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The Philadelphia 76ers were able to land the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NBA draft as they were able to get into the June 23 draft after moving Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Sixers landed a slew of draft picks out of the deal, including the aforementioned first round pick via the Houston Rockets.
As they head into this draft, there are plenty of options for the Sixers to look into. The goal for them is to add a player who can help them take the next step forward following a tough Round 2 sweep by the New York Knicks. Philadelphia should be looking into every option in order to take the next steps forward toward title contention.
Here is the first big board for the Sixers with the No. 22 overall selection with the draft five weeks away:
2025-26 stats: 13.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.1 bpg, 62.3% FG, 34.3% 3FG
Previous ranking: 3
The big man moves up two spots in this edition to the top spot. He had a terrific draft combine and the Sixers need a rough and tough big man, who can also finish around the basket, to come off the bench. Johnson had a helluva NCAA Tournament run when he averaged 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds, including 12 points and 10 rebounds in the title game win over the UConn Huskies. If there is one weakness to his game, it's his 3-point shot as he shot just 1-for-6 from deep in the tournament and only 12-for-35 on the season. That is an area of weakness, but he literally does everything else at a high clip--including rebounding which is what the Sixers need the most at this moment.
He is the perfect fit for a Sixers team looking for size at the power forward spot, and with the NBA beginning to trend back toward the double-big lineups, Johnson makes a lot of sense for the Sixers at 22. He is athletic, tough, and brings an edge to the defensive end and on the glass. If he can develop his jumper a bit, then Philadelphia will be able to find a valuable player with this pick at 22.
2025-26 stats: 11.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.9 spg, 51.2% FG, 41.3% 3FG
Previous ranking: 1
Graves feels like a player who is the most ready to step in and produce right away with this selection. He is somebody who offers a ton of versatility at the position and will be somebody who can be a plug and play type of player from the get-go. He isn't the most athletically gifted player in the world, but he can do so many different things such as shoot the ball at a high clip and he makes impactful plays in other areas of the floor as evidenced by being fifth in the nation in box plus-minus.
Graves had a true shooting percentage of 61.3% and was a big part of the success the Broncos had in 2025-26. With that being said, the caveat is he came off the bench and was playing against so-so competition in the West Coast Conference. However, this is an opportunity for a player at a mid-major to step in and produce at the NBA level. He will receive playing time regardless of where he lands in this draft.
2025-26 stats: 14.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.7 bpg, 52.8% FG, 35% 3FG
Previous ranking: 4
Like Johnson above him on this big board, Peat brings his hard hat to work. He brings a blue-collar mentality to the big man spot as he brings an edge and toughness to the 4-spot. He stands at 6-foot-8, so he has good size and brings a lot of physicality to the table. He isn't much of a shooter, he shot just 7-for-20 from deep with the Wildcats in 2025-26, but there is a path for improvement due to his work ethic.
There is a school of thought that wonders if those intangibles can make up for the lack of offensive skill at the moment, but it's obvious that Peat will be a first-round pick. One has to wonder if the Sixers will take a chance on him at No. 22 as Nurse and his staff could probably do wonders with a player his size and how hard he works.
2025-26 stats: 23.2 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, 46.5% FG, 35.4% 3FG
Previous ranking: Not ranked
A newcomer to the big board, Okorie checks a lot of boxes for the Sixers. He can score from all three levels, has elite burst, can handle the ball off the bench or even in lineups next to Tyrese Maxey, and can also play some top-level defense. He can shoot it respectably enough for defenses to have to pay attention to him and that's when he can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket.
Ultimately, Okorie fits the Sixers as another ball-handler, which was a problem for this group at times, especially in the playoffs. He has just an absurd ability to get to the basket, which will bother opposing defenses on a regular basis, and he would give Philadelphia that stabilizer off the bench. He is only 19 years old, which allows a ton of room for growth, and the Sixers would find ways to make it work with him and Maxey in the backcourt.
2025-26 stats: 15.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 43.3% FG, 36.1% 3FG
Previous ranking: 2
If the Sixers are looking to add more depth at the guard position, that's where Evans would come into the picture. There is a small chance he's here at No. 22, but even so, he might be worth trading up for. He can shoot the ball, offers up some scoring upside, and he can handle the ball. When considering the Sixers moved McCain, and might lose Quentin Grimes in unrestricted free agency, then Evans makes a lot of sense for this group in Round 1.
In an expanded role at Duke, Evans was able to show off his efficiency as a starter while upping his usage, and he has an NBA body right now. He will have to adjust a bit to the NBA game, but there is so much that Evans can do right now to help the Sixers, and that main skill is his ability to shoot the ball with deep range.
2025-26 stats: 17.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 bpg, 60.8% FG, 52.6% 3FG
Previous ranking: 5
Some may consider Veesaar a reach at this early pick, but he stands at 7-feet tall, is skilled, can rebound the basketball, and can shoot it. He shot 40-for-94 from deep and has the ability to also put the ball on the floor while also making passes out of the post and off the dribble. He can protect the rim, has enough athletic ability to be effective, and can also help right away, which is the most important thing.
Being 22 years old already may be a thing that holds him back, but Veesaar can be helpful from the get-go. The Sixers are a team influx as it decides which timeline it's on right now with young Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe leading the backcourt and the aging Joel Embiid and Paul George up front. Either way, Veesaar fits both timelines as a plug and play right now and someone for the future. His shooting ability should keep him in the league for a long time.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 Philadelphia 76ers draft big board 2.0: The best fits at No. 22
Continue reading...
