The BroadCast: 6/19/2018 ~ Draft Pod - Alaa Abdelnaby Previews '18 Draft Class

draft edition of the podcast. Really looking forward to hearing from our guest on this edition of the podcast, none other than NBC Sports Philadelphia seventy Sixers analyst Alla Ablinabby haven't heard his voice and about what is it now? A month's time or more, and it's a very welcoming, excellent voice to hear, as we've come to know over the last couple of seasons. Olive, of course, before he started doing Sixers games full time, was a college basketball

analyst for CBS Sports Network. He still does a couple of games here and there, so I thought, why not reach out to him get his perspective on things about the Sixers and the draft. Before you bring in Allah, reminders that to subscribe to the podcast, you can go to iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, type in Sixers podcast Network. We're also on SoundCloud at SoundCloud dot com, backslash Sixers. Whatever the occasion, it is always excellent to be connecting

with this man that we have on the line. Ala Abdelnaby, what's up man? How you doing great? Brian, good to be with you. Is always always fun to talk basketball with you, my friend. Listen, we're gonna get into some of the stuff related to the draft, but we actually haven't spoken since the last game you Zoo and Molly worked for NBC Sports Philadelphia, which was the end of the first round for the seventy sixers against the Miami Heat.

So I almost feel like there wasn't complete closure to the season that we did not get to hear and Allah Abdelnaby take opinion, thought, perspective, insight on how everything shook out against the Boston Celtics. So before we die even to the draft, would you think of about how the second round went well? I think the trick is to look past the disappointment that you feel when you

get eliminated and you get sent home. And I think there's obviously, you know, a lot of disappointment losing to the Celtics rightfully so, but I don't think for a second that it should take away from anything that that the Sittures did as a team as an organization this year, with the fifty plus wins, with the way they conducted themselves down the stretch of the regular season, playing about as good as basketball as anybody on the planet was

playing at the time. So there was a lot of positive and I don't forget the ten, ten, and seventy two seasons. It's still in my rearview mirror where I can see it. And so when you think about that season and you think about what we saw last year, the progress has been stunning and it was just a far part. It was a fun thing to be a part of it, and I felt it was also a privilege to be a part of it, get to watch some really high level basketball and watch this team come

together as a unit. The Sixers exceeded expectations. That's a fair statement to make you think absolutely. I mean, come on, if you would have told me we would have gone over the fifty mark as far as wins are concerned in October, I would have looked at you and said, you know, probably, why don't you just tamper that down. That's probably not realistic for this season. I would have thought perhaps that was something that the Sixers would have

been able to accomplish in the years moving forward. But that being said, it just speeds up the progress that much more because right now the Sixers have even more to build up. When you broke into the league with the Trailblazers back and the heyday of that franchise in the early nineteen nineties, you were thrust in the midst of a situation. You've talked about this a lot in the past, where that was a team competing at a

high level. Do you think there is something too the stance that if you're a young player, it takes going through the playoffs the postseason to really get a feel for what it's like, what it demands. Absolutely, it's a great point you make, because the regular season is one thing, and success in the regular season deserves a lot of attention and credit and you should be lauded for it.

But I think it's a different beast when you get into the playoffs, and I know that having gone through it myself as a player, you just the game gets taken to another level. You hear the phrase money time, where it's you know, applied to the baseball playoffs, the

same thing in the NBA. I think reputations are made in the playoffs individually and collectively, and I think the Sixers comported themselves really well as far as a team that hadn't been in the playoffs for a while, had a lot of guys that were going through it for the first time and trying to find their way through the difficulty of the NBA playoff season and finding some success being able to navigate through that that there's a lot to be said for that, and the Sixers have

a lot to be proud of. But again it should only encourage them because I think it's something where you learn about how far you can go, and you you get knocked down a little bit, and then it makes you want to go a little further, and hopefully that's the fire that's burning between inside of each and every player.

Because there's a lot more to do. From the fan perspective, it might be understandable for someone to say, well, you know, the Sixers went on this great run and who knocked them out a division rival, the Celtics, And oh, by the way, their timeline looks like it's pretty similar right now to where the Sixers are in terms of having a youthful core and what they might be able to add.

But from this standpoint, from the coverage standpoint a member of the media, I think it's an awesome storyline where you have these two long time rivals. I think it's no doubt about it that we're going to get a big time revivalry of it, and you got these young players in the thick of it that foreseeably could be

duking it out for years to come. Yeah, no, I agree with you, and listen, having played for both organizations and more in that jersey for both teams, they're both proud teams, both teams with proud, long histories that they like to draw upon and rightfully so it's still a big treat. You know this from knowing me over the years when Doctor Jays in the building, when any of the old seventy Sixers are around, because there's a source of pride there, and the Celtics are the same way.

