Crosswalk

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D’Angelo Russell? Kristaps Porzingis?? Jahlil Okafor??? An unexpected trade???? Who knows what Sam Hinkie will do Thursday when the Sixers pick at #3. Since the Sixers called AI’s name in ’96, there have been 18 1st Round Picks with the Sixers’ name on it. (Technically, Nerlens Noel doesn’t count since it was a draft day trade that brought him to Phila.) How do those picks stack up compared to what they could have drafted?

18. Larry Hughes (’98, 8th Overall Pick) — Ranked 16th in Win Shares
Nice of Larry Brown to keep a promise and pass on a Hall of Famer.

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 10
    Dirk Nowitzki (9th), Paul Pierce (10th), Matt Harpring (15th), Rasho Nesterovic (17th), Al Harrington (25th), Nazr Mohammed (29th), Ruben Patterson (31st), Rashard Lewis (32nd), Rafer Alston (39th), Cuttino Mobley (41st)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Michael Doleac (15th Overall)

17. Petteri Koponen (’07, 30th Overall Pick) — Ranked 43rd in Win Shares
Part of a draft day trade that brought Derrick Byars (Byars Ranked 41st) to Philadelphia

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 12
    Carl Landry (31st), Gabe Pruitt (32nd), Nick Fazekas (34th), Glen Davis (35th), Josh McRoberts (37th), Kyrylo Fesenko (38th), Chris Richard (41st), Stéphane Lasme (46th), Dominic McGuire (47th), Marc Gasol (48th), Aaron Gray (49th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: How?

16. Jiri Welsh (’02, 16th Overall Pick) — Ranked 25th in Win Shares
Part of draft day trade that brought two future picks — one was never exercised, the other was used in a trade to get Kenny Thomas (Thomas’ value to the Sixers would have ranked 20th) 

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 14
    Juan Dixon (17th), Casey Jacobsen (22nd), Tayshaun Prince (23rd), Nenad Krstic (24th), John Salmons (26th), Dan Dickau (28th), Roger Mason (30th), Dan Gadzuric (33rd), Carlos Boozer (34th), Ronald Murray (41st), Matt Barnes (45th), Darius Songaila (49th), Rasual Butler (52nd), Luis Scola (55th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Curtis Borchardt (18th Overall)

15. Joel Embiid (’14, 3rd Overall Pick) — Ranked 27th in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 25
    Too Soon!
  • Could Have Been Worse: Not Right Now!

14. Evan Turner (’10, 2nd Overall) — Ranked 14th in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 12
    Derrick Favors (3rd), DeMarcus Cousins (5th), Greg Monroe (7th), Al-Farouq Aminu (8th), Gordon Hayward (9th), Paul George (10th), Ed Davis (13th), Patrick Patterson (14th), Eric Bledsoe (18th), Trevor Booker (23rd), Greivis Vasquez (28th), Lance Stephenson (40th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Wesley Johnson (4th)

13. Daequan Cook (’07, 21st Overall Pick) — Ranked 28th in Win Shares
Part of draft day trade (with a 2nd Round Pick & Cash) for Jason Smith (Smith Ranked 24th)

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 12
    Jared Dudley (22nd), Wilson Chandler (23rd), Rudy Fernandez (24th), Aaron Brooks (26th), Arron Afflalo (27th), Tiago Splitter (28th), Carl Landry (31st), Glen Davis (35th), Josh McRoberts (37th), Marc Gasol (48th), Aaron Gray (49th), Ramon Sessions (56th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Morris Almond (25th Overall)

12. Maurice Harkless (’12, 15th Overall Pick) — Ranked 18th in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 8
    Tyler Zeller (17th), Terrence Jones (18th), Jared Sullinger (21st), Miles Plumlee (26th), Jae Crowder (34th), Draymond Green (35th), Khris Middleton (39th), Mike Scott (43rd)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Royce White (16th Overall)

11. Michael Carter-Williams (’13, 11th Pick) — Ranked 22nd in Win Shares
Future value will depend on what they get with Lakers’ 1st Round Pick in ’16, ’17 or ’18

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 13
    It’s early but… Steven Adams (12th), Kelly Olynyk (13th), Shabazz Muhammad (14th), Giannis Antetokounmpo (15th), Tony Snell (20th), Gorgui Deng (21st), Mason Plumlee (22nd), Solomon Hill (23rd), Tim Hardaway (24th), Andre Roberson (26th), Rudy Gobert (27th), Jeff Withey (39th), Ryan Kelly (48th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Lucas Noguiera (16th Overall)

10. Efrid Payton (’14, 10th Pick) — 3rd in Win Shares
Traded for the rights to Dario Saric & the Magic’s 1st Round Pick in ’17

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 1
    Who knows what this pick really landed the Sixers but if it was Payton only Jordan Clarkson (46th) has been better
  • Could Have Been Worse: Adreian Payne (15th Overall)

9. Marreese Speights (’08, 16th Pick) — 21st in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 9
    Roy Hibbert (17th), J.J. Hickson (19th), Ryan Anderson (21st), Courtney Lee (22nd), Serge Ibaka (24th), Nicholas Batum (25th), George Hill (26th), Mario Chalmers (34th), DeAndre Jordan (36th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: JaVale McGee (18th Overall)

8. Nikola Vucevic (’11, 16th Pick) — 10th in Win Shares
Solid pick thrown away in the Bynum deal.

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 4
    Kenneth Faried (22nd), Jimmy Butler (30th), Chandler Parsons (38th), Isaiah Thomas (60th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Chris Singleton (18th Overall)

7. Thabo Sefolosha (’06, 13th Pick) — 9th in Win Shares
Traded for the rights to Rodney Carney, a 2nd Round Pick that became Kyrylo Fesenko that became Herbert Hill and some cash (Carney ranked 25th in Win Shares)

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 4
    Ronnie Brewer (14th), Ramon Rondo (21st), Kyle Lowry (24th), Paul Millsap (47th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: They could have traded the pick for Cedric Simmons (15th Overall)

6. Keith Van Horn (’97, 2nd Pick) — 6th in Win Shares
Traded with Michael Cage, Lucious Harris & Don MacLean for Jim Jackson, Eric Montrose, Anthony Parker & Tim Thomas

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 4
    Chauncey Billups (3rd), Antonio Daniels (4th), Tracy McGrady (9th), Derek Anderson (13th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Ron Mercer (6th Overall)

5. Speedy Claxton (’00, 20th Pick) — 17th in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 5
    Morris Peterson (21st), Eddie House (37th), Eduardo Najera (38th), Michael Redd (43rd), Brian Cardinal (44th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Dalibor Bargaric (24th Overall)

4. Jrue Holiday (’09, 17th Pick) — 13th in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 6
    Ty Lawson (18th), Jeff Teague (19th), Darren Collison (21st), Taj Gibson (26th), Jodie Meeks (41st), Danny Green (46th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Eric Maynor (20th Overall)

3. Samuel Dalembert (’01, 26th Pick) — 11th in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 2
    Tony Parker (28th), Mehmet Okur (37th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Omar Cook (31st Overall)

2. Thad Young (’07, 12th Pick) — 6th in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 1
    Marc Gasol (48th)
  • Could Have Been Worse: Julian Wright (13th Overall)

1. Andre Iguodala (’04, 9th Pick) — 2nd in Win Shares

  • In Hindsight, Later Picks With Better Careers (by Win Shares): 0
  • Could Have Been Worse: Anyone starting with Luke Jackson (10th Overall)

 

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