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Sixers may trade to get No. 1 pick in draft

The 76ers appear to be targeting Andrew Wiggins with their first pick in the NBA draft. And they may be willing to trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers to get him.

Sixers forward Thaddeus Young. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Sixers forward Thaddeus Young. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

The 76ers appear to be targeting Andrew Wiggins with their first pick in the NBA draft. And they may be willing to trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers to get him.

The Cavaliers were awarded the No. 1 overall pick at last month's lottery, and the Sixers reportedly have inquired about trading for that pick. The Milwaukee Bucks are second, and the Sixers have the Nos. 3 and 10 picks in the draft, which will be held June 26.

But earlier this month, Fox Sports Ohio reported that another team in the top three called the Cavaliers to measure their interest in trading the pick. The Sixers were the team interested in moving up, ESPN.com reported Tuesday.

The report said the Sixers aren't willing to give up their third and 10th picks in exchange for the No. 1 selection. They will, however, possibly give up a combination of the No. 3 pick and power forward Thaddeus Young, according to the report.

Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie would not comment on the issue, but it's no secret that the team plans to explore all of its options before the draft.

Wiggins, the former Kansas swingman, is believed to be the player the Sixers are targeting the most in the draft.

ESPN.com has Wiggins sliding to the Sixers at No. 3 in its mock draft. The franchise will get an up-close look at him and another potential lottery pick, Dante Exum, soon.Wiggins, who declared for the draft after his freshman year at Kansas, will work out Friday for the Milwaukee Bucks in Santa Barbara, Calif., and for the Sixers next weekend, according to reports. Exum, a guard from Australia, is expected to work out with the franchise next week.

The Sixers' willingness to part ways with Young shouldn't come as a surprise. The 25-year-old wants to play for a contender and wasn't happy that the Sixers tanked this season.

He is slated to make about $9.1 million next season and has a player option worth a little less than $9.8 million with the Sixers for the 2015-16 campaign.

Aware that Young will turn down the player option, the Sixers could try to trade the seven-year veteran this summer. That would enable them to get something in return.

Wiggins is projected as a top-three selection, along with Kansas center Joel Embiid and Duke small forward Jabari Parker, who both left college after one season.

The Orlando Magic have the fourth pick behind the Cavs, Bucks, and Sixers.

Wiggins will work out for the teams slotted 1 through 3 in the draft. He reportedly will work out for the Cavs closer to the draft date.

A 6-foot-8, 200-pounder, Wiggins has a 7-foot wingspan and freakish athleticism. He was the Big 12 freshman of the year and a first-team all-conference selection. The 19-year-old averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds past this season.

Exum, a 6-6 guard, has scheduled workouts with the Bucks, the Sixers, and the Magic. The 18-year-old averaged 18.2 points for Australia in last summer's FIBA under-19 world championships.

The Sixers also will work out former North Carolina guard P.J. Hairston on Wednesday and former Providence guard Bryce Cotton on Friday. Hairston spent last season with the Texas Legends of the NBA Developmental League.

@PompeyOnSixers

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