By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

Evan Turner will be the Sixers pick and at the end of the day he’ll be a solid player for the Sixers. He’s likely the best pick for the team and the right pick.

Based on need alone, Turner would finally give the Sixers a true shooting guard who can fill the basket, pass, and rebound when needed.

When David Stern steps to the podium on Thursday and says, “With the second pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select Evan Turner, The Ohio State University,” the party will start in Sixerville. And, it should.

Evan Turner is likely the Sixers first round pick on Thursday. He'll step in and fill a major need at shooting guard.

But, at the end of his career, will Turner be a star? Will he be better than Derek Favors or DeMarcus Cousins. There’s something in my gut saying the Sixers wouldn’t be ill-advised to select either of those guys, or move down to the four spot — assuming Minnesota still wants Turner –  grab either Favors or Cousins, and get a little something extra.

Look, nobody is questioning Turner’s toughness, mentality or motivation.

He sounds like a very well-spoken, polite young man with great character. He’ll be a stud in the community. There’s something to be said for that.

He came back from a nasty back injury to win the Player of the Year Award. There’s something to be said for that.

But, some scouting reports have compared him to a Hersey Hawkins. OK, that person was Billy King and the credibility of that comparison likely just went running down Broad Street.

Having said that, I’m not sure Turner will be a stud. A very good player and possibly an All-Star? Absolutely. A player who makes the Sixers stronger by having a solid two-guard? You bet. But a stud? A guy who can carry you to championships?

That’s not to say Favors or Cousins would guarantee championships, either. But, both would bang down low and bring needed toughness in the paint. In essence, they’d bring you what Elton Brand was supposed to.

DeMarcus Cousins could help provide toughness in the paint for the Sixers.

Yes, the Sixers have Brand and Thaddeus Young. Drafting Favors or Cousins doesn’t necessarily create a backlog at the four. Young has trade value and is a tweener. He’s played better at PF, but is a SF. Brand is getting older and is better served coming off the bench whether he likes it or not. He could also play center when the Sixers go small.

What if Favors or Cousins turns into Rasheed Wallace? Walalce has had a nice career, winning a title and making it to three NBA Finals. What if one of them becomes Charles Barkley in terms of crashing the boards? And, what if Turner is Hersey Hawkins?

The bottom line is the Sixers will take Turner and it’ll be a good pick. You just have to hope he has a better career than Favors or Turner and we’re not sitting here in five years asking, “Why didn’t the Sixers take …?” We’ve had too many years asking those questions.