We are almost a week away from the 2021 NBA Draft which will be taking place in Brooklyn, NY. The 76ers currently have the 28th pick in the draft and are looking for a rookie who could come in and help this team win right away. The Sixers have done well in the past two years, drafting both Matisse Thybulle and Tyrese Maxey late in the first round. The Sixers hope that they can continue that trend in this year’s draft. The Sixers could also end up trading the 28th pick in the many rumored deals centered around Ben Simmons. If the Sixers keep the pick and draft at 28, take a look at some prospects that could fit on this team if available:

Jared Butler (Baylor, PG/SG)

Jared Butler is a 6’4 combo guard out of Baylor who helped lead the Bears to a national championship this year. He averaged 16.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, and 4.8 apg and was one of the consistent offensive threats for the Baylor Bears all season. He’s an excellent shooter and has great movement off the ball. He has a knack for knowing when to relocate on drives to allow himself to get open for an uncontested long-range jumper. Last season Butler shot 42% from 3-point territory and overall, he shot 52% from the field. Butler has a good handle and can create his own shot as well but has the tendency to over dribble sometimes. Some scouts question his explosiveness and finishing and find those weaknesses as a hinderance to his impact in the NBA. I think Butler is crafty enough to improve his finishing to become a solid finisher in the NBA. He is diagnosed with a heart condition and that could make teams weary of drafting him. However, he was cleared to play at Baylor for the last three years.

Tre Mann (Florida, PG/SG)

Tre Mann is a 6’5 guard from the University of Florida. In his sophomore season, he averaged 16 ppg, 5.6 rpg, and 3.5 apg. Mann took a big leap in terms of his scoring ability and physicality. He is a 3-level scorer with great handles and craftiness. He can play either guard spot and will only improve his pick and roll decision making as the reps come. He’s not known as a great defender and would need to work on his footwork. His game reminds me of Donovan Mitchell, who turned into one of the best players in the NBA. I’m not saying he is going to be the next Mitchell, but he has a better upside than what people think.

Brandon Boston Jr. (Kentucky, SG)

This may be considered a sleeper pick if BJ Boston falls this late in the first round. He could also go in the top 10. Boston was a highly recruited kid coming out of high school and committed to Kentucky. When he got to Kentucky, he couldn’t put it all together but still has tons of upside. Coach Calipari plays a lot of kids out of position at Kentucky, since he may get top recruits at the same positions. Boston is 6’7 shooting guard with tons of scoring/shooting potential. He averaged 11.7 ppg and only 1 asg during his lone season in Lexington. Some inconsistency with rotations and issues with COVID-19 contributed to a disappointing freshman year. I know with Sixers in “win now” mode, getting somebody with “upside” or “potential” may not fit in their current timeline but I think he could improve drastically in a short period of time. One thing we all know about the Kentucky guys is that they are always pro ready. A lot of Kentucky players are making noise in the NBA, and we already have one on our roster who has made an impact thus far.

Let’s hope the Sixers continue their success they have had in recent drafts, but with Daryl Morey at the helm, we must expect the unexpected.