The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

2019 NBA Draft: Winners and losers of the draft

By Kohl Rast

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /
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AMES, IA – JANUARY 30: Marial Shayok #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones runs down court after scoring a three point basket in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on January 30, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 93-68 over the West Virginia Mountaineers.(Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – JANUARY 30: Marial Shayok #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones runs down court after scoring a three point basket in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on January 30, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 93-68 over the West Virginia Mountaineers.(Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /

Loser: Philadelphia 76ers

While the New Orleans Pelicans fans continued to cheer throughout the draft, the Philadelphia 76ers fans kept scratching their heads. It is not that the Sixers had a terrible draft, necessarily, but they just had some very confusing moves all night.

It started out with a trade with the Boston Celtics. Philly traded the 24th and 33rd picks to move up four spots and take pick number 20. With it, the Sixers selected Matisse Thybulle from the University of Washington. Thybulle is widely considered the best defensive prospect in the entire draft.

I am personally a fan of Thybulle and think he is going to be a great defender in the NBA one day. But his shot is not good. For the foreseeable future, the expectation from Thybulle is to be a lockdown defender, but not much help on the other end.

The Sixers are led by Ben Simmons at point guard. Ben Simmons also cannot shoot. The 76ers biggest need going into this draft was arguably added shooting. Do you see the issue here?

Aside from Thybulle, the Sixers spent the rest of the draft trading picks or watching the teams that they had already traded their picks to get high potential players. Guys like Ty Jerome, Carsen Edwards, Bruno Fernando, Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone had ties to the Sixers but will be going to other teams.

Philly also drafted a player by the name of Marial Shayok, who played for Iowa State. Shayok has some potential, but was viewed as a reach with the 54th pick. Shayok could have been available as an undrafted free agent.