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Sixers Top 3 NBA Draft Targets – Big Man Edition
By Sean Barnard
Published:
The first big decision to be made by the new-look Sixers’ front office will take place on June 23rd as the opening round of the NBA Draft kicks off. Philadelphia will patiently wait for the first 21 selections until making the 22nd pick, unless they choose to get into the trade market one way or another.
This is a strong draft class and an important opportunity for the Sixers to add another young talent on a cost-controlled deal. There will be plenty of conversations about the future of Joel Embiid moving forward. Given the uncertainty with his health, the window to win with him in Philadelphia being smaller than ever, as well as the backup center role still a question mark, selecting a big man with their first round pick should certainly be in play for the Sixers.
While plenty of their decision will be made based on who is still available, here is a look at a few big men to keep an eye on that would make some sense for the Sixers with the 22nd pick.
1. Jayden Quaintance
Once seeming like a surefire top pick and well out of the Sixers’ range, Jayden Quaintance has slid down draft boards and feels a likely faller on draft night. The driving reason for this is his uncertain medical outlook, and any team ready to make the selection will likely need a doctor’s sign-off. While the Sixers’ don’t exactly have a seamless track record when it comes to medicals, Quaintance’s outlook on the surface level would not be enough to give me pause on selecting him.
After reclassifying up a year as a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 recruiting class, Quaintance was committed to Kentucky until John Calipari elected to take his talents to Arkansas. Due to the coaching change, the 6-foot-9 big man elected to play his freshman season at Arizona State, where he posted averages of 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game across his 29.5 minutes of action. The springy big man suffered a torn ACL to end his freshman season prematurely. Due to him still being 17, he was ineligible to enter last year’s NBA Draft and instead transferred to Kentucky for this past season. However, this did not further boost his draft stock the way it was hoped, as he suited up for just four games and had his season end early due to swelling in his knee. Quaintance played just 67 total minutes for Mark Pope’s squad across these four matchups and totaled 20 points and 20 rebounds.
While this is a unique path and a clear medical asterisk next to his outlook, the vision for what Quaintance can be at the NBA level is clear. There is some Nerlens Noel in his game, but coming on a stronger frame. As long as his body allows, he will be one of the top shot blocking options in the NBA, and some are willing to claim he has Defensive Player of the Year potential. His offensive game and overall touch are fairly limited, but he screens hard and has a massive lob radius. The 18-year-old showed some willingness as a three-point shooter, with 1.3 three-point attempts per game at Arizona State, but shot just 47.9% at the free-throw line the same season. It seemed a near certainty that Quaintance would be a top-15 pick for most of the pre-draft process, but it has seemed increasingly likely that the slide will occur on draft night. Whether the Sixers want to view this as a chance at value or a sign not to touch him is to be determined.
2. Chris Cenac Jr.
If Chris Cenac Jr. is on the board with the 22nd overall pick, it would be the name I would submit at the podium. The 19-year-old is coming off a one-and-done season at Houston in which he posted averages of 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds across 24.8 minutes. The 6-foot-10 forward/center possesses a 7-foot-5 wingspan and has arguably the best motor in this draft class. He was a tone-setter for Houston, on a program that has established an identity for playing defensive-minded basketball and out hustling opponents. Cenac Jr. was also ranked as the sixth-best recruit coming out of high school a year ago and has more encouraging offensive flashes in his high-school tape than he was able to show in Houston’s defensive-minded system. He will be a freak athlete, even by NBA standards, and would immediately be the best rebounder on the Sixers roster. Cenac Jr.’s offensive game needs refinement, but he should immediately be able to provide the defensive ability of both serving as a rim deterrent and switching out to smaller players on the perimeter. Kelvin Sampson raving about Cenac Jr.’s work ethic and effort carries weight in my mind, and this is the type of culture-setting energy player the Sixers should be looking to target. He has reportedly spent an in-person visit to the Sixers already during the pre-draft process.
3. Zuby Ejiofor
Another player who has reportedly worked out for the Sixers is Zuby Ejiofor. The 22-year-old spent his freshman season at Kansas and his last three years at St. John’s, leaving with an accomplished collegiate resume. Standing 6-foot-7.5, Ejiofor is a bit smaller than ideal for a big man at the NBA level, but holds a 7-foot-2 wingspan and plays bigger than his size. This season, the reigning Big East Player of the Year posted averages of 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. He showed some encouraging signs of growth in his shooting touch, connecting on 18-for-59 (30.5%) of his three-point attempts this season and knocked down 71.8% of his free throw attempts. Skeptics of the Garland, Texas native will point to him being a bit of a tweener positionally and limitations a self-creator and decision maker. However, he would be the closest thing to a power forward the Sixers have had in a few seasons, and his 3.3 combined blocks and steals would play a key role in setting the tone defensively. Ejiofor moves fluidly and was the first name to leak publicly about working out with the Sixers, if you put any stock in that. The 22nd pick feels a bit on the early side, with plenty viewing the St. John’s product as more of a second-round target. However, if the board plays out a certain way on draft night, there is a world where Ejiofor is the best option on the board.
Honorable Mentions
Hannes Steinbach: A German big man who has climbed up draft boards, Hannes Steinbach put up a monstrous 18.5 points, a CBB-best 11.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game during his one-and-done season at Washington. Standing 6-foot-10, Setinbach moves fluidly and has really good hands and impressive footwork for his size. Getting a rebound and taking it coast-to-coast himself is well within his skill set, and the 20-year-old has really good instincts when filling the lane in transition. Steinbach has shown encouraging growth with his shooting touch, connecting on 18-for-53 (34.0%) of his three-point attempts and 75.9% of his free-throws. He has a wide draft range, but is much closer in talent to the names above than has largely been talked about. An interesting combination of polish and potential, Steinbach would be an effective addition in the late first round.
Morez Johnson Jr. – Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson Jr. should all be looked at as desirable draft targets for just about any NBA team, with each coming from the National Champion Michigan Wolverines. Unfortunately, all three seem almost certain to require a trade-up to acquire. Morez Johnson Jr. looked to be the most legitimate target with a chance of sliding for many weeks leading up to the draft. After spending his freshman year at Illinois, Johnson Jr. transferred to Michigan this season and posted averages of 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in just 25.1 minutes of action. The 20-year-old is a rebounding force who plays with plenty of physicality and is more of an outlier athlete than he gets credit for. The All-Big Ten team member was forced to play as more of a wing due to Michigan’s jumbo front court, but this should only help his NBA outlook. He moves well laterally for his size and will be a high-level complementary player who consistently impacts winning at a high level throughout his future NBA career. If any of the Michigan front court slips to the 22nd pick, it would be a slam-dunk addition and likely a day-one starter for the Sixers.
Tarris Reed Jr. – A bruising big man who spent two seasons at Michigan and two seasons at UConn while miraculously not being a part of a National Championship team, there is still a lot to like about Tarris Reed Jr.’s game. He is coming off his best statistical season in which he posted averages of 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, while leading the Big East by shooting 60.7% from the floor. Standing just under 6-foot-10 with a monstrous wingspan over 7-foot-4, Reed Jr. moves well for his size and embraces physicality. His ceiling is fairly limited as he is not a great athlete by NBA standards, and he is not a threat to space the floor with just seven three-point attempts across his four years in college. But there is plenty of value in a young big man who knows exactly who he is as a basketball player and is content playing within this box. Reed Jr. is a winning player who finds ways to impact winning at a high level. The 22nd feels a tad high for his draft range, but expect his name to at least come up in conversations when the Sixers discuss their decision.
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.