The Sixer Sense
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Does Bryan Colangelo have a case for Executive of the Year?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 03: Bryan Colangelo talks to the media during the announment of the unveiling of the Doctor J sculpture on April 3, 2018 at the Legends Walk at the practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 03: Bryan Colangelo talks to the media during the announment of the unveiling of the Doctor J sculpture on April 3, 2018 at the Legends Walk at the practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Drafted Ben Simmons 1st overall

In May 2016, the ping pong balls landed in the Sixers’ favor, and they came out of the draft lottery with the first pick. Colangelo had just joined the team, and he wasn’t the one that put the Sixers in position to have the best odds in the lottery. But he does deserve credit for making the pick.

Despite some people making a case for selecting Brandon Ingram, the Sixers took Ben Simmons. Simmons has been far and away the best player from the 2016 draft class, and it’s now clear that Colangelo made the right choice.

Grade: A

Drafted Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 24th overall and Furkan Korkmaz 26th overall

Despite talks about packaging 24 and 26 to move up in the draft, the Sixers stayed put and drafted Luwawu and Korkmaz.

Luwawu struggled throughout most of his rookie season but showed great flashes toward the end of the year. This year, he’s once again been mostly not good. He had a midseason stretch when he scored in double figures in four consecutive games, but he hasn’t even played since March 11. He hasn’t done much to show he’ll contribute at all down the road.

Korkmaz spent last year overseas, and he’s been injured most of this season. While it’s way too early to write him off, he still hasn’t made any impact or given any reason to believe he’ll ever be more than an decent shooter off the bench. There were better players on the board, like Dejounte Murray, who the Sixers passed on.

Grade: C