The Sixer Sense
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NBA Draft Strategy: Colangelo’s Choices In NBA Draft?

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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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks 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; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Grading Colangelo Drafts

In recent months, I’ve had many occasions to read pretty negative stories about the Sam Hinkie era of the Philadelphia 76ers, most of which focused on his drafting which seldom resulted in immediate impact players.  I find those types of arguments insulting to anyone of intelligence.

In my review of Bryan Colangelo’s drafting acumen while with the Toronto Raptors, I found reason for optimism.  While there is always plenty of room to second guess anyone’s draft selections after the fact, Colangelo appeared to stay true to his scouting reports, appeared to take advantages of the NBA draft board if a coveted player fell to him, and seldom went way out on a limb to go against the grain.

His best career selection while with the Toronto Raptors was definitely the 2009 draft pick of DeMar DeRozen, a shooting guard who has paired up with point guard Kyle Lowry to form one of the better back court duos in the NBA to this day.  It was Bryan Colangelo who finally got it right on the back court, and that is the area of greatest need for the Philadelphia 76ers right now.   One of the challenges of the Toronto Raptors for Colangelo seemed to be pairing players to retain the interest of his inherited star power forward Chris Bosh.

The Philadelphia 76ers have no such established star as of yet, and if the overall organization can temper Bryan Colangelo’s unbridled enthusiasm of acting first and asking questions later, I think the potential four first round draft choices are in very good hands.  If the Sixers do land the Los Angeles Lakers pick at either four or five, I expect Colangelo will have a strong educated guess which prospect will work best there.  If the Sixers fall out of the top two, I am equally confident that Bryan Colangelo will salvage the draft with a good selection.  Even the 24th and 26th picks of this NBA could produce talented prospects, albeit if the team elects to exercise those picks rather than trade them away.

Next: Trusting The New Process