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The Evan Turner Question

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Long-term, the team they most resemble is the one directly above them in the East — the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks whiffed on the #2 pick in the 2005 draft (Marvin Williams), and despite a nice core of young talent — led by Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford — they’ve been swept both times they got out of the first round of the playoffs. None of this is Turner’s fault; he was just a poor "fit" in Philadelphia. If the Sixers want to maximize their draft pick, they are going to have to get the ball in his hands more; his usage rating is a paltry 17.0. His per-36 numbers (11/6/3) are still respectable, and if he can improve his three-point shooting (only 27.5% this season), he could be still be a borderline All-Star at 6’7. With Turner’s trade value so low, Holiday probably untouchable, no salary cap room to speak off and little chance to get back into the top of the lottery, Philadelphia has only one way to try to acquire an athletic and skilled big man — Andre Iguodala. And even he may not be enough.