2 potential undrafted centers Sixers should look into after 2023 NBA

The Philadelphia 76ers do not have a draft pick in the 2023 NBA draft. They traded away their first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that brought James Harden to the City of Brotherly Love at the 2022 deadline, and they were docked second-round picks in 2023 and 2024 by the NBA for tampering.

However, that doesn’t mean the Sixers will or should be inactive around the draft process. There will be a number of talented players who go undrafted, meaning the Sixers should be able to add a young player who could potentially become a rotation player.

One should not brush off undrafted players. The Miami Heat are a prime example of investing in young talent and giving them time to develop. In the Sixers’ case, here are two big men who could go undrafted but could help in the long run:

Charles Bediako, Alabama

Bediako’s calling card is defense. He averaged 1.8 blocks per game as a sophomore with the Crimson Tide, and he was named to the All-SEC Defensive Team. Bediako is bouncy, athletic and with some fine-tuning of his game, he should become a rotation player in the league. He would likely need to spend time in the G League, but he can help a team in the long run.

Colin Castleton, Florida

Despite playing only 26 games due to a hand injury, Castleton was still named to the All-SEC first team. He averaged 16 points and 7.7 rebounds as a fifth-year senior and he shot 50% from the floor. He also averaged 3 blocks per game. He doesn’t have much of a shooting touch, but he is crafty around the rim, and he has a really soft touch on the offensive end. If he can add a 3-point shot, he can become a really solid player in the NBA.

Story originally appeared on Sixers Wire