Phew, can anyone believe that all of that is over? The first-round of the 2014 NBA Draft has come and gone and it was exhilarating. If a recap is needed, the 76ers selected Joel Embiid at No. 3 overall and Eflrid Payton at No. 10 overall. The Sixers traded Elfrid Payton to the Orlando Magics for Dario Saric, a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2015 second-round selection. So, Hinkie swindled a first-round pick and a second-round pick to move back two spots. Things like this are why Sam Hinkie is a god.
76ers fans should be very happy with these two picks. Hinkie could have picked Saric at No. 10 and stopped there, like any other GM would have done. Instead, Hinkie knew that the Magic wanted Payton, so he picked him up. He then proceeded to hold the Magic at his own mercy, stealing our original first-round pick that we gave up in the Andrew Bynum deal, plus another second-round pick in 2015. Sam Hinkie has a flamethrower and he just placed it ALL OVER the Doug Collins regime tonight, its absolutely beautiful.
Just think about it this way, Sam Hinkie turned Jrue Holiday into: Nerlens Noel, Dario Saric, 2017 first-round pick, 2015 second-round pick. Come on, that’s magical.
It will be hard to watch these two sit out for a while, but it will be worth it. Listen guys, this was never going to be a 1-to-2 year rebuild. It’s been a 3-to-5 year plan all along. Hinkie is setting himself up for another high lottery pick in 2015, which is what this team needs. It’s a long road to success, but I’m confident in it.
Joel Embiid on the phone said he will play this season. Recovering from surgery. Then he will get to rehabbing and be ready to play (1/2)
— Dei Lynam (@dlynamCSN) June 27, 2014
The 76ers have Joel Embiid’s medical records, which is why I’m ecstatic about the Sixers selecting him. If he turns out to be the next Hakeem Olajuwon, Sam Hinkie will go down as the greatest person to ever be born. You just have to trust the Sixers here. He’s fully recovered from the back injury and expects to make the same recovery from this foot injury. It will be painful to wait for Embiid to play, however, he may be able to return by January. He wants to play and if he’s healthy by then, he will play. Combining Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid in the front court is going to cause ruckus for opposing teams. I’m guessing that the Sixers plans with these two. If they think it will work, I’m trusting it.
Saric might take two-to-three years to come over, but he’s going to be such a special player. The guy can score like none other. At No. 3 and No. 10 the 76ers selected the best players available at the position, while getting picks back. Saric is going to go overseas and develop even more for a few years, then come back and be a great product on a rookie scale project. In three or four years, all of these guys, plus Nerlens and MCW will still be under 25. That’s quite a strong core to build a foundation for a championship for the future. How can you hate on that?
Next season will be rough, but it will be exciting. We have Nerlens Noel to look forward too, plus, possibly Joel Embiid at one point or another. I’m very happy with the picks that were made in this draft and everyone else should be too.
How do you feel about the 76ers first-round picks?