8 players the Philadelphia 76ers gave up on too soon

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 01: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic shoots over Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

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8. Nikola Vucevic

In hindsight, it’s probably a blessing in disguise that Philadelphia forfeit Nikola Vucevic after a solid but unremarkable rookie season. The USC product went on to spend 8.5 productive years with the Orlando Magic, including two All-Star berths. The player Philadelphia got in return for Vucevic (plus other trade assets)? Andrew Bynum.

But, as previously started, a blessing in disguise. If Vucevic put together eight or nine years of productive, sometimes All-Star caliber basketball in Philadelphia, Joel Embiid might be playing for the Orlando Magic instead (think back to who picked No. 4 in that draft). Sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette, so to speak.

Embiid’s historic dominance in Philadelphia has papered over a number of past sins. But trading Vucevic, who became one of the most productive centers in the NBA over the ensuing decade, for Bynum — one of the all-time NBA trade busts — is the kind of move that can kill a franchise’s progress. Frankly, for a while there, it really did put Philadelphia in a hole. That kind of hole that leads to Sam Hinkie going nuclear with his rebuild plans.

So, the burly, balletic post scorer of Orlando yore could have been a Sixers staple. We would be living in a very different world today if that had been the case. Does Jrue Holiday even get traded if he has Vooch coming into his stardom alongside him? We will never know.