If you’ve listened to the Bill Simmons podcast over the years and specifically to the interviews with Charles Barkley, he tells the same story every time (it’s great!) about the Sixers traded the no. 1 NBA Draft pick ahead of the 1986 NBA Draft as well as dealing Moses Malone from the Sixers. Barkley reminisces about how idiotic management of the 76ers was with respect to these moves. Let’s break down what occured:
Following the 1985-86 season, the Sixers were good. They just completed a 54-28 record with a young Charles Barkley who just averaged 20 points per game during that season as well as the older stars from the previous 1982-83 title team such as Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Maurice Cheecks.
Despite being pretty darn good still, the Sixers had the no. 1 pick in the upcoming draft due to a Clippers trade going back to 1979. Barkley often remarks about how great it would have been to be paired with Brad Daugherty coming out of college. Instead, the Sixers dealt the pick to Cleveland in exchange for veteran Roy Hinson.
Daugherty would end up having a very productive career including an all-star selection in his second season. Roy Hinson would be mostly disappointing in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile the team also traded Moses Malone to Washington in exchange for Jeff Rutland and Cliff Robinson. With Washington, Malone bounced back and averaged 24 and 11 and being named again to the all-star team.
I think Chuck has a point with his now going on 40 years of angst toward the Philadelphia 76ers franchise.