Sports Radio Interviews

Ed Stefanski: We’re Drafting The Best Guard Available

Ed Stefanski does not seem very excited in this interview about selecting in the 17 hole this coming Thursday.  Maybe it’s because they’ve already made a trade with Toronto for the best shooter in the world, Jason Kapono.  I mean, you have him scoring, who else do you need?  On a serious note, the Sixers are pretty set at the three, four, and five spots with Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and Elton Brand.  So, they’re going small in this draft, but like many pundits, Stefanski seems reluctant to proclaim this pick will change his talent level for the coming years.  The bigger impact on his team will be caused by whether or not point guard, Andre Miller, re-signs.  Stefnaski joined ESPN Philadelphia to discuss how sees the draft shaking down, why Eddie Jordan’s coaching style factors in to his decision at 17, and the strength of the draft class.

What are you looking for at the 17 spot?

“The perimeter player could be a one or a two, we feel we have a need for both spots.  We’re looking for the best guard available… We’re gonna take, we think, the best player.  The twos we’re looking at, they can flat out shoot the basketball.  We got [Jason] Kapono which we feel happy about because he’s gonna extend the defense and you can’t have enough shooters.  If we go that route, we’re gonna have a two who can make shots or we go with that point guard.  As I said, there’s a couple guys who are say, combo guards; there’s not a lot of true points left in the NBA.  The other thing with the way Eddie Jordan, our new head coach, likes to run his offense, he runs it with a two guard set.  So, it’s not that pure point guard bringing it up, he runs it with a two guard set.  So, it’s not a pure point guard bringing it up, a one guard front, it’s a two guard front.  So, that’s another reason we’re looking for the best possible perimeter guard.”

How do you see this draft shaking down?

“You know the number one draft is gonna be [Blake] Griffin, everyone knows that, after that, it is a crap shoot.  I don’t who’s going two, I think guys at the top would like to get out of their spots and get a seasoned NBA player and move down.  Are people gonna go for it it is the question, but I think there is a lot of talk up front to do that.  We’ve investigated moving up but so far, we don’t think there’s a player that makes a lot of sense as opposed to staying here at 17.  Plus, we have not had a realistic offer by anybody else – what they want from us is pretty silly.”

How do you look at the players in this draft in terms of quality? Is it a weak draft class?

“It’s a good question, and it’s an easy answer in three years.  I think a lot of people felt that way before the draft, but you know when you get closer to the draft, it gets more like Christmas Day.  Everyone gets excited, you start seeing things maybe you didn’t see earlier.  They may be right because we’re, I don’t wanna use the word confused, we have probably eight guys on the board that we’re arguing [about], which are great arguments… We’re breaking down everything, calling people, we’re doing all the background.  Maybe it’s because we’re still down to eight guys that it’s not a strong draft.”

Listen to Ed Stefanski on ESPN Philadelphia with Mac and Mayes

Tags: Basketball, Ed Stefanski, NBA, Philadelphia 76ers