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Five Potential Sixers Prospects to Know With the 22nd Pick in the NBA Draft
By Sean Barnard
Published:
While Jared McCain is preparing for Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Philadelphia 76ers will attempt to salvage the trade with their work in the NBA Draft. After initially entering this offseason without a pick, the Sixers elected to pull the trigger at the deadline to send McCain away from the organization for the 2026 first-round pick via the Houston Rockets, and three future second-round picks.
Officially, the Sixers will be selecting 22nd in this year’s draft. This is a class of young talent that has a case for being one of the best classes in recent history, with several notable top-end talents and depth throughout. The landscape has shifted significantly in the NIL era, with some older players sticking around college longer and ready to make a more immediate impact as rookies. It has also become more common for players to pull their name out of the draft pool and return to school, with a few notable names that should have been on the Sixers’ radar electing to go this route.
But with the June 23rd NBA Draft date inching closer, here’s a look at five names that should be on the radar of Sixers’ fans as the pre-draft process begins to heat up.
Cameron Carr – Baylor – 6’5″ – G/F
The biggest concern about Cameron Carr is that he may have played himself out of the range where the Sixers could realistically have a chance to take him.
After spending two seasons at Tennessee, where he battled injuries and left under some strange circumstances, Carr transferred to Baylor, where he posted averages of 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. The 21-year-old measured in at just shy of 6-foot-5 at the NBA combine, but also boasts a wingspan over 7-feet and a freakish 8-foot-8 standing reach. He shot 37.4% from beyond the three-point arc this season on 6.1 attempts per game with a relatively quick release and some self-creation ability. Carr is a level of athlete that will continue to pop at the NBA level, and it feels as if the peak of his ability is still untapped. The Sixers got the right guy when drafting a Baylor guard last year. While Carr does not possess the advanced mindset for the game or the maturity of V.J. Edgecombe, there are flashes of play that can make you talk yourself into him becoming an NBA All-Star. He does a nice job of using his length on the defensive end, with 2.2 combined steals and blocks per game, and should be a high-level defender at the next level. Consistency is a concern, and his playmaking leaves a bit to be desired. But this is more of a star swing than tends to be possible in this range of the draft. Unfortunately, the consensus seems to be that he has climbed draft boards to a level that will not allow him to slip to 22. Carr made quite the statement at the NBA draft combine scrimmages, where he clearly looked like he did not belong alongside a bunch of young, talented players largely scrapping for a chance in the NBA.
Chris Cenac Jr. – Houston – 6’10”- F/C
My current leader in the clubhouse for the 22nd pick is Chris Cenac Jr.
A one-and-done freshman who signed up to play for the hard-nosed tough-love of Kelvin Sampson at Houston University, Cenac Jr. played a vital role in the Sweet 16 run this year. The Louisiana native is a high-level athlete with a ton of fluidity with his movement, and a motor that matches the identity of the program. He finished his freshman year with averages of 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in just 24.8 minutes per game. Cenac Jr. needs to improve as a shooter, although he did shoot an acceptable 33.3% on 3PA on 2.4 attempts per game, and overall gain more polish as a player. But there is a level of activity and chaos that works for him. It typically does not show in the score sheet, but his raw effort and energy pop when he’s on the floor. He would immediately be the best rebounder on the Sixers roster, and fits the archetype of a player that could serve as either a forward or center, depending on what the lineup asks for. Cenac Jr. likely will never be a guy asked to carry a major scoring load, but he is a tone-setter with his effort and the type of player that every winning team needs. He is all-out effort on the glass and has a chance to grow into a really special defender. Blocking a shot on the defensive end and sprinting out on the fast break to catch a lob on the other end of the floor has the potential to be a frequent sight at the NBA level. The 19-year-old possesses more basketball feel than is sometimes the case with players dependent on their athleticism, and I feel pretty certain that he has not come particularly close to playing his best basketball just yet. This is not a superstar swing, but the type of player who can begin to change the identity of a team.
Dailyn Swain – Texas – 6’6″ – F
An explosive athlete with an NBA-ready frame and plenty of potential, Dailyn Swain is among the most polished players who could potentially fall to 22.
