When you take a look at the 2010 NBA draft just about 5 years later, a redraft might change up just about everything in the NBA. John Wall went first overall and that wouldn’t change, but from there on out, a lot would affect the way the NBA is going today including the number 2 pick with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Gordon Hayward and Eric Bledsoe are just a few names that were selected after Wall in the draft.
The team that held the number 2 pick at that time was the Philadelphia 76ers, who were at a relatively weird stage. Fresh off trading what might be the biggest star in the franchise’s history, Allen Iverson, the team was trying to find an identity. With that number 2 pick in the draft, they could’ve taken a player who may still be around on the team today and avoid any ‘tanking’ rumors.
Instead, they picked a guy they would just end up trading a few years later, Evan Turner, and passing up on some talents like Monroe, George or Cousins that would be stars with the team today.
According to a former player though the new head coach at the time, Doug Collins, didn’t want anything to do with one specific player, DeMarcus Cousins.
Elton Brand in an with LibertyBallers.com
A year prior, leading up to the 2010 NBA Draft, many players on the Sixers were expecting the team’s front office to draft Kentucky big man DeMarcus Cousins with the No. 2 Overall pick. Then as Collins’ control of the Sixers’ roster moves increased, it became apparent Philly was going to go in a different direction.
“Doug Collins wouldn’t have coached DeMarcus Cousins,” Brand said…
“Rod Thorn was letting Collins do his thing and coach thought we reached our maximum potential and wanted to go another way,” Brand said.
The 2010 team did make the NBA playoffs and even shocked the Miami Heat who were then, at the time, in the first playoffs series in their ‘Big 3’ era. They surprised the Heat taking a game in the series which was almost going to be a sweep, until Lou Williams had other plans for Game 4 in Philly.
That was a good start with a young team led by Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young and a young rising star point guard in Jrue Holiday. The next year they even beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round, granted without Derrick Rose due to injury, but the future was bright especially with young Turner developing and 2 young big men learning how to play tough inside with Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic. The future was bright in Philly.
Then it was blowup time in the offseason.
The Sixers decided to stick their nose in the Dwight Howard drama and move some pieces. Trading away Andre Iguodala to the Nuggets, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless and a first round pick to the Magic and acquiring Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson in the process.
Then while DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Paul George, Gordon Hayward and Eric Bledsoe have just gone on to be some of the brightest young stars the NBA has to offer, the Sixers have just not been that good at all. Not to mention Iguodala is still effective with the Warriors now and Vucevic is one of the best big men in the game.
Those are just the facts though. Who knows what would’ve happened if they drafted Cousins, or even Monroe or George for that matter but maybe Philadelphia wouldn’t be so down on their luck if they didn’t make some silly moves afterwards.
John Finger of CSNPhilly.com does think they broke up what could’ve been a solid team a little too early.
Again, hindsight is always 20-20.
