One and a half years later the Philadelphia 76ers have appeared to do very well in the past two NBA drafts, which is surprising, given the mass criticism both classes received at one time or another.
In 2010 the Sixers drafted Evan Turner second overall and beginning with the Summer League, he looked like a BUST. Sixers fans were worried and national media bashed the pick. Now, not so much, as Turner plays a significant role on the first place Sixers' bench.
Last June the Sixers held the 17th and 50th picks in an already weak draft. They ended up selecting Nikola Vucevic and Lavoy Allen. Following the draft the pitchforks were out and just about every Sixers fan despised the selections, especially Lavoy Allen. (Go back to last June's archives on this blog; it's not pretty). NBA Drafniks everywhere gave the Sixers mediocre grades on their class, which they appeared to deserve.
Now, with the Sixers 17-7 and Evan Turner, Nikola Vucevic and Lavoy Allen all contributing, to different degrees, people are re-thinking their criticism of the Sixers past two drafts. ESPN's David Thorpe comes out with rookie and sophomore rankings every year and keeps the rookie rankings updated throughout the season. Make the jump to see where Turner, Vooch and Lavoy rank.
Listed under 'Players with starting, if not starring, potential'
6. Evan Turner, 76ers
If the NBA handed out its Most Improved Player award now, Turner would be a finalist. He has been much closer this season to what Philly expected of him in his rookie campaign; he is doing lots of little things to help his team win.Can he score 20-plus points in a game? Yes. Can he grab 10-plus rebounds in a game? Yes. Can he control the ball for long stretches and help run the team as an off guard? Yes.
He has also shown much better shot selection this season and is now one of the two biggest bench producers for perhaps the league's best second unit. His herky-jerky style of a dribble attack is roasting defenders, and he's making more rim shots this season than he attempted last season.
The five guys ranked ahead of Turner, in order, are: Blake Griffin, Greg Monroe, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Tiago Splitter.
10. Nikola Vucevic
Jan. 13: Vucevic has been a pleasant surprise for the hot-starting Sixers, finding a way to produce in basically every game he gets to play in. He has appeared in eight of Philly's 10 games, never playing more than 20 minutes, yet he's scored six or more points four times and grabbed five or more rebounds five times. For what it's worth, he currently leads all rookies in PER (21.88) while playing 13.4 minutes a game.
17. Lavoy Allen
Feb. 2: Since Philly has been fattening up on bad teams and Spencer Hawes has been out a while, coach Doug Collins has wisely given valuable playing time early in games to Allen, who is making the most of that time.
The Sixers' second-round pick has looked to be mostly a catch-and-shoot guy off pick-and-pops, similar to how Hawes began his career. Allen is hitting 10-15 footers, but he's also taken just five free throws this season -- another eerie similarity to Hawes, and not a good one. On one particular play versus Detroit with 13 seconds on the shot clock, he received a pass on the short left wing while being completely unguarded. The lane to the rim was wide open, but Allen decided to launch a jumper that missed. I would have liked him to attack the rim, where either a dunk or free throws would have been the result. He's playing like the older version of Antonio McDyess at just 22 years of age.
Just like the BUST talk was pre-mature with Turner, the hype surrounding Nik and Lavoy is a little pre-mature. Both appear to be gems from the 2011 class, but I still think neither has the potential to be anything more than very good role players – which isn't bad considering they were drafted late in a weak draft. But we shall see! I was wrong about both of them to begin with.
We invite you to follow Liberty Ballers on Twitter and like Liberty Ballers on Facebook.
0 recs | 27 comments
I saw Lavoy’s a couple days ago & thought it was somewhat of a backhanded compliment. Ever since then he’s had more shots at the rim too I think
KJ Brophy - February 5, 2012
Agree.
Plus he’s taken nothing but good shots every time he’s been in. His pick and pops were all basically wide open, or at least well spaced and in rhythm. And he’s shown that he likes to bang inside defensively. Thorpe is forming his opinions too soon without watching him enough.
J.P.Melle - February 6, 2012
I wouldn't mind
Allen playing like a younger Antonio McDyess. Now that would be grand.
BIBTD - February 5, 2012
If Lavoy’s ceiling is a rotational guy on a good team, I’ll take it. That’s a lot more contribution than a late second round pick who rides the pine and is either off the team or traded for another second-round pick(s)…right, Speights?
jefu - February 5, 2012
Speights was a mid-first round pick who got traded for two seconds :)
dweebowitz - February 5, 2012
Yes, yes, of course, but he played like a second-round pick, didn’t he?
jefu - February 5, 2012
Possibly even a third-rounder.
dweebowitz - February 5, 2012
When he saw the court? Yes.
EREX21 - February 6, 2012
I scratched my head when they traded
webadinc - February 5, 2012
Why?
EREX21 - February 6, 2012
Mike Piazza was a courtesy pick too
Nikk.m - February 5, 2012
If you get, at minimum, two quality rotational players (particularly big men) out of a draft in which you pick at #17 and #50, you’ve had a very good draft. If either Vuce or Allen develops into a starting quality player, which appears possible, it’s a great draft.
One of the things that makes me most hopeful about the future of this team, besides all the young talent on the roster, is that in Thorn and Collins they appear to have two guys who know what they’re doing driving the bus. If they need to make a trade or a big FA signing to get this team to the next level, I have confidence that it will be a good move rather than the kind of desperate idiocy we got from Billy King and Ed Stefanski.
Xeynon - February 5, 2012
Not sure where you get this confidence in Thorn and hatred for Stefanski from. Stefanski built this 17-7 Sixer team almost entirely. Vucevic was Stefanski’s guy. The last moves Thorn made as a GM were blowing the Nets cap space on Travis Outlaw, Johan Petro, and Jordan Farmar.
splinter27 - February 5, 2012
I thought Vucevic was Thorn’s pick, but if I’m wrong I stand corrected. Regardless, Thorn built the Nets from a doormat into a two-time eastern conference champion so I think he’s got a respectable resume. As for Stefanski, to be fair to him I do think he made some good picks/trades during his tenure as GM, and he does deserve a good deal of credit for the current roster. My beef was more with his poor cap management and his abysmal hiring decisions (sudden Eddie Jordan flashback… NOOOOO!!!) than with his acumen for evaluating talent.
Xeynon - February 5, 2012
Proud to say I’m not in the “just about every Sixer fan” group when it comes to Vucevic. Loved the pick from day 1.
splinter27 - February 5, 2012
Same here, I have a post in which I was asked who I wanted the Sixers to choose and I wanted Vuce. Allen I didn’t really know nor care about, most second rounders rarely contribute,
CoreyGallagher - February 7, 2012
any chance Vuc or Lavoy get on the rookie challenge team?
pman8 - February 5, 2012
M
IAMTHEJRUTH - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Maybe vuce but ET should be a lock this year :-)
IAMTHEJRUTH - February 5, 2012 via mobile
I’m still not sure why ET doesn’t start?
I know this was addressed a few weeks ago by Derek and Mike(I believe) but it just seems wrong. I guess the bonus he gives the Night Shift is greater than the bonus he would give the starting line up if he was part of that unit.
EREX21 - February 6, 2012
The Dougy likes matchups. Turner works better than Meeks would with Tha BOSS, since he plays defense and handles the ball well. And Meeks works better with Iguodala and Jrue than he would with Tha BOSS.
dweebowitz - February 6, 2012
You are absolutely right. It’s still a shame when the better player is coming off the bench. But I guess that’s probably not unique to Philly. Or maybe it is. I have no idea.
EREX21 - February 6, 2012
Turner is going to be the starter sooner or later. Maybe even this season
Nikk.m - February 6, 2012
Wouldn’t count on it. What’s more important, winning or starting? Only thing that matters is what lineup makes the team better.
J.P.Melle - February 6, 2012
Not this season anyway.
J.P.Melle - February 6, 2012
I want ET starting, too, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Eventually, either Meeks or Dre is bound to get banged up and miss a game. Then, we’ll see how ET responds as a starter.
Blunt Philly Guy - February 6, 2012 via iPhone app
threes
BrandonB - February 6, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Liberty Ballers to post a comment.