Porter: The Angel And Devil In The Sixers Draft
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Do you like apples? Well, the Sixers are going to stink again next season, how do you like them apples?
Last night the Sixers had seven draft picks (two first round, five second round) and they acquired seven new players--Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, K.J. McDaniels, Jerami Grant, Pierre Jackson, Vasilije Micić, and Jordan McRae. Saric, Jackson, and McRae (reportedly) were acquired via trade.
While Embiid (injury) and Saric (contract to play in Turkey) won't contribute anytime soon, the Sixers stock-piled assets and stuck to their plan seeking long-term success. The Sixers will struggle again in 2014-15 and likely secure another lottery pick, but if Embiid gets healthy and Saric can contribute as a high IQ forward who can stretch the defense--as advertised--then the future could, maybe, kind of, sort of, might be, almost bright.
I've continued to wrestle with my internal emotions about this draft--it's like I have a Sixers angel and a Sixers devil on my respective shoulders.
What my Sixers angel is saying
SAN ANTONIO SPURS EAST! The Sixers stole the best player in the draft two years in a row--Noel in 2013, Embiid in 2014. No one is getting to the rim against them. When Saric gets over here, the Sixers will be massive. MCW (6'6"), Saric (6'10"), Noel (6'11"), and Embiid (7'0"). Just need to fill-in with a couple of shooters that can play on the wing--which shouldn't be a problem with all of our cap space--and boom!
The Sixers added some serious talent in the second-round. K.J. McDaniels can be one of those scoring wing-guards for us and Jerami Grant is another wing player who happens to have a 7'3" wingspan and NBA athleticism.
Oh, by the way, in the trade that moved the Sixers back two spots from No. 10 to No. 12, Hinkie added a 2015 second-round pick and a 2017 first-round pick from Orlando. Not bad, Sam, not bad.
Did somebody say championship...in 2018?
What my Sixers devil is saying
I just wanted Andrew Wiggins! Come on, Hinkie. You couldn't have swung a deal for him? Joel Embiid has a navicular fracture and seven-footers don't recover well from that rare injury. That scares me. And don't get me started on the 10th pick, Dario Saric. The guy just signed a contract to play in Turkey and who knows if he'll ever play in the NBA? Even if he does come to Philly and plays for the Sixers, and even if Embiid does get healthy, can they play on the same court together with 6'11" Nerlens Noel?
The Sixers didn't add one shooter either. They just added more athletic, defensive-oriented players that like to play in transition in the second-round. Who is going to score for this team? Rodney Hood went 23rd overall! They couldn't have move up and snagged him?
We're in full-fledged double tank mode.
I'm torn. I've had people text, tweet, call, and ask me what I thought of what Sam Hinkie did last night. Before the draft I told myself, whatever Hinkie does I will support it. I trust the Hink-man and true to my word, I support what he did last night. However, nothing he did last night increased my excitement for this franchise. I want to be pumped about the Sixers' future, I really do, I'm just not right now.
So what do I think about the Sixers draft last night? As Larry David would say, "Eh."
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