Jared McCain took the stage representing the Sixers for the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. Shockingly, the team was awarded the third pick in June’s draft. Since that moment and until the moment they pick, there will be conversations about who they should pick, if they should trade up or back, or use it in another trade for a star.
With the roster and organization at a crossroads of sorts, whoever they pick will be a part of the youth movement going forward. Daryl Morey and company must hit on this pick with their main star’s future in question due to injury. Take a look at the Sixers’ recent history drafting in the lottery.
The hits
Joel Embiid, the third pick in the 2014 draft, and Ben Simmons, the first pick of the 2016 draft, were both hits for the Sixers franchise and helped drag the team out of the dungeon of the NBA and into contention. Although Embiid missed the first three seasons with injury and Simmons missed his first full season with injury, they both changed the team’s fortunes once they hit the court together. They helped push the team to the playoffs and into the second round of the playoffs, three out of their first four seasons together.
Simmons’ career began to flame out after the Sixers’ second-round upset loss to the Atlanta Hawks in 2021 and was traded at next season’s trade deadline for James Harden. Joel Embiid transcended to a dominant MVP level, although he’s often been injured during the postseason. Both players’ careers will be remembered differently when it is all said and done, but make no mistake, early on, these two were looked at as two young co-stars.
The misses
There have definitely been some misses in the last 10 years for this franchise picking in the lottery. In 2017, the Philly traded up with the Boston Celtics to get the number one pick in the draft and took Markelle Fultz. All college season long, Fultz was considered the number one player in the nation. From the end of the college season to NBA draft workouts, something happened to Fultz’s shoulder, which affected his shooting and confidence. This carried into his Sixers’ career and was eventually traded to the Orlando Magic after two seasons in Philadelphia.
The Sixers drafted Jahlil Okafor third overall in the 2015 draft, with the expectation of pairing him with Joel Embiid. Okafor had a pretty successful rookie year, but took a nose dive after that. Injuries affected his time in Philadelphia, and he was traded midway through his third year. He ended up playing on four more teams in the NBA in the next five seasons.
The Morey tenure
The 2025 NBA draft will be the first time Daryl Morey is drafting in the lottery, but he has had success in the draft since taking over as President of Basketball Operations in Philadelphia. He has drafted Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Adem Bona. Maxey and McCain are the obvious bright spots, with Maxey turning into an All-Star and potential superstar. McCain looked like the shoo-in for Rookie of the Year until he suffered a torn meniscus.
Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed have both played minutes in the playoffs for their respective new teams, and Bona got some really good experience after all the injuries the Sixers faced this season. Although the Sixers’ lottery has been hit or miss, you can trust Daryl Morey and the front office will evaluate prospects well and make the right pick to help the team in the short and long term.
