2026 NBA mock draft: Sixers take Allen Graves with No. 22 pick

The 2025-26 season is in the books for the Philadelphia 76ers and the focus now is on the offseason and where the Sixers can improve in all areas. The Sixers could certainly use some more help off the bench following a tough playoff run for the second unit and will look to get things moving in the right direction starting with the draft. The Sixers do have a first-round pick in the 2026 draft due to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder .

The Sixers acquired a first-round pick via the Houston Rockets and three second-rounders in exchange for McCain at the trade deadline back in February. A mock draft performed by ESPN has the Sixers selecting Santa Clara forward Allen Graves at No. 22: Graves is one of the unique stories of this draft cycle and has gathered first-round momentum, thanks in large part to his strong analytic profile.

He maintains the ability to return to college, where he is also in the transfer portal, making this one of the more interesting stay-or-go decisions as the combine approaches. While still somewhat polarizing among scouts and not a top-end run-jump athlete, Graves' skill level, feel for the game and productivity have continued to pique NBA interest, giving him a pathway to rise into the top 20 with a strong predraft process. The 76ers successfully pivoted to a younger timeline this season, with the duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe set to anchor the backcourt for the foreseeable future, taking pressure off Joel Embiid.

With Embiid in and out of the lineup, adding younger frontcourt depth should be a goal for Philadelphia, something they might be able to address at this pick. As a freshman, Graves averaged 11. 8 points and 6.