Welcome to the 1996 Usenet Mock draft.  A quick administrative note:
unlike previous years, I will not be posting the scouting reports.
Keeping two copies (one in ASCII and one in HTML) was too big of a
headache.  To see the scouting reports, please visit the web site:

http://sunsite.unc.edu/craig/draft/1996_draft/1996_draft.html.

With that taken care of, its on to the draft.  The first pick
belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers.  Their net GM is:

  Albert Lee

Albert selects with the 1st pick:

  Allen Iverson  


================================================================================ 
Free Agents:	
Derrick Alston, Richard Dumas, Sean Higgins, Tony Massenburg, Vernon 
Maxwell, Ed Pinckney, Trevor Ruffin, Greg Sutton, LaSalle Thompson

I. Team Needs/History
Well, let's put it pretty bluntly --- the Sixers are a sad, sad team.  
They finished last season with a horrid record of 18-64, and due to 
the team's failures, John Lucas was fired from both his GM and head 
coaching positions.  New team owner Pat Croce  brought in Brad 
Greenberg to replace Lucas as his new GM.  They still have yet to sign 
a coach(See bottom)  It seems like the last 5 years or so, the Sixers 
have had pretty high lottery picks -- yet somehow they manage to 
remain in the cellar due to unlucky/poor selections...recent 
selections include Clarence Weatherspoon, Shawn Bradley, Sharone 
Wright, and Jerry Stackhouse...both Bradley and Wright are no longer 
with the Sixer club.
What the Sixers need most right now is a center and and a point guard.  
here was the 76ers most played lineup last 
season...Weatherspoon-Alston-Pinckney-Stackhouse-Maxwell (Nba.com)

A. CENTER
		Who do the sixers have at center?  Well after Bradley was traded to 
the Nets for Coleman, left them with a slew of journeyman players.  
The Sixers nine starting centers have been: Bradley, Williams, Wright, 
Coleman, Brown, Thompson, Alston, Massenburg and Pinckney all had 
their turns starting at center.  Right now, it looks like Massenburg 
and/or Pickney  could play the bulk of their time at this 
position...These two can provide solid rebounding, but are 
questionable in terms of their offensive ability.  In addition, Scott 
Williams and LaSalle Thompson are experienced veterans who will 
provide some depth at this position.  This is definitely a point of 
weakness for this Sixers ball club.

B. POWER FORWARD
	Power forward could either be covered by Derrick Alston or Derrick 
Coleman.  IF(and this is a HUGEIF) Coleman shows up to play every once 
in a while, whether he is too lazy, plain dogging it, out of shape, or 
injured, he will provide a solid all-star caliber player to the Sixers 
frontcourt.  Coleman has the ability to nail the outside jumper, has 
some nifty low-post moves, and has decent dribbling ability.  However, 
he must also watch his balooning weight...Alston, Thompson, or even 
Clarence Weatherspoon provide additional depth at this position.

C. SMALL FORWARD
Clarence Weatherspoon had a solid season last year.  He had a total of 
31 double-doubles for the Sixers and was the team's leading rebounder 
with 9.7 boards a game, and also was the team's leading shotblocker 
with 108 blocks for the season.  He is the team's leader and one of 
its cornerstones at the team goes through another of its rebuilding 
periods.    

D. SHOOTING GUARD
 Jerry Stackhouse proved he was worthy of last year's number 3 
selection.  The former UNC Tarheel finished the season as the sixers 
leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points per game.  However, he shot a 
dismal 41.4% from the floor.  He is still learning the shooting guard 
position since he was a small forward during college.  He still needs 
to work on his dribbling and 3 point shot, but is blessed with high 
hops and spectacular dunking ability.  As long as he continues working 
on his game, Stackhouse will indeed become one of the league's premier 
guards and marquee attractions.  Also coming off the bench for 
somefirepower in the backcourt were Trevor Ruffin, Sean Sutton, and  
Rex Walters.  Ruffin in particular can light it up with his outside 
shootong ability, but needs to work on his consistency as well as 
defensive game. 
 
E. POINT GUARD
 Last year,  John Lucas brought in Vernon Maxwell, an ex-Houston 
Rocket to fill in at the PG slot.  However, he is more of a SG, and 
had difficulty in providing the team with a leader.  He sure can 
provide offense a times, but is by no means a point guard.  He tied 
for the team lead with 4.4 assists per game was third in scoring with 
16.2 points per game.  This is definitely where I believe the Sixers 
to be headed in their draft day selection