After spending two seasons at Xavier in which he showed some promise, the 6-foot-6 wing transferred to Texas, where he took his game to another level this season. The 20-year-old posted averages of 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 34.4% from beyond the three-point arc. He has long strides and is dynamic off the dribble, and he does a nice job of using the threat of his fire to create chances for his teammates. Texas handed him the keys to the offense, and he showed ability that was not put on display in his first two years in college. Swain is an excellent rebounder at the wing position and added 1.6 steals per game. The phrase “3-and-D” gets thrown around too casually when talking about players, but he checks these boxes, and there is more juice off the dribble than is often the case with this style of player. His ball-handling can be sloppy at times, and the 2.7 turnovers per game aren’t great, but I also think these will largely fix themselves when he is not asked to take on as much on-ball responsibility at the next level. Any player with the combination of skills and motor that Swain possesses is worth betting on, and he did not shy away from the bright lights in key moments this season. The 22nd pick is on the lower end of his draft projection, but Swain would be a terrific addition to the Sixers’ current young core.
Morez Johnson Jr. – Michigan – 6’9″ – F/C
Taking the available Michigan player would not be the worst strategy imaginable for the Sixers on draft night.
Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to come off the board in the lottery and would likely walk into being the starting power forward on the Sixers after playing three seasons at the JUCO level, two seasons at UAB, and last year at Michigan. Aday Mara also will almost certainly be off the board, but is the type of big man the Sixers should be eager to add as a backup big and potential Joel Embiid replacement in the wider scale of the conversation. But Morez Johnson Jr. is the member of the Michigan front court who is more realistic in the Sixers’ draft range and brings plenty of positives of his own. Standing 6-foot-9 with a near 7-foot-4 wingspan and 8-foot-11 standing reach, Johnson Jr. is a lob threat with great instincts as a cutter and impressive mobility for his size. He was largely asked to play more of a wing role than seems natural for him on this Michigan team, but this should only benefit his development at the NBA level. The 20-year-old posted averages of 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game at Michigan after making a respectable impact at Illinois the season before this. He is an excellent rebounder with strong hands and is capable of switching out to the perimeter to guard smaller players. His offensive shot diet is a bit more post-dependent than is ideal; however, he shot 34.9% on three-point attempts on limited volume this season. Johnson Jr. is a late bloomer who runs the floor well and is widely regarded as a high-character individual. The shooting outlook is largely promising, even if the current metrics won’t blow you away. But he needs to make some changes in his decision-making process, and will need to fully embrace more of a forward role at the NBA level. With strong reviews about his work ethic and personality and NCAA Championship pedigree to his name, Johnson Jr. may be more of a diamond in the rough than has been acknowledged.
Allen Graves – Santa Clara – 6’7″ – F
After flirting with returning to college, Allen Graves will remain in the NBA Draft and has been a player mocked to the Sixers at a regular rate.
The Santa Clara product largely came off the bench in his lone collegiate season, but still posted averages of 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game across just 22.6 minutes per game. After a somewhat slow start to the season, Graves averaged 14.7 points while shooting 42.9% from beyond the three-point arc across the final 18 games. Standing 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, Graves is considered one of the analytic darlings in this class. He posted the sixth-best box/plus minus of the entire draft class, behind Lendeborg, Cam Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darryn Peterson, and Zuby Ejiofor. Three of these names are locks to be off the board in the top five picks. The leap in competition is worth noting due to him playing in the West Coast Conference, but he possess great length and is an extremely high-IQ player. He frequently beats opposing ball-handlers to their desired spot and can fit any defensive format. The ceiling is not super high due to his limited athleticism and creation ability. But there is a clear path to him being a high-level complementary piece with good size, shooting, and defensive fit. He attempted just two jump shots off the dribble this season, but shot 42% on catch-and-shoot looks. The 19-year-old is active as a screener, cutter, and roller, and does an excellent job as a weak side shot protector while very rarely turning it over. He had just 25 turnovers in 35 games this season. Graves is a unique style of player, but could open up a ton of creative new layers to the Sixers’ overall system.
There is still nearly a month until the draft, and plenty of other players worth acknowledging. Bennett Stritz, Christian Anderson, Koa Peat, Isaiah Evans, and Henri Veesaar are also common names in the Sixers’ draft range. Philadelphia has also done a nice job in recent years of staying put and capitalizing on taking a top prospect that falls. With the outlook for the organization looking more dependent on Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, getting an impact player who can grow alongside the young guards is an essential part of this offseason. Given the tough salary cap position the Sixers sit in, adding another reliable young player would be a difference maker moving forward. Buckle up for the rumors to heat up, and this is a draft class in which the Sixers should have a pathway to getting a key piece despite the low pick.
Sean Barnard has covered the Philadelphia 76ers and general Philly Sports for over six years in a variety of roles and for multiple outlets. Currently works as a Content Writer for DraftKings Network, Sixers/NBA Insider for Philadelphia's Fox Sports the Gambler, and co-host of Sixers & Phillies Digest on Youtube. Forever Trusting the Process.