The Sixer Sense
Fansided

8 players the Philadelphia 76ers gave up on too soon

By Christopher Kline

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)
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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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

5. Jerami Grant

One of many second-round draft picks that Sam Hinkie absolutely nailed. Jerami Grant emerged as a promising two-way player in two seasons with Philadelphia. It was hard not to be impressed by his unique blend of size and mobility on the perimeter. If he can ever shoot, fans used to say, Grant has a bright NBA future.

Well, two games into his third NBA season, the Sixers — under new management, that of Bryan Colangelo — traded Grant to the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Ersan Ilyasova. One has to imagine the Sixers look back on that move with some measure of regret.

Ilyasova was absolutely splendid off the bench in his one-year stint with Philly. He was one of the first elite floor-spacers Joel Embiid ever played with. Philadelphia had one of the most potent offenses in the league down the stretch of the 2016-17 season because they could regularly surround Embiid and Ben Simmons with high-level shooters. Ilyasova was a huge part of Philadelphia’s first postseason berth in the Process era.

But, he was on to his next team that summer because Philadelphia couldn’t afford to keep him. And meanwhile, Grant went on to become one of the NBA’s most scalable, dynamic two-way weapons. Next to Nikola Jokic in Denver, Grant thrived off the ball while supplying elite wing defense. In Detroit, after getting paid, Grant averaged 22.3 points per game as a No.1 option. Safe to say the Sixers could use a 6-foot-9 wing stopper with an above-average 3-point shot and the ability to play different roles depending on the personnel around him.