Philadelphia 76ers: Drafting International Players

The Philadelphia 76ers have had a history of drafting international players, both good and bad. Could the team target some more international talent?

The Philadelphia 76ers will look towards the 2016 NBA Draft after a tough 10-win season, and will try to land with as many of the four potential picks they’ll have. With the team looking like a lock for a top two pick, Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram seem to be in the near future, but the Sixers may look overseas in the late first round.

The game of basketball has boomed globally in the past 10 to 15 years thanks to a movement spearheaded by former commissioner David Stern, Yao Ming, and stars like Kobe Bryant. The NBA has seen an influx of international players in recent years, and the amount of first round selections of international players has skyrocketed.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a history of drafting internationally, although the team was lagging early on. The Sixers didn’t draft an international until 1983, where they made history and were the first team to draft a Canadian player in the first round by selecting Leo Rautins, who attended Syracuse University, with the 17th pick. He was traded a year later for financial reasons that allowed the team to acquire Charles Barkley.

There are some notable names the Philadelphia 76ers have selected that were born internationally include Todd MacCulloch, Samuel Dalembert, Thabo Sefolosha, Nikola Vucevic, and Joel Embiid. The Sixers have made some great international selections and some poor ones. The team has also traded for international players on numerous occasions. The team is hoping the trade they made for Dario Saric brings them a star.

Here is a layout of the countries the Philadelphia 76ers have drafted players from (trades on draft night not included):

Canada – 3

Serbia – 3

Germany – 2

Argentina – 1

Colombia – 1

Slovenia – 1

Czech Republic – 1

France – 1

Switzerland – 1

Ukraine – 1

Finland – 1

Montenegro – 1

Georgia – 1

Cameroon – 1

Lithuania – 1

Spain – 1

Since 2011, the Philadelphia 76ers have used 8 of their last 21 picks on international players, and that number will continue to grow in the next few seasons. New GM Bryan Colangelo isn’t afraid to test the international waters and may target some international prospects this coming draft.

As the previous Section 215 “Post-Final Four” Big Board shows, the Sixers will have their eyes on some international prospects. Timothe Luwawu would bring versatility if the Philadelphia 76ers could snag him in the late first round. His length and defensive prowess are great features, but Luwawu’s fate lies with his outside shot and if he could consistently hit it in the NBA. On the flip side, Furkan Korkmaz will be a first round option because of his shooting, but will have to improve on the various aspects of his game.