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With the 2026 NBA draft fast approaching, the first round is on June 23, now's the time to look at some potential options for the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick. If one wants to look at Sixers Wire's draft big board, one can do so here.
This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.
Up next in this series is Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr.:
Johnson's strengths are everything the Sixers are missing at the moment. He is a rugged and tough rebounder as he has a tendency to just outwork people for rebounds. It doesn't matter if he is the smaller player battling underneath the basket. If Johnson sees the ball, he's going to go get the ball. Throw in his ability to defend multiple positions and he is a player the Sixers should hope falls to them at No. 22 on draft night. He uses his strength to defend bigger players in the paint and uses his quickness and strong hands to bother guards on the perimeter.
Offensively, he has fantastic footwork. He understands where to be on the floor as he can set screens, roll to the basket, and finish through traffic due to a variety of pump fakes and moves to get the ball in the basket. Johnson's ability to make catches in traffic would a big help for this group as the Sixers look to find ways to add to the bench unit.
Johnson isn't much of a shooter. He only shot 12-for-35 from deep in 40 games with the Wolverines on their way to the title as his game is mostly limited to putbacks, drop off passes from the guards, and off pick-and-roll opportunities. With that being said, though, he did shoot 78.2% from the foul line, which offers up hope that he can develop a jumper as the mechanics suggest he will. He also isn't much of a creator. He is somebody who relies a lot on his guards and playmakers to come up with buckets of his own. Somebody like Maxey would love to play with him as he is somebody readily available for opportunities in the paint, but the lack of self-creation could present a problem in the future.
As mentioned, the Sixers need to build up its bench unit. They do have Adem Bona in tow, but with Andre Drummond a free agent, Philadelphia would likely want to bring in another big man to back up Joel Embiid. If the Sixers were to draft Johnson at 22, he has the ability to be a plug-and-play type of player. He can help right now and that is what the Sixers need in their climb up the ladder in the Eastern Conference.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA Draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Morez Johnson Jr.
Continue reading...
This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.
Up next in this series is Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr.:
Strengths
Johnson's strengths are everything the Sixers are missing at the moment. He is a rugged and tough rebounder as he has a tendency to just outwork people for rebounds. It doesn't matter if he is the smaller player battling underneath the basket. If Johnson sees the ball, he's going to go get the ball. Throw in his ability to defend multiple positions and he is a player the Sixers should hope falls to them at No. 22 on draft night. He uses his strength to defend bigger players in the paint and uses his quickness and strong hands to bother guards on the perimeter.
Offensively, he has fantastic footwork. He understands where to be on the floor as he can set screens, roll to the basket, and finish through traffic due to a variety of pump fakes and moves to get the ball in the basket. Johnson's ability to make catches in traffic would a big help for this group as the Sixers look to find ways to add to the bench unit.
Weaknesses
Johnson isn't much of a shooter. He only shot 12-for-35 from deep in 40 games with the Wolverines on their way to the title as his game is mostly limited to putbacks, drop off passes from the guards, and off pick-and-roll opportunities. With that being said, though, he did shoot 78.2% from the foul line, which offers up hope that he can develop a jumper as the mechanics suggest he will. He also isn't much of a creator. He is somebody who relies a lot on his guards and playmakers to come up with buckets of his own. Somebody like Maxey would love to play with him as he is somebody readily available for opportunities in the paint, but the lack of self-creation could present a problem in the future.
Potential fit with the Sixers
As mentioned, the Sixers need to build up its bench unit. They do have Adem Bona in tow, but with Andre Drummond a free agent, Philadelphia would likely want to bring in another big man to back up Joel Embiid. If the Sixers were to draft Johnson at 22, he has the ability to be a plug-and-play type of player. He can help right now and that is what the Sixers need in their climb up the ladder in the Eastern Conference.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA Draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Morez Johnson Jr.
Continue reading...
