The Philadelphia 76ers failed to live up to many people’s expectations this season and they are once again headed for the draft lottery. They finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 34-48 record and that secured them the eleventh overall selection in this year’s entry draft.

The biggest question surrounding the 76ers at season end wasn’t the potential draftee, it was and continues to be all about Andrew Bynum. The big offseason acquisition from Los Angeles never did suit up for Philadelphia as his knee problems were grossly underestimated. Questions remain about Bynum’s health and his desire to play in the city of brotherly love. A huge contingency in having Bynum in Philadelphia is going to come down to his salary expectations coming off a season consisting of nothing but rehap and bad press.

Nonetheless as the franchise moves forward and looks to add pieces through the draft, the quick assessment of the roster is fairly bleak. The two positions on the court that appear to be set are point guard where Jrue Holiday had himself a breakout season and small-forward where Thaddeus Young emerged as an everyday starter and major contributor.

There is a prevailing notion that new 76ers president Sam Hinkie wants to build a team by using a Billy Beane moneyball-like theory. If this is the case then Bynum doesn’t factor into the building process and this draft could be more about sabermetric contributions than athleticism or scoring averages.

Areas of Weakness

The 76ers were a very average defensive team yet they were totally anemic offensively. Now they will have the salary cap space available to pursue some viable offensive threats; however when it comes to getting value it is tough to find true seven-footers who can play defense and protect the rim. Not every team has to play the run-and-gun style of Oklahoma, but every team must defend their own end if they have any chance of winning. To this end I think that Hinkie and his braintrust go big here and draft for future value.

Draft Projections

A very intriguing pick here for Philadelphia in the eleven spot would be Rudy Gobert from France. While this kid is best labelled as a project, he could be an absolute game-changer on the defensive end of the court as he measures 7’2” with a ridiculous standing reach of 9’7”. Gobert has only really played high-level competitive basketball for two years and despite being 21-years old he lacks experience against American competition. He still has a slight frame of about 235 pounds and he will need to bulk up to hold his own in the paint, but the physical traits are undeniably tempting. Patience would have to be the word for Gobert as his offensive game is limited to about four feet around the hoop and his intensity and footwork are both in development. This kid would offer tremendous value after a year of NBA experience and in time could become that defensive stopper that every team covets.