And now to see the modern versions of those teams playing at a high level, how could you not love that? How could you not be caught up in the fun because of what the history has shown us in the past. You know, it's kind of like a history is prologue while it's the same idea, and that it promises the future. And what we've seen as far as little glimpses so far of the little rivalry that's budding. Yeah, there's a

lot to be excited about it. It's going to be fun because I think right now, whoever is looking over the other person's shoulder, both teams will be pretty close to each other. As if an eighty two plus game workload, we're not enough for you between the months of October, April and to May. Inevitably, it seems like if I'm sitting at home on an off night and I turn on the television and I scroll through once twice, maybe three times, their pops allah Alblnaby doing a game for

CBS Sports Network something like that. On the college level, how much fun do you still have keeping tabs in that area of the sport. I love it because it helps me do my job with the Sixers too. You've heard me over the years, and I know our listeners and our viewers have heard me over the years, you know, HARKing back to guys in their careers in college and what they were doing, and what their scouting report was

coming out of college, and how far they've progressed. I wouldn't be able to know any of that stuff if I didn't have the collegiate background. So I'm grateful. Listen, we know what it's like in our business when the phone rings. One you're grateful, and two you answer with a yes, regardless of what they ask you to do. So from my standpoint, I'm just grateful that the phone keeps ringing and I get to be around kids, whether it's the seventy six ers twenty year olds or it's

some of the collegiate eighteen and nineteen year olds. Either way, I'm a lucky dude. What are you making this year's draft class? I think it's deep. I think there's there's a couple of diamonds in the rough there that I think may catch some people by surprise. I'm not worried about the seventy sixers picking at tenth. Would you like to pick earlier? Of course you'd like to pick earlier, but I think that there could be some talent there.

I'm also hearing things about the sixers wanting to move and use that pick maybe to lure someone else here or to move up in the draft. So that's I find that interesting too. But I think if the Sixers were to stand pat at ten, I think that some potential talent there, because I think I do think that there's a lot of talent coming out of college this year. If you're a fan, you gotta love to hear something like what Brett Brown said the other week. We plan

to be bold, We plan to be aggressive. Essentially said, if there's a chance to do something that we really believe in and it requires some strength and fortitude, we're gonna go out and do it. And listen, with a tenth of the stake of the draft is what the seventy six ers hold. They have plenty of assets, they do. And I love the way Brett phrases that because it's how they play too, the bold and they're aggressive, and

I think that'll attract guys. You know, you heard. We heard guys like Marco Belinelli, JJ Reddick, veterans who have been around the league and played for a number of different teams, and both of them, throughout the course of this past season, talked about a number of times talked about how much fun they're having out there, how much fun they enjoy playing, whether it's with Joel, whether it's with Ben, or whether it's just a collective unit in

the way Brett Brown likes to play. So I think that the league, being a small league that gets around people notice that people hear what guys like JJ Reddick and Marco Belinelli say, and they and they figure when it's their time to decide where they're going, Hey, maybe Philadelphia is a destination I might consider. Because of all those factors we just talked about, it's a lot different than it was three years ago. And I think Brett Brown and his boldness, if you will, in the organization's

boldness has a lot to do with it. In your three now plus years getting to know him, just what would you say, gives him the strength of leadership that he has, especially now as he guides the Sixers through this transition period. Well, I listen, I played for a great coach and coach k and the best part about him was his communications. You always knew where you stood in his eyes, what he needed to work on it.

I think Brett's the same way, even more so because now you've got guys, and you've got to worry about egos even more than you on the collegiate level, and you got to worry about getting all the different guys in the locker rooms and their egos and their agendas

all on the same page. And I think that UM in itself at times goes unnoticed because you just figure, well, how hard is it to field five guys out there and call subs Well, it's a lot harder than than than than someone on the surface would would would see. And I think that's something that UM, I think goes a long way. He's really really good at. I mean, he's really really good at communicating with us when we talk to him UM, and when we asked him questions,

and when he's forthcoming, it's enlightening. And I think that's the same thing when when when you see how he deals with his players. That's another thing that I think

makes Philadelphia an attractive destination. I gotta say, I think one of the more entertaining, at least for me, parts of this pre draft period is getting to listen to your fellow Duke Blue Devil brethren ellen Brand, get in front of the mic and get some FaceTime, which I know he's not seeking, but it's been great to hear his personnel insights and just how much more comfortable he seems.

Not that he was lacking for confidence this time last year when he was about to go in to his first season as a G League general manager, But no, I've been loving hearing what he's got to say, and it seems like he really has the pulse on what's going on. And I thought he brought up an interesting point on Monday that right now it sounds like the conversation with the Sixers very much as revolving around fit versus potential and going back to let's say the Sixers

stay at ten. That type of debate, to me at least, seems like it gets thrust in the forefront when you're at a spot like that, and especially when you take into account the dynamic of the seventy six ers roster and how minutes might not quite be readily available, you would presume at the start of next season, well, listen, you're gonna want a guy who is gonna want to come in and accept his role, whatever role that may be.

