With Wednesday’s draft approaching, the Philadelphia 76ers are weighing all of their options, even beyond the usual suspects that have been mentioned.
Names like VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey have dominated the mock drafts, while Texas guard Tre Johnson and Duke wing Kon Knueppel have quietly remained intriguing names the Sixers could pivot to with the third pick.
Both players could be considered dark horses at three as they haven’t received the same attention as Edgecombe and Bailey, but Johnson and Knueppel offer unique skillsets that could complement the current Sixers roster immediately and offer upside down the line.
Tre Johnson
Johnson averaged a whopping 19.9 points per game as a freshman at Texas, hitting 39.7 percent of his threes and chipping in 2.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest. He is considered a pure scorer, with some scouts comparing his game to NBA players like Tyler Herro.
For the Sixers, Johnson could become an instant impact weapon off the bench, providing reliable secondary scoring. His three-point shooting, pull-up jump shot, and off-ball movement could allow for a seamless fit on the offensive end alongside Embiid and Maxey.
Kon Knueppel
Knueppel is one of the safest bets in this class, thanks to his volume-with-efficiency shooting profile. At Duke, he attempted 10.4 threes per 100 possessions, burying them at a 40.6 percent clip. He shot 91.4 percent from the line en route to a 64.2 percent true‐shooting rate. His three-point shooting opens up driving lanes for himself and his teammates.
Knueppel has also shown he could put the ball on the floor and make things happen offensively for himself and others when Cooper Flagg went down in the ACC Tournament. He has some positional versatility and will compete on defense, making him a great fit on the current Sixers’ roster.
Dark horse trade down candidates
If Daryl Morey decides to move back in the draft, there could be two sleepers that interest him if he were to move back far enough.
Morey and company could go “big,” adding Derik Queen in a trade-down scenario to fortify the frontcourt. Queen is a versatile 6’10 scoring big man, who is crafty, and his the upside to be an inside and outside big. This could be a hedge on Joel Embiid’s health long-term and give the Sixers a potential reliable center for the future.
Another possibility is Arizona’s Carter Bryant. Once a fringe prospect, Bryant’s stock rose considerably in that last month or so. Most mock drafts have him going mid-lottery, highlighting his two-way potential in a league that needs those types of players.
He’s 6’8 with a 7’0 wingspan and knocked down 37% of his threes in college. He could slot into a role with a Sixers team that needs defense and the ability to space the floor, and getting that type of player on a rookie deal could help a roster whose salary is tied up in three stars.
Whether Philly stands pat for a plug-and-play star or trades down to scoop up two high-upside prospects, Johnson, Knueppel, Bryant and Queen all offer differing routes to accelerate the Sixers’ title timeline.
