2026 NBA mock draft: Sixers select Morez Johnson Jr. with No. 22 pick

[ASFN Admin]

As the Philadelphia 76ers head into the offseason, their first order of business will be the draft. The Sixers have a first-round pick in 2026 thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets.

The pick landed at No. 22 so the Sixers will be looking to add a rotation player with the selection on June 23. Philadelphia has had success in that area--see Maxey, Tyrese--but finding a player like Maxey in this area is unlikely. If the Sixers can find a player who can play right away, it will be a successful draft for them.

A mock draft performed by Bleacher Report has the Sixers selecting Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 22:

Johnson's stock should be climbing after a strong showing at the combine. He measured well, he tested well, and he showed off three-point touch that suggests he can be much more than just a dynamic defender and physical scorer around the basket.

That defense is the biggest selling point, though. He has the size, speed and instincts to offer true 1-through-5 switchability, and he can wreak weak-side havoc in passing lanes and at-the-rim contests. Philadelphia could see him as both insurance behind Joel Embiid and a physical enforcer alongside him in bigger lineups.

Johnson was a huge part of Michigan's run to the title. He averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and shot 62.3% from the floor with the Wolverines and provided a rugged style of play for a team that was able to make an impact on the defensive end of the floor to win the championship. He only 35 3-pointers across 40 games, making 12 of them, so the shooting is a big question, but the Sixers need somebody who can rebound, play with energy, and get after it on the defensive end off the bench. He would be a big part of Philadelphia's bench unit right away.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA mock draft: Sixers select Morez Johnson Jr. with No. 22 pick

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