As they head into this draft, there are plenty of options for the Sixers to look into. The goal for them is to add a player who can help them take the next step forward following a tough Round 2 sweep by the New York Knicks. Philadelphia should be looking into every option in order to take the next steps forward toward title contention.
Here is the first big board for the Sixers with the No. 22 overall selection with the draft five weeks away:
1. Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
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2025-26 stats: 13.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.1 bpg, 62.3% FG, 34.3% 3FG
Previous ranking: 3
The big man moves up two spots in this edition to the top spot. He had a terrific draft combine and the Sixers need a rough and tough big man, who can also finish around the basket, to come off the bench. Johnson had a helluva NCAA Tournament run when he averaged 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds, including 12 points and 10 rebounds in the title game win over the UConn Huskies. If there is one weakness to his game, it's his 3-point shot as he shot just 1-for-6 from deep in the tournament and only 12-for-35 on the season. That is an area of weakness, but he literally does everything else at a high clip--including rebounding which is what the Sixers need the most at this moment.
He is the perfect fit for a Sixers team looking for size at the power forward spot, and with the NBA beginning to trend back toward the double-big lineups, Johnson makes a lot of sense for the Sixers at 22. He is athletic, tough, and brings an edge to the defensive end and on the glass. If he can develop his jumper a bit, then Philadelphia will be able to find a valuable player with this pick at 22.
2. Allen Graves, Santa Clara
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2025-26 stats: 11.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.9 spg, 51.2% FG, 41.3% 3FG
Previous ranking: 1
Graves feels like a player who is the most ready to step in and produce right away with this selection. He is somebody who offers a ton of versatility at the position and will be somebody who can be a plug and play type of player from the get-go. He isn't the most athletically gifted player in the world, but he can do so many different things such as shoot the ball at a high clip and he makes impactful plays in other areas of the floor as evidenced by being fifth in the nation in box plus-minus.
Graves had a true shooting percentage of 61.3% and was a big part of the success the Broncos had in 2025-26. With that being said, the caveat is he came off the bench and was playing against so-so competition in the West Coast Conference. However, this is an opportunity for a player at a mid-major to step in and produce at the NBA level. He will receive playing time regardless of where he lands in this draft.
3. Koa Peat, Arizona
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2025-26 stats: 14.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.7 bpg, 52.8% FG, 35% 3FG
Previous ranking: 4
Like Johnson above him on this big board, Peat brings his hard hat to work. He brings a blue-collar mentality to the big man spot as he brings an edge and toughness to the 4-spot. He stands at 6-foot-8, so he has good size and brings a lot of physicality to the table. He isn't much of a shooter, he shot just 7-for-20 from deep with the Wildcats in 2025-26, but there is a path for improvement due to his work ethic.
There is a school of thought that wonders if those intangibles can make up for the lack of offensive skill at the moment, but it's obvious that Peat will be a first-round pick. One has to wonder if the Sixers will take a chance on him at No. 22 as Nurse and his staff could probably do wonders with a player his size and how hard he works.
4. Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
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2025-26 stats: 23.2 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, 46.5% FG, 35.4% 3FG
Previous ranking: Not ranked
A newcomer to the big board, Okorie checks a lot of boxes for the Sixers. He can score from all three levels, has elite burst, can handle the ball off the bench or even in lineups next to Tyrese Maxey, and can also play some top-level defense. He can shoot it respectably enough for defenses to have to pay attention to him and that's when he can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket.
Ultimately, Okorie fits the Sixers as another ball-handler, which was a problem for this group at times, especially in the playoffs. He has just an absurd ability to get to the basket, which will bother opposing defenses on a regular basis, and he would give Philadelphia that stabilizer off the bench. He is only 19 years old, which allows a ton of room for growth, and the Sixers would find ways to make it work with him and Maxey in the backcourt.
5. Isaiah Evans, Duke
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2025-26 stats: 15.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 43.3% FG, 36.1% 3FG
Previous ranking: 2
If the Sixers are looking to add more depth at the guard position, that's where Evans would come into the picture. There is a small chance he's here at No. 22, but even so, he might be worth trading up for. He can shoot the ball, offers up some scoring upside, and he can handle the ball. When considering the Sixers moved McCain, and might lose Quentin Grimes in unrestricted free agency, then Evans makes a lot of sense for this group in Round 1.
In an expanded role at Duke, Evans was able to show off his efficiency as a starter while upping his usage, and he has an NBA body right now. He will have to adjust a bit to the NBA game, but there is so much that Evans can do right now to help the Sixers, and that main skill is his ability to shoot the ball with deep range.
6. Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
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2025-26 stats: 17.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 bpg, 60.8% FG, 52.6% 3FG
Previous ranking: 5
Some may consider Veesaar a reach at this early pick, but he stands at 7-feet tall, is skilled, can rebound the basketball, and can shoot it. He shot 40-for-94 from deep and has the ability to also put the ball on the floor while also making passes out of the post and off the dribble. He can protect the rim, has enough athletic ability to be effective, and can also help right away, which is the most important thing.
Being 22 years old already may be a thing that holds him back, but Veesaar can be helpful from the get-go. The Sixers are a team influx as it decides which timeline it's on right now with young Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe leading the backcourt and the aging Joel Embiid and Paul George up front. Either way, Veesaar fits both timelines as a plug and play right now and someone for the future. His shooting ability should keep him in the league for a long time.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 Philadelphia 76ers draft big board 2.0: The best fits at No. 22
Continue reading...
