Sam Hinkie’s History Of Second Round Selections In The NBA Draft

2015

Guillermo Hernangómez-(35)

With the 35th pick in the 2015 NBA draft, Sam Hinkie selected the spanish center, Guillermo Hernangomez. Hernangomez was a former teammate of Kristaps Porzingis on Sevilla in the ACB. He averaged 10.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while averaging 21 minutes a night this season in ACB play. He is the prototype NBA center at 6-11, 255 pounds with a 7-1 wingspan. Hernangomez, as you may suspect, is a draft-and-stash player, with no immediate word as to when he’s expected to make his presence felt in the United States. But later that night, Hinkie traded Hernangomez to the Brooklyn Nets for two second round picks. The picks the Sixers will receive are the Knicks own second round picks in 2020 and 2021.

Richaun Holmes – (37)

After dealing the spanish center, the thought is that the Sixers would turn to the backcourt. But surprising many, the team elected to bring power forward Richaun Holmes at 37 instead. The 6’10” player from Bowling Green as a true senior. Holmes arrived to the team with a lofty reputation for blocks and defense, and with the team bringing offensive center Jahlil Okafor, the fit was too convenient to pass up.  Having only started one game in his rookie season, primarily due to the log jam of big bodies at both the center and power forward position, Holmes has carved out a niche for playing time on this team.

Averaging 13.9 minutes per game, he has scored 5.7 points and brought in 2.6 rebounds per game.  Even with low minutes, he has averaged .8 blocks and .4 steals per game as well, both good numbers for a rookie fighting for court time.

For the Sixers, Holmes performance must certainly be viewed as a huge success.  Despite a crowded front court and himself developing NBA skills in his rookie season, Holmes is earning playing time, while exercising extreme patience for a man of his youth in waiting for his opportunity to arrive.

"“I try not to concentrate on it and just try to focus or do what I can to help the team win, whether that’s cheering from the bench or doing something well at practice,” Holmes said. “I just try to focus on bringing a positive energy to the team and try to help us in any game any way I can. Development is extremely important. They invest a lot of time in the players here and try to get us better and make us longtime NBA players. I just have to continue to have the mindset of working hard every day in every situation and try to get better. We work on a lot of things, from shooting to putting the ball on the floor more and post moves. We work on every aspect of the game to make me a complete NBA player.” -Richaun Holmes"

While much has been made of Elton Brand‘s arrival to the team to mentor Jahlil Okafor, not much is being said of the said mentoring of Richaun Holmes by Carl Landry. Mentoring not just on the court, but developing the proper state of mind while not on the court.  While the team does look for upgrade the team quality next season, I don’t think it means Holmes’ farewell.  He has great upside, and has the type of shooting style and rebounding skills that become invaluable to a team as it becomes more competitive.

Artūras Gudaitis – (47)

With the 47th pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected a Lithuanian center Arturas Gudaitis. While he was eventually traded to the Sacramento Kings in the trade that brought both Nik Stauskas and Carl Landry to the Sixers, he was a component in a trade that allowed the Sixers to stockpile another first round draft pick, the right to swap first round picks in two successive years, and to add serviceable, if not players with good upsides.

J. P. Tokoto -(58)

Shooting guard/small forward J.P. Tokoto became the Philadelphia 76ers pick at number 58, and was given the option on a multi year deal or a one year non-guaranteed contract. Just as K.J.McDaniels had done previously, Tokoto was confident that his play would attract a larger multi-year offer at the end of one year of play.  However, that year never developed as Tokoto was waived by the Sixers after the pre-season.  He signed on with the Delaware 87ers, the 76ers affiliate in the developmental league.  He would later be traded by the 87ers to the Okalahoma City Blue.

Luka Mitrović – (60)

The Philadelphia 76ers ended the 2015 NBA draft by selecting Serbian power forward Luka Mitrovic. He was traded alongside Arturas Gudaitas to the Sacramento Kings in 2015.

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