Philadelphia 76ers 2026 Mock Draft 4.0
Jan 14, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) dribbles towards the basket during the second half against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia 76ers will head into yet another NBA Draft with a different person making the picks. This time, it will be the new President of Basketball Operations, Mike Gansey. This will be our first opportunity to see what Gansey has planned for this team next year and beyond.
The Sixers will only have pick 22 entering the night, which they acquired from Oklahoma City for Jared McCain.
For this mock draft, I used the ProFootballNetwork.com NBA mock draft simulator.
Round 1 Pick 22 (via Houston from Oklahoma City): Morez Johnson Jr., F, Michigan
With the 22nd pick in the 2026 NBA draft, the 76ers select Morez Johnson Jr., forward out of Michigan. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Johnson Jr. showed the ability in college to play both the forward and center positions.
Originally starting at Illinois, then transferring to Michigan for his sophomore season, Johnson Jr. was able to improve his game immensely for the National Champion Wolverines. In his year at Michigan, he averaged 13.1 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 62.3% from the field. The reason that number is so high is that he takes most of his shots at the rim, but during his time at Michigan, he started to work outside more, shooting 34.3% from three. Johnson Jr. is a player who can step in and give good minutes defensively right away, while being able to score at the rim. While Tyrese Maxey has been hesitant to throw lobs in the past, Johnson Jr. is someone that you can effectively use in the pick-and-roll. With his size and strength, he will make it tough for defenders to fight through screens, and with his ability to score in the paint, he will be a great roll threat. The 76ers struggled with bench depth in general this season, but a big struggle over the last few years has been defensive rebounding. That is something Johnson Jr. can come in and help with right away.
While he is a good scorer at the rim, being only 6-foot-9 and potentially playing minutes at backup center could be a problem. If he is going to reach his potential in the NBA, he will have to develop a respectable outside shot. Last year, with Michigan, Johnson Jr. shot 78.2% from the free throw line, which means that a good enough shot is in there; it will just depend on the Sixers coaches to develop his game more on the perimeter. I know that is a scary proposition given the Sixers’ history with draft picks and shooting, but at pick 22 I think it’s worth the shot.
As unfair as it is, no matter who the 76ers take at pick 22 will automatically be compared to McCain. McCain flourished in his role in Oklahoma City after being dumped at the deadline by the Sixers, and even though Daryl Morey is gone, the stink of that trade still lingers and will attach to whoever is taken with that pick. A few other players I would be interested in at pick 22 are Chris Cenac Jr., Dailyn Swain, Koa Peat, and Stirtz.
With their pick being so late in the first round, the Sixers can try to toe the line between fit and best player available. With this team, I am fully in favor of just taking the best player on the board, even if you have that position filled for next season. There is also always the possibility that the 76ers trade the pick for a veteran player. However, they decide to attack this pick, and all of Philadelphia will be watching to see how Gansey handles his first test.
Sam Heine
Sam has been with Philly Sports Reports since 2022. He is a contributor for both the Eagles and the 76ers. Sam is hoping to pursue a full-time job in sports in the future.
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