Philadelphia 76ers 2012 Draft Preview

Jun 25, 2012 - 5:52 PM (Sports Network) - Philadelphia sports plenty of youth and depth in the backcourt, but needs help up front since center Spencer Hawes is an unrestricted free agent, and veteran power forward Elton Brand is on his last legs and a candidate for amnesty.

The Sixers brought in North Carolina teammates Tyler Zeller and John Henson, Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie, Baylor's Perry Jones III, St. Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson and Kentucky's Terrence Jones over the weekend, foreshadowing their thinking.

Zeller and Henson will likely both be gone by the time the Sixers pick at No. 15 but the others, along with Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, could be available.

The Sixers should absolutely roll the dice on Jones, a boom or bust type who is a top five talent with an enormous upside but Moultrie is considered the safer selection.

Players under contract: G: Jrue Holiday; F/G: Andre Iguodala; G/F: Evan Turner; C/F: Nikola Vucevic; F: Thaddeus Young

Free Agents: C/F: Lavoy Allen (restricted); C: Tony Battie; F: Craig Brackins; F: Elton Brand (early termination option); C: Spencer Hawes; G: Jodie Meeks; (restricted); G: Xavier Silas (restricted); G: Lou Williams (early termination option); F/G: Sam Young (restricted)

Recent Draft History: 2011: Nikola Vucevic (16), Lavoy Allen (50) 2010: Evan Turner (2) 2009: Jrue Holiday (17) 2008: Marreese Speights (16) 2007: Thaddeus Young (12), Daequan Cook (21), Petteri Koponen (30), Kyrylo Fesenko (38)

Draft picks: 1st round (15th overall), 2nd round (45th overall, 54th overall)