By: Sean Kane (CSNPhilly.com) — For the Sixers, the hard part is done.

Their jump from the sixth spot to the second spot in Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery defied the odds, and the benefit to the franchise is two-fold. It will land them a player who will contribute right away and potentially develop into an All-Star. But in the immediate future, the improbable leap up the board generates some much-needed excitement around a team coming off a 27-win season and still searching for its seventh head coach since Larry Brown bolted for Detroit in 2003.

Now, the easy part – take Evan Turner.

Over the next month, theories will be tossed around and rumors will swirl regarding the Sixers trading the second pick to one of what will surely be a number of teams itching to move up to the spot. Including the second pick in any sort of trade package would make it much easier to move Elton Brand or Andre Iguodala. The Sixers could rid themselves of either one of those contracts and at the same time pick up a solid player later in the first round. They need help on the frontline and this draft is brimming with solid big men expected to go in the 5-15 range.

But this decision shouldn’t be that complicated. Turner was hands down the best player in college basketball last season as a junior at Ohio State. Playing out of position (he was moved from off the ball to the point out of necessity by coach Thad Matta), he led the Buckeyes to 29 wins by averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists. In addition to leading the Big Ten conference in scoring, the 6-foot-7 Turner was the conference’s top rebounder – a remarkable feat for a point guard. Turner was the runaway Big Ten Player of the Year and also garnered every major national player of the year award. A back injury cost him six games in the middle of last season. Ohio State went 3-3 in those games and 26-5 in games in which he played.

Turner can play three positions – point guard, shooting guard and small forward. More importantly for the Sixers, he can defend three positions and defend them well. Pairing him with Jrue Holiday instantly gives the Sixers one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA. Both have good size for their respective positions and each has the rare desire to dig in on the defensive end.

The 21-year old Turner is no slouch offensively, and that’s how he’ll be the biggest help to a Sixers team that finished 23rd in the league in scoring last season. He can get to the rim at will and creates countless scoring opportunities for himself, as well as his teammates. Turner can get out on the break and help the…..

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