Sixers, King keeping draft options open
After yesterday's pre-draft workout of Florida State forward Al Thornton, a potential choice of the Philadelpia 76ers with their No. 12 pick in Thursday's NBA draft, president and general manager Billy King continued to talk about moving up in the first round.
"There are a lot of teams like us who are trying to aggressively get up," King said after two separate pre-draft workouts. "There are some teams talking about getting big-name players, and I think those conversations will continue. I think there will be a lot of movement."
The Sixers, who also pick 21st and 30th in the first round, still are trying to set up a pre-draft workout with Florida forward Joakim Noah. King said the only way it could happen would be in New York, where Joakim Noah is expected to attend the draft. The NBA has invited 15 of the top-rated players to the draft.
Joakim Noah should be gone by No. 12, so the Sixers would likely have to move up to draft him and many others on their wish list, including Georgetown forward Jeff Green and power forward Yi Jianlian from China.
Others teams share the same view. One NBA executive said yesterday that Phoenix has something "hot" going with somebody drafting in the top five, having convinced Yi, Florida's Corey Brewer and Jeff Green to work out for them.
King should have more than a few contingency plans, one of which could be drafting Thornton and another could be selecting Kansas forward Julian Wright, who is scheduled to work out for the Sixers today.
Wright had apparently balked at coming to Philadelphia in earlier requests, but that has all changed now.
"I thought it would work out in the long run," King said.
Wright will work out with UCLA's Arron Affalo. This will be Affalo's second pre-draft session with the Sixers.
"We liked [Affalo's] workout and, having three picks, wanted to see him again and also seeing him against Julian Wright," King said.
Both Wright and Thornton are 6-8 and in the 225-pound range. Wright left Kansas after his sophomore year and just turned 20. Thornton was a four-year player at Florida State and will turn 24 on Dec. 7.
Thornton had postponed an earlier workout with the Sixers due to a sprained ankle and yesterday said he performed at about 75 percent efficiency. He added that his back also stiffened up.
Unlike many players who don't tell the truth when asked if they look at mock drafts, Thornton, who has been linked to the Sixers at No. 12 in many of the mocks, says he does pay attention.
"Mock drafts are interesting to look at, but you can't believe them," he said.
If Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton could be believed, the Sixers or any team would be wise in selecting Thornton.
"I know he is a potential all-star," said Hamilton, yesterday in a phone interview. "He is a complete player."
Notes. Milwaukee director of player personnel Dave Babcock confirmed yesterday that his team, which picks No. 6, wasn't invited to see Yi work out in
Los Angeles. The Sixers, who select 12th were given permission by agent Dan Fegan to see Yi last week.
"They weren't interested in having us come to L.A. to have him work out," Babcock said in a phone interview. "Even though we didn't work him out, we would still consider him strongly at six."
Duke's Josh McRoberts, Villanova's Curtis Sumpter, Temple's Dustin Salisbery, Croatia's Luksa Andric and Ukraine center Kyrylo Fesenko were the other players the Sixers worked out yesterday.
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