Evan Turner is a Sixer

Ever since the Sixers somehow ended up with the second overall pick in tonight's NBA Draft, people were asking questions about who they would take. After a little talk about trading the pick, it seemed like the talk had settled between two players: Evan Turner, the best player in college basketball last season, or Derrick Favors, the big man from Georgia Tech with possibly the biggest upside of any pick in the draft. There were fans of both men, but most people wanted Turner to be the pick. Well, tonight their hopes were answered. With the second pick in the NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Evan Turner.

Now, what does this mean for the players that the Sixers already have in place? For starters, it means that Andre Iguodala is more than likely on his way out of town, and that should be sooner, rather than later. Iguodala has been a solid player for this team, but he's never developed into that be all, end all player that the Sixers wanted and needed him to be. Philadelphia drafted him to be the successor to Allen Iverson, and it just never happened. He could never develop that killer jump shot, and there were times when he would just take plays off. That didn't fly with other coaches, and it's not going to fly with Doug Collins, either. If anyone expects Iguodala to be with the Sixers when the season starts, they're either crazy, or dead right because the Sixers couldn't find anyone willing to take his contract. Then again, they did manage to find someone to take Samuel Dalmbert's expiring contract, so maybe they can find some help with Iguodala, too. Turner will step into Iguodala's spot and form a young, but potentially solid backcourt duo with Jrue Holiday.

The biggest issue that the Sixers have now is the lack of a solid big man to run the middle of the offensive attack. Elton Brand still doesn't fit, and while Spencer Hawes is a decent talent, he lacks the physical attack to intimidate a Dwight Howard type player. That would have been the only reason why the Sixers would have taken Favors, but after his workout in Philadelphia, it seemed like even Doug Collins had soured on him a little bit. Favors may end up being one of the best players in this draft, but he's very raw, and is going to take some time to even get into NBA ready shape. Meanwhile, Turner is big for a shooting guard, with a good wingspan and solid ability already. He's got to work on his outside shooting, but he's already acknowledged that. He's going to have time to work on that aspect of his game with the Sixers, and if they can get him working on that 16 to 18 foot jump shot, then they're going to have something very good with this pick.

Turner is already a solid defensive player, and is aggressive as well. With him and Holiday running things in the backcourt, the Sixers should have a good young developing tandem there for a few years, at least. Holiday is never going to be a huge, Allen Iverson type star, but if Turner can even get close to that level, then the Sixers clearly made the right pick here. Best of all, Turner seems genuinely excited to be coming to Philadelphia, and that makes this pick even better. Though he doesn't have the franchise-changing ability that John Wall potentially has, the Sixers couldn't go wrong with Evan Turner. At this point, anything is still possible of course, but it seems like at least on this night, the Sixers made the right pick and have excited a fan base that needed something to get excited about. I haven't said this much lately, but well done, Sixers.