NBA Rumors: Sixers aggressively trying to trade for No.1 Pick, draft Wiggins
By Sam Richmond
It has been well documented that the Philadelphia 76ers are enamored with Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins. And there was a time when it looked like the 76ers would be able to stay at No. 3 and get their man.
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But that was before Joel Embiid’s foot injury, which has made Wiggins a lock to go in the first two picks, and the Vegas favorite to be selected No. 1 overall.
The 76ers aren’t giving up on Wiggins, though. Philly is making an aggressive attempt to trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and bring the freshman pheonom to the city of Brotherly Love, according to Bob Cooney of the Daily News.
Wiggins is a truly game-changing prospect, an athletic freak that can contribute, especially on the defensive end, from Day one and eventually grow into one of the league’s best players. He averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game throughout his lone season in college. So while the Sixers would obviously love to have him, it’s going to cost a pretty penny to move up to to No. 1.
No specific details have emerged about what Philly’s offer is to Cleveland, but Cooney speculates it could be their No. 3 pick, No. 10 pick and Thaddeus Young.
The NBA is a league that essentially requires a star, and more often multiple stars, to win big, so this move makes a lot of sense for Philadelphia, despite the high-price tag.
Draft Express ranks Wiggins as the No. 2 prospect and projects him to be the first player selected in tonight’s draft.