The Philadelphia 76ers have had a very, very spotty track record when it comes to drafting. The most recent high profile pick Jahlil Okafor has been alright. Not exceptional like Karl-Anthony Towns or Kristaps Porzingis but he’s been alright. He’s shown some promise here and there but isn’t showing that potential of being the “Greatest player of the franchise” like KAT and KP.
Speaking of Kristaps Porzingis. The Sixers spent the Draft process thinking about the optics, can they afford to Draft a European prospect and have him become Darko 2.0. (Where are you prophesisers now?) So the Sixers decided to draft an American prospect no matter how good Porzingis looked.
Sources have indicated Philly ownership was gung-ho to take one of the Big 3 — Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor or D’Angelo Russell — because taking another unknown European project may not have sat well with a disenchanted fan base.
I think Porzingis loved being drafted by the Knicks. I think even he knew how trash the Sixers are. If you think the Knicks hated Porzingis at the start, imagine how we would all be if the Sixers drafted Kristaps. We would tear into them. And I don’t think he would’ve been as good in Philadelphia like he is now in New York.
