The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Have Had Multiple First Round Draft Picks Before

By Bret Stuter

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jerry Colangelo (R) is introduced as special advisor to the Philadelphia 76ers during a press conference with owner Joshua Harris (M) and general manager Sam Hinkie (L) before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jerry Colangelo (R) is introduced as special advisor to the Philadelphia 76ers during a press conference with owner Joshua Harris (M) and general manager Sam Hinkie (L) before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Summary

In each of the previous occasions, multiple first round picks by the team has not jump started the entire team’s roster.  Albeit, in no previous occasion had the team undertaken such a massive and comprehensive rebuilding process.   The trend of the team’s history with multiple first round picks is that the first player selected has a good chance of becoming a major impact player for the team.  Whether it’s the fact that the team drafted poorly afterwards, had too few resources to adequately prepare subsequent selections for NBA caliber basketball, or simply had too tight of a roster to afford any but the first pick of the NBA draft enough opportunity to grow for and with the team, the results were the same.

While I think that the team is positioned well to take advantage of more than one player drafted this year, the matter is much more complicated with the anticipated needs to train both Joel Embiid and Dario Saric in their respective rookie seasons as well.

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In any case, the team could be selecting at the first, fourth, twenty-second and twenty-sixth picks of this NBA draft.   Even the combined might of Sam Hinkie, Jerry Colangelo, head coach Brett Brown, and assistant coach Mike D’Antoni cannot convert six rookies into NBA stars simultaneously.  The Philadelphia 76ers have a diverse and accomplished brain trust, but they are wise enough to recognize the limits of their organization.

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Whichever path the future holds for the team, the off-season is critical for the team.  With a known pair of high prospect players already slated to join the team for the 2016-2017 season in the form of Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, I think the Sixers would be wise to target one or two starters out of the field of the 2016 NBA draft.  Yes, in those occasions of multiple first round draft picks, the team has  done well to find players like Doug Collins, Andrew Toney, Charles Barkley, and even Thaddeus Young.   However, the history of the team continues to show what a hit and miss the NBA draft success rate is.

With four potential draft picks, the team can only hope for two quality players.  You can bet that Sam Hinkie has already factored in the chance of finding starters in this draft and will use those odds to his advantage when the team negotiates with a trading partner.  In any case, the Philadelphia 76ers will have a stronger team next season.