Two big men to visit Sixers

When you have the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft, you need to be sure about your choice. As sure as you possibly can be. The 76ers know that. That's why they have arranged for Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors to work out for them, and why they have a similar arrangement with Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins at a date to be determined.

Most observers believe the Sixers' likely choice will be Ohio State's Evan Turner, but the team's personnel and scouting people clearly believe it's best to be as thorough as possible in their preparation for the June 24 draft.

Wallace Prather, Favors' agent, confirmed that his client will work out for the Sixers on June 18.

"He'll only work out for teams we believe are in his range," Prather said last night. "I feel like Philly is in his range, knowing that their center [Samuel Dalembert] is in the last year of his contract and that they could have a need."

The 6-10 Favors, 18, played one season for Georgia Tech, averaging 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists, shooting 61.1 percent from the floor, but just 62.9 percent from the foul line.

Prather said Favors "has size, athleticism, youth, potential and the ability to play two positions." Favors has been projected in most mock drafts as going in the top three-to-five picks.

Cousins, 19, weighing in at about 290 pounds, played one season at Kentucky as a teammate of guard John Wall, who is projected as the No. 1 overall pick, going to the Washington Wizards.

Cousins averaged 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists, shooting 55.8 percent from the floor but just 60.4 percent from the foul line.

The 6-7 Turner, who spent three seasons in college, has been projected as the Sixers' choice, in part, because he would solidify their backcourt, teaming with Jrue Holiday, last year's first-round pick.

Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski has said the team is not shopping its pick.

"We're listening to anybody who calls, but we have not shopped the No. 2 pick whatsoever," Stefanski said the other day. "We don't shut our phones off, but it would take a blockbuster for us to consider moving the pick."

The Sixers will join Orlando, New Jersey, Indiana, Oklahoma City, Utah, Boston and Charlotte in a 5-day summer league in Orlando beginning July 5. Because of space limitations at the RDV Sportsplex, the Magic's practice site, the games will not be open to the public. The Sixers will face the Nets in the league opener on July 5 . . . The Sixers have scheduled a free-admission draft party June 24, starting at 4 p.m. in the Wachovia Center. They have also slated their annual Beach Bash for July 31 at Jack's Place in Avalon, N.J.

For more Sixers coverage, read the

Daily News' Sixers blog, Sixerville, at http://go.philly.com/sixerville