II. Your Selection (and explanation)
My selection was a tough one to make.  I would definitely go after 
either a center, or a point guard.  Since there are no great big men 
in this draft, the Sixers will most probably go after what is 
availabele.  So here goes:  "With the first pick of the 1996, Usenet 
NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select Allen Iverson, PG from 
Georgetown."
I knew it had to either be Marbury or Iverson, but Iverson was IMO the 
best player in this draft.  What I mean by best player is that he is 
the most talented player.  Also he will be able to make an immediate 
contribution to his team as well as as a major contribution for his 
team down the road.  Iverson is solid in all aspects of the game, and 
is just an amazing player.  His explosiveness off the dribble, and his 
amazing "hops" make him the biggest offensive threat of the NBA draft.  
In addition to his amazing offensive skills, he is a quick and solid 
defender.  He really puts pressure on the opposition, leading 
Georgetown with 3.35 steals/per game.  Also, he was named Big east 
defensive player of the year both this year, and last year, his 
freshman year.  However, Iverson, is not a complete Point Guard.  He 
needs to learn to pass the ball more.  I'm sure that's something that 
will develop for Iverson.  He hasn't needed to pass at all since he 
could always take it to the hole by himself.  I'm sure he won't be 
reluctant to feed the ball to Stackhouse if they're running down the 
floor together

III. Others considered (and why considered)

Marcus Camby, Forward, UMASS:
Camby was named player of the year by an assortment of organizations 
for his outstanding all around play in guiding UMASS to the final 
four.
Camby is a talented player that who was also both an offensive and 
defense presnece for the Minutemen.  He is a talented low-post player, 
is quick off the dribble, and has good touch on his jumpoer.  In 
addition, he is a defensive menace with great shot blocking and 
shot-altering ability.   Some knocks I've read is that although he is 
6'11", he is still a wirey 220 lbs thin.  I'm sure he'll definitely be 
hitting those weights.   



Stephon Marbury, Point Guard from Georgia Tech."
 Marbury is also a talented player.  He is a talented passer, as well 
as has a lightning quick crossover dribble, and good range on his 
jumper.   What is most important tomany is that Marbury can pass 
...During his freshman season, he was needed to dish the ball off to 
teammates and gladly accepted this role, and excelled as well in 
guiding Georgia Tech to the ACC Championship.  Also, he proved to be 
one of the team's goto guys when it became necessary.  I wish he would 
have stayed another year, but despite his youth, he will certainly be 
a top 5 pick.  He has great potential



Ray Allen, SG/SF UCONN: I like this guy too!  He is a great player 
also.  He is a tremendous player.  He has a sweet, soft touch on his 
outside jumper.  He can take it to the hole and elevate!  However, his 
defense is a little suspect, but I'm sure he'll be working hard to 
improve his team.  He is the reason for UCONN's great success this 
year.  His clutch play helped carry UCONN to big wins over tough 
BIGEAST rivals.  Ray Allen is the real deal.  This guy will be a fine 
NBA player. 

 

IV.  Who the team will probably take
I know it it will definitely be a PG, but who?  I think they will 
probably take Iverson...You can't go wrong here.  I know that both 
Iverson and Marbury will be stars in this league, and right now it 
might be good to go with Iverson.  Since the Sixers are moving into a 
new building for this upcoming season, Iverson could provide some of 
the showtime they need to fill the new arena.


V.  Other moves that the team should make
	The Sixers should aim to re-sign the following free-agents: Derrick 
Alston,  Tony Massenburg,  Sean Higgins, Vernon Maxwell, Ed Pinckney, 
Trevor Ruffin, Greg Sutton, and LaSalle Thompson.  Maybe the Sixers 
could try pursuing a free agent.  I'm not sure how much $$$$ that they 
have to work with, but maybe they could work on signing an able-bodied 
big man or some veteran backcourt help.  

They should also make sure Derrick Coleman, former #1 overall 
selection by the Nets, and former Rookie of the Year, keeps himself in 
shape over this off-season.  They need to get this into his head.  If 
he shows up to training camp overweight (last report he was 280), 
then they should waive him, or just get rid of him.  The Sixers need 
commitment from its players, and if DC is gonna continue getting his 
hefty salary, then he'd better produce.


And most importantly, Owner Pat Croce, and GM Brad Greenberg need to 
bring in a solid coach.  They need someone who will discipline his 
players into playing defense and playing a team game, and mold this 
team into a group of winners.  Who could this be?  Well, possibly Bob 
Hill who might be let go from his current coaching job with the Spurs.  
Other possible candidates include Chris Ford, Allen Bristow, or Phil 
Jackson(Well, he hasn't finished negotiating his contract with Bulls 
management yet, but prolly doesn't even want to *think* about 
inheriting this lovely job of being coach of philly)

What I've heard is that after ex-UMASS coach Calipari signed with the 
Nets, that the Sixers will pursue Portland Trail Blazer's Asst Coach 
John Davis to rebuild this team.  Look for Davis to be named coach 
within the next week.
=====================================================================

Craig Simpson - Usenet Draft Commissioner