Philadelphia 76ers Bryan Colangelo, Honeymoon Is Over

5 of 8

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Bryan Colangelo, Operators Are Standing By

Event I: Trading Kendall Marshall

Trades are as much a part of the NBA as the draft, and the team got off to a good start when they traded point guard Kendall Marshall for two 2017 2nd round draft picks. Kendall Marshall was a roster placeholder in a 76ers jersey, and trading him for two 2nd round picks in a very deep draft seemed awfully fortuitous. It was a lofty beginning which was fraught with potential disappointment for the future.

Live Feed

NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers hoping non-Heat team enters Damian Lillard race /

Sir Charles In Charge

Washington Wizards ranked surprisingly low in HoopsHype asset rankings Wiz of Awes

NBA Trades: Boston steals a star from Miami in this wild deal with Portland Hoops Habit

Grade The Trade: Bucks add two-time All-Star in a deal with rivaling Bulls Behind the Buck Pass

Grade the Trade: Pacers ditch Bruce Brown for defensive ace in mock deal 8 Points, 9 Seconds

NBA Trade Rumors: ESPN insider predicts Heat have best offer for Damian Lillard Sir Charles In Charge

Grant Me One Wish

Event II: Trading Jerami Grant

Bryan Colangelo rolled the dice when he traded a rather popular-in-Philadelphia Jerami Grant to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for power forward Ersan Ilyasova and a 2020 first round pick (a top-20 protected pick). Should that first round pick not convey (and it likely will not at top 20 protected), the pick converts into a 2022 and 2023 2nd round picks.

On one hand, the initial results of the trade favors the Philadelphia 76ers. Grant was selected as the 39th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Just by converting a second round selection into two second round picks appears to be a win. Ersan Ilyasova, a veteran power forward, arrived and assumed the starting role for the team. Dario Saric flourished coming off the bench.

On the other hand, the fact is that Jerami Grant had huge upside. He was one of two 76ers chosen as participants of Team USA Select in 2016. Grant had that robust youthful energy with strong defensive skills which seemed to fit the 76ers future needs. In the end, he became Ersan Ilyasova. Did the team cash in on Jerami Grant too quickly? That is a question which will continue to haunt the team.