2014 10th Overall Pick- Elfrid Payton* (G, LA Lafayette)
This pick was the most mind-boggling selection Hinkie could have made at the time. Michael Carter-Williams was coming off a very nice rookie season and took home the Rookie of the Year award, so the last thing anyone was thinking was that Hinkie would take a point guard with a similar playing style as his young, award-winning guard. Hinkie ended up trading Elfrid Payton to the Orlando Magic for the rights to forward Dario Saric. Looking back on it now, it’s still one of the more confusing moves Hinkie has made. Payton is playing decently in Orlando, averaging nine points per game, 6.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and even racking up a couple of triple-doubles over his rookie season. Hinkie ended up moving MCW to Milwaukee, leaving Sixers fans confused about the future of the point guard spot.
Draft Grade: C+
Always hard to tell how the most recent draft picks have turned out after only one season, but the Sixers didn’t do too well, but didn’t do terribly with this pick either. They drafted a nice asset and traded him for another promising asset in Dario Saric, along with getting a first-rounder back from the Andrew Bynum trade. It is frustrating to see some of the players they passed up on succeed, but even more frustrating to see the Sixers’ original selection already start to make a name for himself for the Magic, while Saric won’t be in the NBA until (hopefully) next year.
Who They Should’ve Taken: Zach LaVine
We know what you’re thinking: “They’re falling for the dunk contest hype too.” Well the truth is, yeah we are. And we should. LaVine is just an overall exciting player with elite class athleticism. The rest of his game isn’t marvelous but it has been improving as the season has gone on. LaVine only puts up nine points per game but he has been a nice compliment to Rookie of the Year favorite Andrew Wiggins. LaVine was selected 13th overall and would’ve been a fan favorite here in Philly. Some other notable players the Sixers could have taken are Jordan Clarkson (46th overall) and Rodney Hood (23rd overall).