Sixers’ Joel Embiid shows the aftermath of his latest workout

The Sixers have made so many excellent draft picks through the years. They’ve chosen gamers like Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Maurice Cheeks, Billy Cunningham and, extra just lately, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

However there have been additionally loads of misses which produced loads of lean years for a franchise wealthy in historical past.

Listed below are the highest 5 most regrettable draft picks in group historical past.

5. Keith Van Horn, 1997, No. 2 total (Commerce for Tim Thomas (No. 7), Anthony Parker (No. 21))

If the Sixers had simply stayed at No. 2 and brought Van Horn, that seemingly would’ve labored out higher. As an alternative, they traded the rights to the Utah ahead to the Nets together with a pair veterans for 2 first-rounders and capturing guard Jim Jackson. With these picks, they chose Villanova’s Tim Thomas and Anthony (don’t name me Tony) Parker.

The Sixers have handed on ‘Nova gamers in recent times — exterior of choosing after which buying and selling Mikal Bridges — however maybe that is one time they need to’ve gone in a distinct path. Thomas was an OK participant, however he was traded by the Sixers after simply 94 video games. Some man named Tracy McGrady went a pair picks later. Parker changed into an OK participant, however solely after spending six years enjoying in Israel. They traded Jackson after simply 48 video games.

Whereas the Nets didn’t essentially win this commerce, the Sixers may’ve finished higher within the 1997 draft.

4. Markelle Fultz, 2017, No. 1 total

Possibly Fultz ought to be greater on this listing, however I’ve a confession: I didn’t hate this decide once they made it. Fultz was the consensus No. 1 decide. Have a look at any mock draft from the time and also you’ll see Fultz as the highest decide — even when the Celtics nonetheless held the highest spot. It’s straightforward in hindsight to speak about how dangerous this decide wound up being, however Fultz was extremely regarded and appeared to completely complement the skillsets of Embiid and Simmons.

Now, if you wish to query Bryan Colangelo’s choice to do a cope with the dev… I imply Danny Ainge, honest sufficient. Maybe Colangelo ought to’ve recognized higher when he noticed that Ainge and the Celtics have been so keen to maneuver off the No. 1 decide and place Fultz into their rival’s lap.

3. Sharone Wright, 1994, No. 6 total (and B.J. Tyler, No. 20 total)

Wright was thought of a very good prospect and confirmed flashes throughout his rookie 12 months. Very similar to a bunch of the gamers on this listing, Wright’s tenure wasn’t lengthy. Possibly there’s one thing to be mentioned for the group realizing their errors? He performed 125 video games over two seasons with the Sixers earlier than being traded to the Raptors.

After Wright, 5 stable NBA gamers — Lamond Murray, Brian Grant, Jalen Rose, Eric Piatkowski, Aaron McKie — and an NBA All-Star in Temple’s Eddie Jones got here off the board earlier than the Sixers picked once more at 20. With that decide they selected B.J. Tyler, who performed simply 55 NBA video games — all in his rookie 12 months with the Sixers. They handed on Wesley Johnson, Monty Williams and Charlie Ward, who all grew to become first rate NBA gamers.

The Sixers whiffed on Wright and missed on two guys proper in their very own yard. Additionally they missed on their second decide within the first spherical. Then they acquired nothing to indicate for buying and selling Wright, whom they drafted a 12 months after they took the No. 1 man on this listing.

2. Larry Hughes

I really feel just a little dangerous having Larry Hughes this excessive on the listing. In a number of different drafts, getting a man that wound up having a profession like Hughes’ at eighth total is a win — however not in 1998. The subsequent two picks have been Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce. Ouch. Hughes performed simply 100 video games for the Sixers and was dealt as a part of the Toni Kukoc commerce.

Once more, Hughes had an honest profession. In 13 NBA seasons, he averaged 14.1 factors a recreation. He even made an All-Defensive Crew in 2004-05. His solely crime was being chosen in entrance of two seemingly first-ballot Corridor of Famers. What if the Sixers had drafted Nowitzki or Pierce to pair with Allen Iverson? It’s finest to not torture your self.

1. Shawn Bradley, 1993, No. 2 total

Bradley was 7-foot-6 and moved decently for such a big human. He was a shot-blocking machine at BYU. You can see why he was intriguing. The problems have been that Bradley spent only one 12 months enjoying faculty basketball then spent two years serving a Mormon mission during which he didn’t play basketball. Bradley was chosen second total, sandwiched between Chris Webber and Anfernee Hardaway. Bradley blocked a ton of pictures however was pushed round on the block by stronger gamers. He was additionally posterized perhaps more than any player in NBA history. After 143 video games with the Sixers, Bradley was — you guessed it — traded to the Nets within the deal that introduced Derrick Coleman to Philly.

Hardaway’s profession was mired by accidents, however he was a four-time All-Star and may’ve been even higher if he stayed wholesome. Even when the Sixers took Kentucky’s Jamal Mashburn, who went fourth total to the Mavericks, it might’ve been a greater decide than Bradley. The picks of Bradley and Wright set the group again, however fortunately their decide in 1996 modified every little thing.

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