The Philadelphia 76ers have drafted well in the last couple of years with both of their first-round picks turning out to be real foundational blocks for the franchise. The same, however, cannot be said for their other second round draft picks, especially at the center position. After all, Adem Bona and Johni Broome have easily been surpassed by two other big men behind selected after them in Quinten Post and Maxime Raynaud.
Bona, who has been up and down so far in his career, still looks like a much more limited option at center compared to his contemporaries. A more traditional big man, his defensive acumen cannot be denied. However, he falls short in almost every other facet of the game, and his discipline is still lacking.
Meanwhile, Broome has yet to be given a real chance to prove himself. However, in the sparse court time he was given, he has loooked iffy at best. Profiled as an offensive-minded big man, his poise and skill as a scorer are apparent. Unfortunately, he appears to be a major liability for the team on the defensive end.
76ers could have had Quinten Post and Maxime Raynaud
Bona and Broome’s flat production looks even worse when taking into account that both Post and Raynaud have been positive additions to their respective ball clubs.
Post, who was picked by Golden State 11 spots after Bona, has become a very useful big man for the Warriors. As someone who can stretch the floor while being a seven-footer, he has found a nice nich role for himself. However, he is not only a shooter. In fact, he has emerged as a good positional defender for the Warriors.
Meanwhile, Raynaud is starting to look like a huge steal for Sacramento at No. 42. He is averaging more than 10 rebounds and six assists a night for the Kings, and he is looking like a viable fallback if Domantas Sabonis ends up getting jettisoned earlier than expected. He has also flashed some decent floor-spacing skills, giving him an even loftier ceiling.
Truth be told, it is still way too ealry to have a sweeping pronouncement that Bona and Broome are, say, duds. However, it is becoming undeniable that the 76ers could have indeed chosen better, especially when players like Post and Raynaud are faring much better while offering something new at the center position.
Hopefully, Adem Bona and Johni Broome can prove this author wrong. They still have the time to do it — and ample one at that. Otherwise, these miscalculations will put the 76ers in a world of regret.