Sixers will seek value in draft's second round

When NBA drafts are reexamined years later, some second-round selections who proved to be solid contributors turn out to be ranked a lot higher than they originally were.

They are called hidden gems.

The 76ers will try to find great value late Thursday night with the 35th and 42d overall picks in the second round.

The organization also has the 11th overall pick in the first round. But barring a trade, the Sixers realize that a franchise-altering player won't be found with their first selection.

They know that undervalued players could be there for the taking early in the second round. And perhaps no one knows that better than Sam Hinkie, the 76ers' new general manager and president of basketball operations.

He spent the last eight years as an executive with the Houston Rockets, who have the blueprint for acquiring first-round-caliber players in the second round. Houston drafted rising star Chandler Parsons in 2011. The team made deals in the second round for former Rockets Chase Budinger (2009) and Luis Scola (2007).

Murray State's Isaiah Canaan has the ability to be that type of pick for the Sixers. Assuming he is still around for the 35th pick, he could fulfill a backup point-guard need.

"I'm not opposed to that," said NBA draft analyst Jim Clibanoff, who is president of ClibHoops, a scouting service used by NBA teams.

Though not a pure point guard, the 6-foot Canaan could give the Sixers a boost because he has deep range. The Mississippi native also is known for his strength and knack for breaking down defenders. He averaged 21.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.5 rebounds as a senior.

"He's big-time producer," Clibanoff said. "A confident kid, but not like some of these confident kids who border on cocky. He has the kind of confidence that won't turn people off.

"I call him a Dana Barros-type - a good locker-room person, three-point threat, and confident."

Clibanoff believes that Baylor's Pierre Jackson and North Carolina State's Lorenzo Brown also would be solid backup point-guard options for the Sixers at 35.

Brown, who is entering the draft after his junior season, led the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists (7.2 per game) this past season. The 6-5, 186-pounder has great athleticism to go with solid playmaking skills and court vision.

"He's not a great shooter," Clibanoff said. "But he can pretty much do everything else. He can defend multiple positions well."

Jackson is a bit undersize at 5-101/2, which makes him a defensive liability in the NBA. However, he makes up for that with explosiveness and determination. He averaged 19.8 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in his senior season.

"When we are talking about backup point guards that could be available at 35," Clibanoff said, "between Canaan, Pierre Jackson, and Lorenzo Brown, I'm hoping that one of those guys ends up there."

The Sixers' decision could get much tougher when it comes to the 42d pick. They probably will have to decide whether they will draft for need or take the best available player.

The Sixers could opt to go the best-available-player route if James Ennis is still on the board at 42.

The Long Beach State swingman is arguably one of the better athletes in the draft. The 6-7 senior is alarming for defenses in the open court and a master of dunks. The Big West Conference player of the year averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocked shots.

"He's a guy you can just throw on the floor and makes different things happen," Clibanoff said.

The Sixers aren't revealing their plans.

As a way to not draw attention to undervalued prospects, the organization has been working out players in secret at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.