:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26886731/457220357.0.jpg)
When the Miami Heat were on the clock with the 27th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Doug Collins called up Pat Riley and co. and offered the Philadelphia 76ers' lottery-protected 2014 first round pick in exchange for Arnett Moultrie's draft rights if Miami selected him. Of course, Moultrie got hurt before his rookie season even began, forcing him to gain weight and the big man out of Mississippi State played sparingly in Collins' final year—thank God—at the helm of the Sixers.
Now with Moultrie set to return any day now, it's only fitting that the Heat would send the Sixers' pick to Boston in part of the three-team deal that sent Jordan Crawford to Golden State on Wednesday afternoon. In the deal, Golden State acquired Crawford and cast-off MarShon Brooks—who I think will play some quality bench minutes if they don't cut him—Miami received Tony Douglas and Boston took back Joel Anthony, the Sixers' pick from the Heat and Miami's 2016 second round pick.
2014 NBA Draft
2014 NBA Draft
The deal makes sense. Golden State needs more scoring in its second unit and Jordan Crawford's recent success at the point guard under Brad Stevens in Boston can allow Mark Jackson to use the Xavier product as a primary ball handler when Stephen Curry's on the bench. That will also allow Andre Iguodala to have more open looks at spot-up three-pointers he's been so deadly at this year. For Boston, they receive some solid rim protection in Anthony and two future picks. Danny Ainge is a draft pick whore. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it.
The Sixers' pick Miami sent to Boston was the prime spark to the #TeamChill fire back when Brett Brown coached the team to an astronomically improbable 3-0 start. Per RealGM, here is the protection on the pick:
2014 first round draft pick to Miami
Philadelphia's 1st round pick to Miami protected for selections 1-14 in 2014 or 1-14 in 2015; if Philadelphia has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Miami by 2015, then Philadelphia will instead convey its 2015 2nd round pick and 2016 2nd round pick to Miami [Miami-Philadelphia, 6/28/2012]
Basically, if the Sixers make the playoffs this season, the Celtics will now receive their first round pick. Yea, that's not going to happen. The 76ers now currently sit a comfy 28th out of the 30 teams in the NBA with the third-best odds at getting the No. 1 Overall pick in this June's Draft. However, 2015 is a little more daunting. Considering how bad the East is, a team coached by Brown with MCW, a presumably healthy Nerlens Noel—fingers crossed—and two more lottery picks, that both could be top ten with the way the cards have been dealt to New Orleans recently, could be good enough to make the playoffs next season. And with the Sixers' currently owing their 2016 first round pick to Orlando thanks to the deal that brought He Who Must Not Be Named to the Constitution Center, that would leave Sam Hinkie with no first round draft picks of his own in two of three years.
Keep this in mind with the trade deadline under 40 days away so you won't be shocked if you see Hinkie acquire an extra 2015 first rounder.
