Philadelphia holds the No. 22 overall pick — acquired from Houston — and Bleacher Report projects the Sixers to select Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr., a versatile center prospect who emerged from the Combine as one of the most physically impressive big men in the class and fills the Sixers’ most glaring long-term need.

Philadelphia holds only the one pick here — the Houston-acquired No. 22 selection. The Sixers’ roster is constructed in the shadow of Joel Embiid, whose chronic injury concerns have made center depth an organizational priority since the day he was drafted. Andre Drummond is heading toward unrestricted free agency this summer. Morez Johnson Jr., if his Combine measurements hold up through the draft process, could become the low-cost developmental answer.

Johnson is a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Michigan who was a massive winner at the 2026 Combine. His measurements — wingspan, hand size, athletic testing, and shooting-drill performance — all graded out at or near the top of his peer group among big men. He is a switchable defender with the lateral mobility to guard wings on the perimeter and the strength to body up centers in the paint. His offensive repertoire is primarily spoonfed — he’s at his best finishing catch-and-finish lobs and putback opportunities rather than creating for himself — but his defensive disruption alone justifies this investment.

The Sixers, as Buckley notes, appeared “problematically top-heavy” in the playoffs, lacking the reliable reserves to sustain competitiveness when stars go down. Johnson provides depth at the position of maximum organizational risk. Embiid’s injury history — missed games in each of his first nine seasons — makes a capable backup center not a luxury but a necessity. Johnson at No. 22 on a rookie deal is as efficient as those solutions come.

The player selected immediately after Johnson at No. 22 is Isaiah Evans, who goes to Atlanta at No. 23 in this projection. Evans is a fine shooter and a genuine offensive piece, but Philadelphia’s needs are more urgent on the defensive and interior side. Johnson’s profile addresses the most pressing void.

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	Morez Johnson Jr.
CBS Sports	Morez Johnson Jr.
Tankathon	Morez Johnson Jr.

CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein projects Johnson to Philadelphia in his most recent mock at a comparable range. Isaac Trotter has Johnson going in the mid-round range matching the Sixers’ slot. Tankathon places Johnson near No. 22. Gary Parrish also has Johnson going late first round in his projection. Yahoo Sports was not confirmed to project Johnson specifically to Philadelphia’s pick in their most recent mock. The broad CBS-to-Tankathon-to-BR alignment makes this among the firmer calls at the bottom third of the first round.

Johnson’s “havoc-wreaker” defensive role on the court — generating off-ball deflections, challenging shots at the rim without fouling excessively, and matching up against power forwards in modern spread lineups — is exactly the kind of impact that goes undervalued on traditional stats but shows up enormously in advanced defensive metrics. That profile ages well in the NBA because it doesn’t depend on athleticism alone; it depends on positioning, instincts, and effort.

Philadelphia’s organizational strength is its ability to develop complementary pieces around star talent. They did it with Tobias Harris, with Ben Simmons for a time, and with multiple role players along the way. Johnson’s defined skill set and coachable profile make him an excellent candidate to thrive in that environment. Adding him at No. 22 gives the Sixers a long-term insurance policy at center that addresses Embiid’s availability uncertainty at minimal cost — and that’s the smartest draft move Philadelphia can make at this spot.