CAMDEN, N.J. — By the time the Philadelphia 76ers were swept from the second round of the playoffs by the New York Knicks, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe were the only two guards on the roster able to make plays off the dribble.The Sixers got through the regular season and even the first round of the playoffs, a series win over the Boston Celtics, with this dynamic. But it proved to be a fatal flaw against the Knicks. Maxey was largely bottled up. Edgecombe was fatigued and missed shots. And it became clear that the lack of backcourt depth was something Philadelphia could not survive.With the No. 22 pick of the NBA Draft, the Sixers on Tuesday night selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. The Sixers entered the draft with a bunch of needs and their front office filled perhaps the biggest one. The backcourt depth got worse last season when they traded second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder. So they tried to apply Band-Aids, including Cam Payne, who was lost to injury toward the end of the season. After that, the Sixers tried to stagger minutes as best they could.Whether from the draft or free agency, the Sixers had to find a way to get another guard. The beauty of Philon is how good a fit he appears to be while also doubling as the best player available. He easily could have gone earlier in the first round. That he was on the board at No. 22 highlights how deep and talented this draft is.“I want to come in and take pressure off Tyrese and VJ,” Philon said. “I think we have a chance to have a special season coming up. With Joel Embiid and Paul George, we have a great roster. I believe that I can play at a high level, and that I’m going to be able to get into the paint and create shots.”NBA Draft 2026: Winners and Losers from Round 1Zach Harper and CJ MooreAs the board unfolded, the 76ers’ draft room didn’t hide the surprise. They had Philon higher. They knew without hesitation when he was available that he would be the pick. Facing external pressure to draft someone with a chance to step onto the court on opening night, the Sixers took someone they feel has the talent and ability to do it.Maxey and Edgecombe were among the league leaders in minutes played in 2025-26. For as young and as dynamic as both are, they could have used more rest. Philon can come off the bench and help with that. He also can handle the ball, which will take some pressure off the duo.“He was pretty high on our board,” new Sixers president Mike Gansey said. “We were surprised he was there. He’s dynamic. He can play on or off the ball. He can score, and he can pass. He was the focal point of Alabama’s offense, and they played in the SEC, so he was playing against great athletes every night. He plays with an edge and a swag. He plays with some toughness.”At Alabama, Philon was one of the best point guards in the country. He averaged 22 points per game and punctuated his collegiate career with a 35-point performance against Michigan in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines ultimately won the national championship, and they had three players selected in the first round of the draft.He’s a three-level scorer who shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range. He’s very good at getting to his spots in the midrange and finishes well at the basket. He’s going to have to get stronger, but his ability to carry Alabama’s offense this season was essential to him being drafted in the first round.“He’s a really talented scorer,” Nurse said. “He’s really fast, and he’s able to get buckets in a variety of ways. He played in a system that’s pro style, and one that relied on a lot of analytics, and Alabama was a team that got up and down the floor. I think the system he played in will serve him well with us. I think he’s got two-way capability. He can really guard, when he puts his mind to it. As Mike said, he was pretty high on our board.”Gansey hinted at adding another ballhandler in free agency. He also said the Sixers, who don’t have a pick in Wednesday night’s second round, would try to be aggressive in hopes of getting one, pointing to the team’s five open roster spots.The Sixers knew a good player could fall to No. 22, they just couldn’t figure out who it would be. Still, they have a lot of work to do in the coming weeks. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes, two key cogs from last season, are unrestricted free agents, as is Andre Drummond, last year’s primary backup center. Gansey said he’s been in touch with representation for Oubre and Grimes but didn’t give much insight on whether they would return or not.As such, Tuesday night was just a first step in what will be an important offseason in Philadelphia. Coming away from the first round with someone as talented as Philon was a win. But, the road is about to get tougher for a team looking to compete in a talented and deep Eastern Conference.