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

It’s Worth A Shot

There is no doubt that the presence of Sam Hinkie in the second round of an NBA draft is incredibly marketable. His machine gun transactions have the effect on the innocent observer of taking on the shape of an NBA draft avalanche. One pick is selected, and then that prospect is immediately traded for picks later in the round, who then become traded for future picks, or current players.

But does the round have any advantage for the Philadelphia 76ers?  Well, the reaction of the Philadelphia 76ers in revisiting point guard Pierre Jackson from the New Orleans Pelicans suggests that the team projected Jackson as an NBA player in 2013.  If that is the case, they have uncovered an NBA caliber talent each year of Sam Hinkie’s tenure.  The round has also yielded the rights to Vasilije Micić, a tall point guard who is seldom mentioned recently, but who play a factor in the teams development of NBA prospects this off-season, particularly Ben Simmons if the Sixers select him.

While the team has yet to uncover an NBA all-star in the later round, the time for having done that is still early.  Second round prospects, by the very nature of their draft position, tend to get fewer minutes on an NBA team court, and therefore develop at a somewhat slower pace.  It’s unfair to look at Richaun Holmes, still in his rookie season, and hold his career up against that of an NBA all star.

But the team does do well enough in the round to warrant an interest in getting back to it in the 2016 NBA draft.  Perhaps the team will trade a fringe player for a pair of 2nd round picks.  Perhaps the team will absorb salary strapped teams’ swollen player contracts for the fee of second round draft picks.

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However it happens, it should.  Before Sam Hinkie, the matrix for the NBA draft second round had fallen into track A or track B, and created a vanilla and almost un-watchable product, particularly for the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers.  If there is a grade for effort, Hinkie has earned an A+, as he and his team kick over every rock, swing virtually any deal imaginable, in order to deliver the Philadelphia 76ers enough assets to synchronize simultaneously to allow the team to soar to the ranks of the perennial playoff teams.  Even though the team is on a rebuild, it would be prudent to bring a developing prospect or two onto the twenty man roster as well, not only to push the new faces, but to keep an eye on the following year’s talent as well.

Sam Hinkie never fails to entertain on draft night.  I hope we can see his encore in the second round.  That’s where he plays at his best.