at least three out of the four potential first round picks, which could pay dividends if they want to move up or really draft some good depth in areas they need it, at guard. When it comes to the second round, the Sixers acquired Ish Smith for two second rounders, one in 2016 and one in 2017. Even with that trade, Philadelphia remains with the Nuggets second round pick this upcoming draft, which is projected to land around the 37th spot with Denver (16-25) holding the seventh worst record in the league.
It still may be a bit of a mystery as to why the Sixers didn't just keep Ish Smith, so they could hang on to another second round pick, but with the possibility of obtaining up to four first rounders, I'm not too sure that management is concerned with two second rounders over the next two drafts.
If the Sixers do end up with the first overall pick, you'd expect them to go with Ben Simmons, despite their surplus of big men on the roster. As for the other first round picks, we will go over some potential selections in the next couple of days. Basketball Reference gives the Sixers a 73.8 percent chance of winning the lottery as of today.
