P.J. Hairston, a UNC alum, could be a late-round steal for the Sixers in June’s draft. Credit: Getty Images
Although the Sixers’ first round selections (No. 3 and No. 10) are much more advertised for the upcoming 2014 NBA Draft, the team also owns the No. 32, 39, 47, 52 and 54 picks of the second round on draft night.
Here’s a look at a few of the prospects that could fall to the Sixers in the second round on draft night.
P.J. Hairston, SG, Texas Legends (D-League)
At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds Hairston has the size you want in an NBA 2-guard, but a bad rap sheet has experts shying away from the idea of teams going out on a limb to take Hairston.
He averaged 21.8 points and 3.5 assists in the D-League with the Legends after being dismissed from the University of North Carolina in connection with marijuana possession.
He averaged 14.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in his sophomore year at UNC before his dismissal.
Walter Tavares C, International
It’s unknown how healthy Nerlens Noel will be to start the season next year and it’s equally as unknown how many minutes he’ll be able to contribute per night.
Bring in the Spanish League’s Walter Tavares — a 7-foot-3, 265 pounder with a defensive prowess — and the Sixers could have themselves a serviceable backup coming in the second round.
He’s developed into one of the top rebounders and shot blockers in the Spanish ACB.
Damien Inglis SF, International
At nearly 6-foot-9, 240 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he has extremely good size for an NBA wing.
He’s only 18 and is said to have tremendous defensive potential, capable of guarding the 2-3-4 positions like former Sixers wing Andre Iguodala.
He isn’t close to Iguodala in terms of basketball IQ or passing instincts, but he has the potential to grow into a similar defensive force with the right coaching.
76ers best second round picks
Second rounders have been big contributors in the past for the Sixers. Here are the four most memorable.
1973: Round 2 Pick 22: George McGinnis
He won two ABA titles with the Pacers before joining the Sixers. He went on to be a three-time NBA All-Star and average over 20 points per game in the NBA and ABA.
1975: Round 2 Pick 23: World B. Free
He is another career 20 point per game scorer and was an All-Star in 1980.
1978: Round 2 Pick 26: Maurice Cheeks
Cheeks is one of the best Philly point guards of all time and also served as head coach of the team from 2005-2008. He is an NBA champion (1983 Sixers) four-time All-Star and four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team.
2005: Round 2 Pick 15: Louis Williams
In the 2011 Eastern Conference playoffs, Williams hit the go-ahead three to beat the Miami Heat in Game 4, though the Sixers went on to lose the series. The next season, Williams led the Sixers with 14.9 points per game and came in second in votes for Sixth Man of the Year.
