NBA Draft 2014: ESPN’s Fake NBA Draft Results For 76ers
Recap and Final Grade:
Chad Ford did a damn good job on drafting. One might think he is Hinkie (we’ve never seen them in the same room together, so……….).
Taking at Exum with the third pick seems as the most likely scenario for the Sixers come draft night. Andrew Wiggins SHOULD be drafted at either one or two and I’m not sure how much Hinkie is willing to give up for him. So after taking Exum, Ford ships off MCW to the Lakers for the 7th pick. The Lakers might look to un-load Nash at that point, which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for the Sixers. Exum would get to learn from one of the smartest players to ever play the guard position. The Sixers could afford to eat up his contract.
The Sixers take the big man from IU, Noah Vonleh at 7. This is a great pick for the Sixers. Some may want to take Aaron Gordon with this pick, and that’s enticing. But I think at this point, with plans of trading Thad, you want to take a PF that might not be as much of a project as Gordon. Gordon is a terrific prospect with a lot of upside but still has a ways to go as far as learning the game. Vonleh also has some positional versatility (not saying Gordon doesn’t, just stating) at playing the power forward position or center position. Even though at a small clip, Noah shot a nice percentage from outside and gives you hope he can continue that at the NBA level. His shot is fluid and has very few mechanics, making it consistent. Noah and Noel could be a problem for years to come in the league.
At 10, the Sixers take Doug McDermott (bleh) who they later trade to the Bulls for the 16 and 19 picks from the Bulls. This seems like an unlikely trade but it’s a great trade regardless. It seems like in a scenario where the Sixers take Exum and Vonleh, they would be willing to roll the dice on a guy like Zach LaVine. They cold afford to take a chance on a high risk, high reward player like him. Not the point though; the Sixers ended up drafting Dario Saric and TJ Warren with those two picks. As many know, Saric is a draft n stash player at this point. We won’t see him in Philly for a couple years, but that’s fine because by then the Sixers will be contending and winning championships. The next pick was somewhat disturbing, taking TJ Warren. As I said above, McDaniels or Hairston would probably be a better pick and fit. That’s not to say Warren is a bad player, just not sure how he’ll project to the NBA.
This next trade threw me off a little bit; Chad Ford serves up Thad Young for Omer Asik and the 25th pick from the Rockets. I personally think that Thad can score you a little more but many think Asik is a very valuable player. Anyways, with the 25th pick, the Sixers take Damien Inglis and stand pat there.
You could chalk up Exum and Vonleh as starters for sure, with Omer Asik probably getting about 20 minutes a night. Warren would probably average about 15 minutes or so a game and Saric and Inglis would probably be draft n stash or Inglis would play in the D-Leauge. This is a very nice haul for the Sixers in the first round.
Chadiliac Ford gets a solid A- for the work he did as our GM.