Philadelphia 76ers: 2019 NBA Draft grades

After their umpteenth consecutive draft night with multiple picks, the Philadelphia 76ers come away with a predictable pair of prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft.

It was obvious that the Philadelphia 76ers would not use all their pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. In control of five, Philly could have argued using all of them, but ultimately opted to keep only two.

How the Sixers got here is a fascinating story. The 24th pick is their own, but No. 33 is from the Markelle Fultz trade made at the deadline with the Orlando Magic, in which Philly also received Jonathon Simmons and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-rounder in 2020 (top-20 protected).

As for No. 34, that came from a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers the week leading up to draft night last year, where the Lake Show traded up to select Isaac Bonga, one of the few humans still on their roster.

The 42nd overall pick goes way back to the Sam Hinkie era. In 2014, the Sixers traded Casper Ware (yes, that Casper Ware) to the Brooklyn Nets for Marquis Teague and a 2019 second-rounder. Don’t you miss those Process days?

In contrast with how the Sixers acquired No. 42, they traded away what became No. 31 this year (the first pick of the second round) along with Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas for — you guessed it — Trevor Booker. It was one of several blunders by Bryan Colangelo.

In the hopes of not repeating his mistakes, the Sixers chose proven players with the picks they kept. Whether or not the other picks were worth keeping is a question worth monitoring for the next few years.

With that in mind, here’s an analysis of every selection the 76ers did (and didn’t) make in the 2019 NBA Draft.