And at times, because of the guys that we already have and potentially you may bring in You may not have to do the same thing you did in college. You may have to adjust. You know, I remember going to the Portland team and realizing all of a sudden that Klyd Drexa didn't need twenty points out of me at night. It's the same thing here. Brett Brown and Joel Embiide and Ben Simmons may not need twenty points a night out of the number ten pick whoever he

may be. But he may have to learn how to defend. He may have to learn how to defend guys he's never covered before, because defense is a pillar of what Brett Brown wants to do. So I think you know the fit part. I understand because it's all about character. And listen, I think character is an overlooked quality as well. A lot of people will tell you when you've got people of character, you've got people you can depend on. Not trying to imply it. The seventy six ers might

favor one of these guys over another. But if we zero in on the wing position and I throw out names that you like Kevin Knox, Miles Bridges and mcale Bridges, and I'll catch that by saying, no particular order, what's a thumbnail sketch they would give. Of those three guys. Well, listen, Knox. I like um and from what I hear, he's you know, he's gone up the draft board and his ability. I like the his ability to put the ball on the floor. The other two, the Bridges guys, I've gotten a chance

to see them a lot. And Miles Bridges for Michigan State's a little bit more beefier. He's a little bit more athletic than the Villanova Bridges, but at the same time, he can shoot it a little bit, put the ball on the floor. He has learned to play facing the basket. He came out of high school, the one in Michigan State, Miles Bridges, he came out being predominantly back to the basket burley kind of player. And now all of a sudden you see him now starting to play more face up.

And then the Bridges and the Michael Bridges out of Villanova. I like him because I think he's closer to what Brett Brown wants. Defensively, I think Miles Bridges has a little bit more defensive work on the defensive end to do, because I think he's had to. However, just the physical the physical guys in the big ten. Now on this level, you mentioned there being a swing, he's going to be out under perimeter a lot more so. I think that's the adjustment that a guy like Miles Bridges has more

to make than a Michael Bridges. I think Michael Bridges is a perhaps in that regard, a better fit. But I don't think you can lose a lot because I don't think you're gonna ask a lot of these guys when they come into this team and play whatever role in whatever minutes they get. So I think whatever whatever guy you get, I think he's going to have to embrace his role. And I think it starts on the

defensive end. Would you think that after the big man position, whether it's a power for or center in this draft, wing is where there's the next quality of depth closer towards the top. I do. I think there's a number of different guys um that play both ends of the floor, you know, that play and transition, and I think the

Sixers need that. I think we talked about the ultimate swing guy, if you will, for I guess about a year and a half now, noticing that that's something that the Sixers could use there's a few of those out there, but again, let's not expect him to come in and be incredibly productive NBA players their first year. What we saw from Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, those guys are outliers, not the norm. I have to ask you about some

of the men who held from your own pedigree. Dan In Durham at North Carolina, Marvin Bagley seems like it would be surprising if he did not go in the top three. But Wendell Carter, he seems to be floating around that seven ten eleven range. What do you like about Wendell Carter, Well, what I like is he's added stuff to his game. You know. He first of all, he's one of these guys that rebounds with two hands and everything's above the rim. He plays big, That's the

first thing I like about him. He's got long arms, he's got great reach. The old phrase wingspan comes in with him. He's got he's quick off the ground. Um. He's not an overwhelming athlete like a bag leap, but he's a good athlete. UM. I like it because every time he gets the ball around the rim, he also just tries to dunk it. Um. He's there's not a

lot of finesse in his game. But that being said, um towards the other stretches in the season where I saw him shoot a couple of threes at a decent clip, because I think he realizes that he's going to happen to the way the game has played at this level, add that to his game game. So that's what I mean about him getting better. I think he's one of these young kids. From what I understand, he's a he's a gym rat. He likes likes to work on his game.

So that's something that's going to bode well for him, especially when you consider he's got a lot of work to do and we haven't gotten to college for one year. Michael Porter the most intriguing prospect in this draft to you, Yeah, but his back worries me, you know, And Um, I think that's the issue. Is it's the unknown, right Um, and if if if it's become an issue at an early age. You know, the back situation has a word that gets applied to a degenerative or which means it

doesn't get better, it steadily gets worse. And that means that he's going to have to stay on it, stay flexible. He's gonna need a lot of close attention on it. And you just wonder, you know, is somebody that young that going to be that mature and that diligent about keeping after his back and staying healthy. It's a risk. But can he play. Absolutely he can play. But again, the back is a little bit different and it's a

little more worrisome than other parts of the body. Where would you expect Rayson Allen to go in terms of range of the draft. I wouldn't expect him to go before twenty, you know, but I have heard, you know, he's had really good workouts, and from what I know about him, the first thing I always tell people is, you know, he's more athletic than you think he's. You know, he's obviously from what I understand, his vertical leap had impressed,

