Who's Next?
You know the old saying “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” right? Whether or not you put that much bearing on philosophy or not the saying holds true even when it comes to the NBA Draft.
Before we really sink our teeth into who the Sixers may draft on Thursday lets take a look at how the Sixers fared in the Draft the last 10 years.
2008
- Marreese Speights (16th Overall)
Speights is still a current member of the Sixers averaging 7.7 PPG and 3.7 RPG playing mostly a limited role off the bench. He continues to be a strong part of the future nucleus of the 76ers.
2007
- Thaddeus Young (12th Overall)
Not much to say about Thad that you don’t already know. He’s been solid so far in his two seasons as a Sixer, still learning but has shown flashes of being a flat out fantastic player. So far Young has averaged 11.8 PPG and 4.6 RPG in his career. Clearly a GREAT pick by the Sixers.
- Daequan Cook (21st Overall)
Cook wasn’t a Sixer long as after he was drafted he was quickly dealt to the Miami Heat along with cash for draft rights to Jason Smith. While Smith’s career numbers aren’t that impressive yet he’s seen as a very strong option at Power Forward. Like Speights he’s certainly seen as a part of the nucleus that will make up this Sixer team for years to come.
- Petteri Koponen (30th Overall)
Koponen like Cook wasn’t a Sixer for long he was dealt on draft day to the Portland Trailblazers for Derrick Byars (42nd Overall,) the Sixers ultimately waived Byars once the season started. Oklahoma City currently owns his rights as he plays for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBDL where he named to the All-Star team last season.
- Kyrylo Fesenko (38th Overall)
Good Ole’ Kyrylo was traded on draft day to Utah where he still plays. He has averaged a lusty 2.1 PPG during his illustrious career thus far.
2006
- Thabo Sefolosha (13th Overall)
Here’s yet ANOTHER player the Sixers pretty much picked for some other team. Sefolosha was promptly traded to Chicago for the draft rights to Rodney Carney. Sefolosha has since been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 1st round pick. Carney if you remember was later traded in 2008 to Minnesota along with Calvin Booth and a future 1st round pick for basically 2.8 Million Dollars, money no doubt used to sign Elton Brand.
2005
- Louis Williams (45th Overall)
Since drafting Louis straight out of High School he has made some vast improvements. However, he’s no more then a energy player off the bench. He’s yet to prove that he can hold down the starting Point Guard position for the Sixers. He’s an exciting player but that’s about as far as it goes.
2004
- Andre Iguodala (9th Overall)
Another good pick by the Sixers, Iguodala has been on the cusp of becoming an All-Star caliber player since entering the league. Iguodala has averaged a solid 15.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 4.4 APG during his career. He looks to be the leader of the Sixers for quite a while.
2003
- Paccelis Morlende (50th Overall)
Another draft day casualty, he was traded the Seattle Supersonics for the draft rights to Willie Green. Not a bad move looking back as Morlende has never played a game in the NBA.
2002
- Jiří Welsch (16th Overall)
Guess what? That’s right Welsch was also traded on draft day, to Golden State for two picks. Welsch was a steady bench player in the NBA until 2006. In that time he was involved in a few trades for some recognizable names such as : Nick Van Exel, Antawn Jamison, Avery Johnson, and Antoine Walker. He returned to Spain after the 2006 season.
- John Salmons (26th Overall)
A hometown Philly guy, Salmons was originally drafted by the San Antonio Spurs but was quickly dealt to the Sixers along with Mark Bryant and Randy Holcomb for Speedy Claxton. Salmons had limited success with Sixers, yet another “average” player filling the roster most seasons. Salmons was traded to Toronto in a sign-and-trade deal but had second thoughts and the trade was nullified. Later Salmons signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings who later traded him to the Chicago Bulls where he currently plays.
- Sam Clancy Jr. (45th Overall)
Clancy missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, was waived the next season and never played a game in the NBA.
2001
- Samuel Dalembert (26th Overall)
The Sixers selected Dalembert out of Seton Hall after only one year of College and only a handful of years actually playing Basketball. He was seen as a project with a ton of upside. Dalembert has not developed into this yet the Sixers are paying him money like he has, certainly three mistakes by the Sixers, drafting him, signing him and continuing to play him. In a word Dalmebert has been an utter disaster.
2001
- Damone Brown (37th Overall)
Brown played for 5 teams his short four year career averaging just about 2.0 PPG. In 2009 he was arrested in a alleged cocaine ring.
- Alvin Jones (57th Overall)
Jones played one season in the NBA averaging 1.1 PPG more then you.
2000
- Speedy Claxton (20th Overall)
Claxton was drafted out of Hofstra University where he was coached by current Villanova head man Jay Wright. As mentioned above Claxton was later traded in a deal that brought the Sixers John Salmons. Claxton bounced around a bit, finally landing in Atlanta in 2006 where he signed a deal worth $25 Million, however, Claxton has been injured during almost his entire time with Atlanta, playing only 44 games.
- Mark Karcher (48th Overall)
Played for Temple and left early to get drafted 48th overall. Imagine his surprise when after playing zero games in the NBA he was drafted 59th in 2001′s NBDL draft, 11 sports lower then in the NBA draft.
1999
- Todd MacCulloch (47th Overall)
MacCulloch actually had a respectable career as a Center. He averaged around 8.0 PPG and 5 RPG coming off the bench mostly. Played on the losing team of the NBA Finals twice, once for the 76ers and the next season with the Nets. He had to retire due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease. Average playing career, two Finals appearances, Olympian, and an avid pin ball player, not too shabby Todd.
So there you have it the last 10 years of Sixer draft picks. Seems like Andre Iguodala is the cream of the crop, Thaddeus Young and Marreese Speights have potential but we still need time to see what they become. I was kind of harsh on Samuel Dalembert, defensively he is always amongst the league leaders in blocks but so what he’s tall. I’d probably be awesome at blocking shots too if I was 6″11. Sammy’s a bum, and I defy any of you Phinally fans out there to say otherwise.
The 76ers will have the 17th pick in this years draft.
Curious about who some of the best players in draft history selected at number 17 are?
2005
Danny Granger (Pacers)
2004
Josh Smith (Hawks)
1996
Jermaine O’Neal (Trailblazers)
1989
Shawn Kemp (Supersonics)
I’ll leave you with this fun Sixers draft fact:
The Sixers will pick 17th for only the 2nd time in team history, the first time was in 1983, the Sixers drafted Leo Rautins. Rautins NBA career was short and lowsy. He did however become a very successful commentator and is currently the head coach of the Canadian National Team. Let’s hope the Sixers can do better then that the second time around.
-Mike Santa Barbara
*** Follow Me On Twitter Mike__SB ***
