Sixers take a pre-draft look at Ty Lawson

Ty Lawson's resume would impress any NBA team: great speed, the quickness to penetrate, the strength to finish against taller opponents, excellent passer, improving shooter, a cool customer in big games, arguably the best player on North Carolina's national championship team.

The 76ers certainly are impressed. But with the NBA draft looming on June 25, they don't know if they'll need to use their first-round pick on a point guard, given the uncertain status of free agent Andre Miller, with whom they cannot negotiate until July 1.

So they brought in the 5-foot-11 Lawson yesterday to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as they begin to wrap up trying to identify whom the best player will be when their turn comes in the draft at No. 17.

Courtney Witte, the team's director of player personnel, said the Sixers would look primarily at players at both guard positions while "taking into account" the Miller situation.

"I'm looking at trying to find with our scouting staff the best player at the 17th pick," he said. "Obviously we're aware of [the Miller] scenario, but I'm looking at trying to come to the determination with regard to the players that will be there."

Lawson said he would welcome the chance to learn from Miller.

"He's a good player," he said. "I've seen him play in this league for a long time. He would teach me a lot of things about playing the point guard position and help me grow. He would be a good mentor."

As pre-draft workouts get into full swing throughout the league, the question for the Sixers is whether a player of Lawson's caliber will be available at No. 17.

In four Internet mock drafts, Lawson is ranked anywhere from fourth to seventh among point guards. One (Draft Express) has him going to the Sixers, but two have him selected before the Sixers take their turn.

Lawson said he had heard he would go "anywhere from five to 20" based on reports from league general managers.

"I've got to do well in these workouts," he said, "and hopefully my stock rises."

For now, however, Lawson wants to show his abilities and silence critics of his height and the toe injury that kept him out of the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and the first game of the NCAAs.