Philadelphia 76ers: 15 players who defined ‘The Process’

SAUCE CASTILLO!

Nik Stauskas was part of Sam Hinkie’s most intuitive trade — one that made Value Divac and the Sacramento Kings look foolish. While new GM Elton Brand never worked under Hinkie, it seems as though they both share that ability.

To put things into simple terms, the Sixers took on Jason Thompson and Carl Landry’s contract, freeing up some cap space for Sacramento. In return, Nik Stauskas, a first-round pick and the right to swap future first-round picks (!!!) came to Philly.

While Stauskas never really worked out, he was a former lottery pick who got minutes at the time. Thompson and Landry did their time in Philadelphia without hurting the long-term plans. And, as people now know, the picks swapped.

In the 2017 NBA Draft lottery, the Sixers moved from No. 5 to No. 3 due to the pick swap. Bryan Colangelo then used that pick, as well as the Kings’ 2019 pick (top-one protected) to move up and select Markelle Fultz.

The returns on that trade are still up for debate, but it looks a lot better if the Sixers walk into the No. 1 pick next summer. The Kings are going to be really, really bad, so it just might happen.

As for Stauskas, he played 159 games over three seasons with the Sixers. His sweet-shooting college form never translated, but he joined the aforementioned Hollis Thompson as one of the Sixers’ few floor spacers during the process era.

Last season, after seeing the floor in just six games, Stauskas was shipped to the Brooklyn Netsalongside Jahlil Okafor. He would then return, as a spectator, for multiple games during the Sixers’ playoff run. He’s still a Sixer at heart, I suppose.