NBA Draft: Ranking 76ers’ Draft Picks Under Daryl Morey

Taking a look back at Daryl Morey's draft picks in Philadelphia.

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday night. Heading into the big event, the Philadelphia 76ers currently aren’t expected to make a pick.

Two seasons ago, the Sixers traded away their first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that landed them the ten-time All-Star guard James Harden. 

And as a result of the NBA’s tampering investigation against the Sixers last season, Philadelphia lost its second-round pick for the 2023 NBA Draft.

Recent reports have hinted that the Sixers are looking to trade their way into the draft this summer. While Philadelphia is unlikely to make any blockbuster deals, they could snag a second-round pick to land a high-upside player that could come on a team-friendly contract.

As we wait for the main event on Thursday night, we’ll take a look at the previous few drafts to review and rank each of the 76ers’ draft picks since Daryl Morey took over as the team’s President of Basketball Operations in 2020.

Ranking the Picks

76ers draft pick Filip Petrusev. 

6. Filip Petrusev

Starting with the 50th overall pick from the 2021 NBA Draft, Filip Petrusev ranks at No. 6 for obvious reasons. Since getting selected by the Sixers two years ago, Petrusev has yet to play in an NBA game outside of the Summer League.

Will that soon change? The former Gonzaga forward hopes that’s the case, as he’s been interested in playing in the U.S. since the Sixers selected him. However, Petrusev remains a stash overseas. So far, the Sixers haven’t shown any possibility of offering Petrusev a shot in the league. 

76ers guard Jaden Springer. 

5. Jaden Springer

Before the Sixers took Petrusev in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, the team made Jaden Springer its first-round pick. Springer was a young prospect coming off his freshman season at Tennessee. Since the Sixers were a playoff-contending squad with championship aspirations, Springer has had difficulty picking up NBA minutes.

Over the last two seasons, Springer has spent most of his time with the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. He’s seen the court for just 95 minutes in 18 games across two seasons since the 76ers drafted him. Philadelphia keeps their hopes high for Springer heading into year three, but he remains a notable question mark on the roster as of now.

Spurs center Charles Bassey during his time with the 76ers. 

4. Charles Bassey

On a team that didn’t have a concrete prospect to back up Joel Embiid, Charles Bassey entered a difficult yet good situation when he was taken with Philadelphia’s 53rd pick in 2021. After the Sixers stashed away Petrusev, Bassey stuck around on a standard NBA contract. Similar to Springer, he spent a lot of time in the G League.

Last season, Bassey failed to make final cuts with the 76ers after the preseason concluded. He went on to join the San Antonio Spurs. Although he was initially signed to a two-way contract, Bassey eventually earned himself another standard deal. As he joined a much more favorable situation, landing in San Antonio with a young team that could offer immediate minutes, Bassey has developed into an intriguing big man for years to come.

Sixers center Paul Reed

3. Paul Reed

Most of the Sixers’ second-rounders didn’t stick around long-term, but Paul Reed is different. After quickly making a name for himself in 2020 by becoming the G League’s Rookie of the Year and MVP, Reed made it hard for Doc Rivers to avoid giving him minutes during Reed’s sophomore effort.

Over the last two seasons, Paul Reed couldn’t carve out a consistent role during the regular season, but he ended the year as Joel Embiid’s primary backup both times. Now, Reed could hit the free agency market as a restricted prospect. The young big man will draw some suitors, which could drive up his asking price, but Reed might not be done in Philadelphia just yet. 

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe during his time with the 76ers. 

2. Isaiah Joe

Sorry to remind you, Sixers fans. Once a Philadelphia fan-favorite that had the South Philly fan base behind him, Isaiah Joe was left searching for a new situation just two years after getting drafted 49th overall by the 76ers. As many believed Joe was in a head-to-head battle with Bassey for the final roster spot during last year’s preseason, Joe got the boot along with the Spurs center.

Isaiah Joe landed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. While he didn’t get playing time off the rip, the former Arkansas standout slowly but surely worked his way into the rotation and never looked back. In 73 games, Joe averaged nearly 20 minutes with the Thunder. During that time, he provided an average of ten points off the bench while becoming one of the NBA’s top three-point shooters, knocking down 41 percent of his shots on five attempts per game.

With a crowded roster that was playoff-ready, Joe would’ve struggled to find that kind of playing time with the 76ers. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, when he got it, Joe proved to be a diamond in the rough that is the late second round. 

76ers guard Tyrese Maxey

1. Tyrese Maxey

No surprises here — Tyrese Maxey is the top draft selection from Morey’s run in the front office. Coming out of Kentucky after an impressive freshman season, Maxey was expected to be a lottery selection in 2020. As the first round played out, the young guard found himself sliding down the draft board.

The Sixers were waiting patiently at pick No. 21 to see who was available. When they went on the clock, Maxey became their pick. At the time, the selection of Maxey was regarded as a steal by many within the media. A few years later, that remains the case.

After a spotty rookie season, Maxey emerged as a full-time starting guard on the 76ers during his sophomore effort. He posted averages of 18 points, four assists, and three steals while knocking down 49 percent of his field goals. Once criticized for his three-point struggles in college and during his rookie year, Maxey improved greatly from beyond the arc in 2021-2022 as he drilled 43 percent of his shots from deep.

In Maxey’s third season, he took his play up another notch. The former Kentucky guard averaged a career-high of 20 points while hitting on 48 percent of his shots. He was one of the NBA’s top three-point shooters, as he averaged 44 percent from deep in 60 games.

As Maxey approaches year four in the NBA, he’s on the path to getting paid the big bucks based on what he put on display over the last two years. And if he takes another step forward in year four, the former late first-rounder could be an All-Star selection.