Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) reacts after making a basket against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers have the 36th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Here's a look at some possible selections they could take with the pick.
The Philadelphia 76ers made some strides in the 2016-17 season. Team executives believe they're ready to evolve a bit out of "The Process" and with that comes predicting who they will select with the 36th selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Sixers have a couple of roster needs, even with forward Ben Simmons joining the fray next season. They need a viable backup guard who can possibly play both the point and off-guard.
While it could be a lot to ask of a rookie, expectations are running high after team executives saw Dario Saric's emergence as a valuable sixth man. Saric was the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft before making his rookie debut this past season.
The Sixers could draft another wing scorer and defender to complement Joel Embiid's paint-protecting ability. They lacked a ball-dominant player who could get them points in the paint when Embiid was out with injury. They could also fill that need with the 36th selection in the NBA Draft.
Team officials could even take a chance and ship their second round pick along with center Jahlil Okafor for something more. As the youngest team in the NBA, they could trade Okafor for a veteran in the locker room.
After all, the Sixers still seem solely invested in shooting guard Jerryd Bayless, at least for another year. Bayless played in just three games a season ago. Here's a look at five options the Philadelphia 76ers have with the 36th pick in the NBA Draft.
Feb 25, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) goes to the basket against New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
5. Trade it with Okafor
The Philadelphia 76ers aren't too far off from being a decent team. They have some solid pieces and depending on who they select with third overall pick in the first round goes, their 36th pick could be trade bait for another NBA team.
It's no secret team executives have fallen out of love with center Jahlil Okafor. He was acquired in the 2015 NBA Draft as the third overall pick. Okafor hasn't played too poorly offensively; it's his defense that has the team up in arms.
The Sixers were unable to trade Okafor after trade talks fell apart with the Chicago Bulls before the trade deadline. However, if placed in the right situation, Okafor could still be a valuable player on an NBA roster.
Packaging the 36th pick in a well-rounded draft class like this could prove to be a formidable choice for the Sixers. They are a team in need of some veteran help, and will be getting a lot younger after this year's NBA Draft. The Sixers could choose to trade their pick to a team without a pick, such as the Memphis Grizzlies or Los Angeles Clippers, both teams who need to add some new blood to their roster.
Mar 9, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) shoots as Iowa State Cyclones guard Nazareth Mitrou-Long (15) looks on in the first half during the Big 12 Championship Tournament at Sprint Center. Iowa State won 92-83. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
4. Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys point guard Jawun Evans would be a steal for the Philadelphia 76ers if he fell this far in the NBA Draft. Evans is one of the more underrated prospects in this class, partly due to his height.
He is listed at 6'1″, but makes up for his lack of height in a variety of ways. Following the mold of Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, Evans is a player looking to show small guards are making a comeback in the league.
He would give the Sixers a solid backup point guard threat and a great option in the pick-and-roll if still available. The possibilities he can create with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid on the floor potentially could have scouts salivating.
Evans averaged 19.2 points, 6.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in his sophomore season for the Cowboys. He led the Big 12 Conference in assists per game and was second in points per game. He shot 43.8 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from three-point range.
One big aspect of his game that improved in 2016-2017 was his defense and ball distribution. He finished with 57 steals (finished with 25 in 2015-16) and 204 assists (108 in 2015-16).
Evans also does a good job getting to the free throw line. He was second in the conference last season in free throws made (155) and finished shooting 81.1 percent from the stripe.
Evans is a guard with confidence and leadership ability. Look for him as a possible option for the Sixers in the second round.
Mar 1, 2017; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) goes in for the dunk during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
3. Jaron Blossomgame, SF, Clemson
The Philadelphia 76ers could take a chance on a guard with their third overall pick in the NBA Draft. If that happens, Clemson forward Jaron Blossomgame serves as a viable option on the wing.
Blossomgame could bring back memories of the Sixers' former 2014 second round pick K.J. McDaniels (32nd overall), who is currently a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
DraftExpress ranks Blossomgame as the 49th-best player in this draft class, but that isn't such a bad thing from the Sixers' point of view. Blossomgame has size and athleticism that allows him to get to the rim with relative ease. He also isn't afraid to protect the rim on defense.
The senior forward put up 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block over the South Carolina Gamecocks in a 62-60 win back on Dec. 21. He also put up 27 points, three rebounds, three blocks and four steals in a 83-74 victory over High Point University.
Blossomgame is a 6'7″ forward who could develop into a valuable option for the Sixers at the wing position. He'll need to show teams he can knock down the three consistently, but there's time as draft workouts approach.
Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Frank Jackson (15) drives to the basket against South Carolina Gamecocks guard PJ Dozier (15) in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
2. Frank Jackson, PG/SG, Duke
Guard Frank Jackson is another one of those one-and-done players the Duke Blue Devils are producing to even out the landscape. He joins forwards Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles as early entrants in this year's draft class.
Jackson fared pretty well in his lone season as a Blue Devil in 2016-17. He averaged 10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game as a freshman for the Blue Devils, who went 28-9. They lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Despite Duke's early exit, Jackson still managed to produce reasonable numbers throughout the season. He shot 39.2 percent from three and 47.3 from the floor, showing his ability to score at an efficient rate.
Jackson scored 20 points in the team's 79-72 ACC Conference Tournament victory over the Clemson Tigers back on March 8. He made seven of his 10 shots and went 2-for-2 from three-point range.
The Blue Devils went 4-1 in game's Jackson made three three-pointers or more last season. Three-point shooting and combo guard skills are a need in Philadelphia. If other options aren't available, Jackson has the pedigree of a guard with superstar potential.
Philadelphia 76ers
Mar 17, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) and South Carolina Gamecocks forward Chris Silva (30) celebrate during the second half against the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
1. Sindarius Thornwell, SG, South Carolina
Sindarius Thornwell is a prospect who the Philadelphia 76ers would welcome with open arms if he were selected with the 36th selection in the NBA Draft. Thornwell made vast improvements in his final season with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
He has the versatility and toughness the Sixers' front office would love at 6'5″ and 215 pounds. One thing that stands out is Thornwell's improved three-point shooting ability.
He averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game to earn SEC Player of the Year honors in 2016-17. The Gamecocks' 26-11 record and unforeseen run to the NCAA Final Four were largely due to the contributions of Thornwell.
Thornwell shot 39.5 percent from the three-point line, a career-high and 44.5 from the field — also a career-high. He showed his growth this past season in the NCAA, emerging as a leader on a tough South Carolina team.
The senior combo-guard scored 44 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in a quadruple-overtime loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide 90-86. Although his team lost, Thornwell still showed why teams would love to have his competitive edge.
Backing up Ben Simmons and/or playing next to him is one idea that remains on the table, especially if Jerryd Bayless doesn't work out.
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