The Philadelphia 76ers didn't know their first-round draft status until the lottery on May 12, until the first-round draft pick, because there were only the top 6 in the draft. But if the Sixers do end up keeping the draft pick, Daryl Morey and Co., the president of basketball business, will have a lot of options.
Now it's time to look at some potential draft prospects. The Sixers will have a lot of talented players to choose from and add their younger players. Now is the time to really break down each prospect game and see who is best suited for the Philadelphia team to remain focused on the game in the 2025-26 season if it can get hurt at one time.
The series continues with Duke Spear Ken Noppel. He isn't the most gorgeous player in this draft, but he will help NBA teams and the Sixers should let him have a look if they keep the draft pick in the top 6 back end.
Here are the pros and cons of Knueppel’s game and how he potentially fits the 76ers:
| category | ppg | RPG | APG | SPG | fg% | 3fg% |
| Knueppel's numbers | 14.4 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 47.9% | 40.6% |
While not the most sporty or explosive player, Knueppel uses his intelligence to unleash his appearance. He has such a high basketball IQ that allows him to browse the screen and expose an open appearance on the periphery. His handle is pretty good and allows him to get the basket from the bounce. This is a great asset considering he is also listed as a 6-foot-7. Nopel would make sense if Philadelphia chose No. 5 or No. 6 when considering the fact that the Sixers always needed a shooter to revolve around Joel Embiid on offense.
Knueppel does have some defensive questions that he has to answer. He wasn't bad at Duke, but from college to the NBA was a huge leap that he had to solve. Defensive skills can always develop over time - Tyrese Maxey is an important example of defensive improvements - but one has to wonder if Knueppel can make the same leap when considering his athletic limitations. He will have to bring that elite jumper into the league and become a rotation player.
Today's NBA shooting is crucial. Each team needs a player who can open the open look from the depths, and Knueppel fits that bill. His high basketball IQ will help him move forward and be able to stick with the league. If the Sixers take him away, he will immediately fit on the bench and offer coach Nick Nurse another option at this stage.