his speed impressed, his lateral movement impressed. I know Danny Ainge and Boston loves him. So again, I don't expect him to go high. I don't expect him to be a lottery pick, but I expect him to come in. They'll struggle a little bit initially with the physicality, but I think once he gets a little stronger. I think Grayson is going to be a good pro for about

a good eight to ten years. I'm not sure if you've ever gotten a sense of this, but with your connections between both the nc double A and the NBA, do you have any idea of just how frequently NBA personnel people are on the phone with college coaches, whether it's a head coach or an assistant this time of year, preceding the height of the draft period, just trying to get more intel. Is that a regular thing, Listen, I

think they do a lot more than that, brother. I think people they send people to your family and friends and they ask about you. I've had you heard stories about they'll send people to your teachers to ask you to what kind of worker you are. There's a lot

more involved. Yeah, I would definitely say, Brian, that they're talking, that's at the very least talking to their college coaches, and hopefully their college coaches are giving them, you know, the truth, you know whether or not the players got some shortcomings, because let's face it, they all got some shortcomings. But again, also the college coach is gonna be defending his player to talk about his upside. You mentioned earlier, the idea of there being some diamond in the rough

type prospects in this draft. There any names of guys that you've seen over your travels or just have enjoyed watching this season that that you think are at a good level to possibly step in phil role do something on a roster. I think Trey Young at Oklahoma is a guy that he may not have been crushing it during these these workouts, but I like his physical package. The only knock on him, if I was going to critique his game, he's a little small and his shot

selection isn't that great. But it was also I had a lot to do with the situation he was in in Oklahoma where he was the guy who basically had to do almost everything. But I like his speed and the way the game's played now. He's got good enough handle. If he can navigate through a pick and roll situation, he's going to be a handful. How many first rounders do you think Ville Nova gets on draft night? Who?

It's a shame about Brunson, isn't it? Because he gets knocked for his lack of size, But they don't measure his heart right, and they don't and there is no instrument to measure that unfortunately for the NBA combines. So I'm gonna say too, but I think they deserve more

than that. It's crazy because when you go back and look at what he's done, and I wasn't fully aware of this in the past, but just recently trying to catch up on him, he really has just been outstanding at every level, whether it was USA Basketball, high school in Illinois, then obviously what he did with the Wildcats. Like you said earlier, it's like intangibles that that's gotta you think count for some part of the profile. He's just someone who has succeeded so far at every level. Yeah,

I think you know what his problem is. He doesn't fit the mold of the other sub six footers. When you think of someone who's a sub six footer, they're gonna have to have lightning quick speed, and I think that may be something that I don't know if they deem him quick enough the NBA scouts, but it seems like his height is a detriment and they're not finding any I guess positive qualities to kind of make up

for it. You know, I'm thinking immediately of like a mugsy Bogues or Michael Adams going way back, those guys were lightning quick to compensate for their size, and maybe they just don't think Jalen has the prerequisite quickness. But again, I'm just gonna go back to his heart and knowing and seeing how he's played and the fact that he's won and made every team he's been on better. I don't know why you wouldn't want to give that a look.

As we begin to wrap things up, the news of Tuesday is that the Sixers are bringing back knocks for a second workout. This time it's going to be a solo workout, and Texas tech Zaire Smith is going to be back for a second six man workout. How much would you make of that? Well, see, having gone through it myself and not getting drafted by any of the teams I worked out for, and then not getting drafted by teams that would tell me that they were going to draft me the day of the draft. I don't

know what to believe anymore, Brian. I don't know if it's a good thing. I don't know if it necessarily means anything. I know it's not a bad thing. I know the fact that you know, as long as they don't come in for that second workout and have a worse workout than they did in the first one. Then I know, potentially for them it's not a bad thing. But the fact that other teams are asking about you and want to see more that can't hurt. How much

football are you watching these days? Let's put it this way. There's not much of anything else going out. The World Cup has completely taken over this household. Each plays tomorrow, I'm pretty posed, that's right. Big game versus Russia, that's right. So I'm trying to contain myself now, all righty man, Well, the knowledge always much appreciated. We must wish you in

advance a happy birthday. Hopefully you enjoy it coming up in a few weeks, and it is great hearing from you during the time of the year where we don't get to connect and touch base as much. So thanks so much for the time, man, Thanks for the time to be with you, and also I want to wish you the very best to everyone at home. Have a wonderful summer, my man. Yeah, big birthday coming up for Allah in a few days. Always excellent to here Allah's insights.

Appreciate him taking the time before he was getting ready to get out of town for a little bits. Thank you as always for listening and we'll have more draft coverage on the podcast and this week rolls On, A'll on talking to