NBA Draft: Grading the Philadelphia 76ers’ last 10 first rounds

2010

The move: Drafted Evan Turner

Evan Turner

At the start of the decade, the Philadelphia 76ers landed the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. There were a multitude of players that would turn out to be NBA mainstays at this spot. Some of these players include DeMarcus Cousins, Gordon Hayward, and Paul George. The number one pick that year ended up being then-Kentucky phenom John Wall.

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Because of this, the Sixers had their pick of the litter at number two. With that pick, they went with the junior swingman from Ohio State: Evan Turner. Now, at the time, Turner seemed like a no-brainer. Obviously, Boogie Cousins had a temperament issue that most teams shied away from. On top of that, Hayward and George were seen as project players, and Turner was the most NBA ready of the trio.

We can’t forget Wesley Johnson and Derrick Favors, as well. Both men were coming off solid seasons, as Johnson skyrocketed up big boards. However, Turner was the consensus number two pick. With the Philadelphia 76ers’ core of Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, and a young Jrue Holiday, it only made sense to bring in a player who could run the two.

But alas, Turner did not pan out, as he would average 10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game with the Sixers. Maybe it was a virtue of circumstance, but Turner could never truly break the rotation under then-head coach Doug Collins. Turner was also a poor shooter for his position, shooting a poor 32.7 from beyond the arc with Philadelphia.  Anyway, the pick itself made sense, but it’s a shame that Evan Turner never blossomed in Philadelphia. He would ultimately be traded along with Lavoy Allen to the Indiana Pacers for Danny Granger and a 2015 second-round pick.

Grade: D