2011 NBA Draft Prospects Don't Want To Work Out For The Sixers

by Scott Schroeder on Jun 4, 2025 5:33 PM EDT in NBA Draft 2011

The Philadelphia 76ers have a conundrum: Despite having the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the players they would prefer to select with that pick aren't interested in heading to Philadelphia to show the Sixers they're worthy of that selection.

Philly probably shouldn't be a place agents are scared to send their clients, unless the non-usage of Evan Turner really raised red flags, but that seems exactly what's happening as the Sixers attempt to arrange their pre-draft workouts.

"It's amazing. I'm not a mathematics major, but right now there are about 20-plus people thinking they're going in the top 15," Philadelphia's Director of Player Personnel, Courtney Witte, said on Saturday. "There's not a lot of separation so that lends itself to a lot of people thinking they're going to go in front of us."

The Sixers held their first workout on Saturday with Temple's Lavoy Allen, Syracuse big man Rick Jackson, Florida's Vernon Macklin, Greg Smith of Fresno State and Crotian Tomislav Zubcic. Dayton's Chris Wright was also supposed to be in attendance, but he apparently cancelled at the last minute and was replaced with Delvon Johnson from Arkansas.

"I didn't do well in math, but I do know this: we're at 16, so if there are 20-plus players thinking they're going to be picked before us. There's going to be people dropping to us."

Hopefully the Sixers are at least able to lure some potential first round prospects as that first batch is pretty light on first round prospects (As in none of those guys will be selected anywhere near 16th overall).

To watch Witte's comments on video, courtesy of PhillyBurbs' Tom Moore, hit the jump.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: nba rumors, draft express, 2011 nba draft, nba draft 2011, 2011 nba draft rumors, Chris Wright (F - Dayton), Lavoy Allen (F - Temple), Vernon Macklin (F - Florida), Rick Jackson (F - Syracuse), Evan Turner (G - Ohio St.), Delvon Johnson (F - Arkansas), Philadelphia 76ers

Comments

I'd say the Turner situation has more to do with Turner himself than Doug Collins.

Turner just didn’t fit for that team. Jodie Meeks gave them something they desperatlry needed and something that Turner didnt: shooting. With Iggy and the growth of Holiday, Turner wasn’t going to get the ball a lot. He didn’t show anything that said he deserved to get the ball ahead of those 2, and so he didn’t get to play a bunch.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jun 4, 2025 8:53 PM EDT reply actions

I just thought Turner was overrated out of college.

I saw him as a late lottery guy: an good energy guy as a sixth man at best, maybe a fringe starting SG, but never a star. I could see him averaging 10 and 5, but not much more than that.

The sixers need a PF for the bench and a future Brand replacement. I’d say they would ideally want Motiejunas or Thompson, but they would probably be okay with Markieff or even Faried.

Theo-trade John Lackey for a used condom and a punch in the nose. Remember, it's all about value.

by LesterJohn on Jun 4, 2025 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree about Turner somewhat.

I thought he would be better than you did, but I never saw him as a star. There was nothing he did spectacularly. He was a great all-around college player, but I just didn’t see his game translating to the NBA where he would be playing against bigger, stronger, faster athletes.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jun 5, 2025 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly.

One word comes to mind when I think of Turner: overmatched. When you are overmatched athletically, you have to either rely on shooting (Turner doesn’t shoot well) or savvy and basketball IQ. I thought Turner seemed like a smart player, but even using that, I doubt he would be more than a 6th man or fringe starter.

Theo-trade John Lackey for a used condom and a punch in the nose. Remember, it's all about value.

by LesterJohn on Jun 5, 2025 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

His most common comparison was Brandon Roy.

Both are good all-around players with great size but average-to-below-average athleticism. The difference is that Roy is a big-time shooter whicvh allowed him to set up the rest of his game. Turner doesn’t have that shooting threat.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jun 6, 2025 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed, i think he can be a solid 6th or 7th guy off the bench

he is an all-around player, once he figures out how to defend his position he can be a very solid role player.

by Dubbel on Jun 6, 2025 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Right, but does that merit a #2 overall? no.

When you could have got a huge-upside PF or a starting Center.

Theo-trade John Lackey for a used condom and a punch in the nose. Remember, it's all about value.

by LesterJohn on Jun 6, 2025 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm gonna have to agree

As a Sixers fan I saw Turner struggle a lot in his first year. But I will say that he did become a little more consistent towards the end of the year and in the playoffs. I would have liked to see them take Favors instead of Turner because I think Favors offered way more upside and was at a position of need, but I do think Turner will be a good player for this team.

formerly jdcvr6

"When I'm dead and buried, and my time here has passed. I want them to bury me upside down, so my critics can kiss my ass." - Bob Knight

by James_C on Jun 5, 2025 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

No offense but I thought Turner was the cop-out pick.

Because of the supposed “clear cut top 2” you guys had to take him or else the fanbase would go apeshit, especially if he turned out to be a great player elsewhere. I think the same thing is going on this year with Irving.

Theo-trade John Lackey for a used condom and a punch in the nose. Remember, it's all about value.

by LesterJohn on Jun 5, 2025 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I still think they should have taken Cousins

I didn’t get a chance to watch that much college basketball that season because of the TV situation at my house, but from what I did see, Cousins was clearly the second best prospect coming out. I can’t believe Turner, Favors and especially Johnson went before him.

Hyperboles kill.
There is no such thing as a "George Karl fan;" there are Karl apologists, and those who realize he should be fired.
Follow me on Twitter so that I may add a wolf to my wolf pack.
Roundball Mining Company : Where the the balls are round and the format, company-like.

by GoldenNugget on Jun 5, 2025 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

There is no doubt that Cousins was one of the most talented players in that draft.

But he had serious character issues (which turned out to carry over to the pros). If I was in that situation I really wouldn’t know what to do.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jun 6, 2025 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think it was necessarily a cop-out pick

but I do agree that the fanbase would have gone bananas. However there was a large majority of us over at Liberty ballers that would have loved to see them take Favors or Cousins. I think Turner will be a good player, but not great.

formerly jdcvr6

"When I'm dead and buried, and my time here has passed. I want them to bury me upside down, so my critics can kiss my ass." - Bob Knight

by James_C on Jun 5, 2025 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder who it is that Philly is thinking of bringing in

they seem like a pretty stacked team, tho mostly of good not great players. Even someone like Speights barely plays there and I thought he was gonna be a decent enough player.

There’s really not many spots open in the rotation there, unless they don’t plan on keeping Thad Young and maybe trade a few of their other guys.

Also the team picking behind them, the Knicks, while they have some decent players aside from the big 3..they have a big 3 and a lot of these college players have expressed that they want to play with them and the Knicks have had no problem bringing players in for workouts.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jun 5, 2025 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

I think they go for youth on the frontline.

Elton is getting no younger, and I honestly think that Speights or Young will be traded. I think the dream situation is Tristian Thompson, but since he likely won’t be there, I think that they go Markieff

Theo-trade John Lackey for a used condom and a punch in the nose. Remember, it's all about value.

by LesterJohn on Jun 5, 2025 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

They have to get a competent center because Spencer Hawes might be the softest 7 footer I have ever seen. They need somebody to bang around down low and grab rebounds.

formerly jdcvr6

"When I'm dead and buried, and my time here has passed. I want them to bury me upside down, so my critics can kiss my ass." - Bob Knight

by James_C on Jun 5, 2025 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions