Tempering 2nd Round Expectations

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

Besides Nerlens Noel, the biggest source of optimism and enthusiasm surrounding the Sixers heading into the upcoming season revolves around their group of 2nd round picks. Jordan McRae, K.J. McDaniels, and Jerami Grant all showed flashes of promise during summer league ball that have fans salivating about the impact they can make at the next level. McRae, in particular, earned 2nd-team all-summer league honors for his play out in Vegas, and folks are very hopeful his efficient scoring will translate against better competition.

However, I would caution fans to temper their expectation in regard to second round picks. After all, nearly every team in the league passed on these guys at least once, and generally speaking, there are good reasons why that happened. The history of second rounders also works against these guys, especially when it comes to the Sixers. Over the past 15 years, there have only been 5 players drafted by the Sixers in the second round who have even gone on to don the uniform. As you’ll read, those making a positive impact for the club are rarer still.

Lavoy Allen (2011 draft, 50th overall pick) – The big man out of Temple was once ranked the 500th best player in the NBA by an ESPN article (out of 500). While he won’t be making any all-star teams over his career, Mr. 500 did prove the naysayers wrong, becoming a valuable part-time starter for the Sixers in his first two seasons with the team. His play tailed off under coach Brett Brown and he was shipped off with Evan Turner to Indiana last season. Allen was re-signed on a one-year deal by the Pacers this offseason, where he’ll look to continue to prove he’s more than just a number.

Lou Williams (2005, 45th) – Sweet Lou is the exception that proves the rule. Besides making his first million before he ever got laid (which is quite the feat in itself), Williams will be entering his 10th year in the NBA this season with his new team, the Raptors. Lou led some solid bench units for the Sixers (including the group memorably dubbed the Night Shift by Malik Rose), and finished as a finalist for the 6th man of the year award a few years running. He may have moved on from Philadelphia but he’ll always hold a special place in the heart of Sixers fans; Lou Williams: bucket getter and crime fighter.

Damone Brown (2001, 37th) – Coming off the NBA Finals loss to the Lakers, Brown didn’t quite serve as the final missing piece to get Allen Iverson that coveted championship. He scored 23 points, total, as a Sixer, and went on to play parts of 4 nondescript seasons in the NBA. Years later, he was arrested for his involvement in a cocaine drug ring.

Alvin Jones (2001, 57th) – Not to be outdone by Brown on the court, Alvin dropped a whopping 26 points in a Sixers uniform. That one season with the club was the only one Jones would play in the NBA.

Todd MacCulloch (1999, 47th) – MacCulloch showed some promise in his four seasons in the NBA (three with the Sixers), and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to being a 7-foot red head and having a sweet touch around the basket. Sadly, a genetic muscular disorder caused MacCulloch a significant amount of pain in his feet and he was forced to retire early from basketball. The bright side is that the big Canadian appeared to find his true calling as a superstar in the world of pinball.

Granted, you could chalk this list up to poor organizational scouting by the old regime, and certainly, some former 2nd round picks and undrafted free agents who weren’t necessarily drafted by the Sixers have made contributions for them. Still, this exercise points out that the odds of finding the next Manu Ginobili, Marc Gasol, or Paul Millsap are working against you. There are only so many roster spots to go around in the NBA to begin with, and if a player has the talent to make it, that will often be identified early on and he’ll be selected in the first round.

Playing for a young, winning-indifferent squad like this year’s Sixers will certainly afford McRae and the rest a better opportunity than most to make a name for themselves. Just know that even by making the team, they’ve succeeded where many guys before them have failed.