Former Sixer check-in

There is a better, more-fleshed out version of this article on Philadunkia, complete with takes from scouts of the players' current teams, so be sure to check out the original version here.

With that being said, here is a check-in with ten former Sixers - a starting five, and a bench unit - that looks at how they're fairing elsewhere outside of Philadelphia. Enjoy.

Starters

Jrue Holiday: Holiday has been hampered by injury issues since leaving Philadelphia. He played in only 34 games for the Pelicans last year, and has already missed significant time with injury issues this season. When on the court, Holiday continues to be an impressive point, averaging an 11^th best 7 assists per. He has also shown the ability to dominate defensively. The Pelicans are a young, up-and-coming team that will likely be in the West’s playoff picture for years to come. If he can stay healthy, Holiday can look to continue his All-Star play from his final season with the Sixers, but staying out on the court is something he has been unable to do consistently since the trade.

Kyle Korver: Korver is the league’s leading three-point shooter, volume-wise, so far this season, and he is the East’s best team best, and most reliable deep-threat. After twelve seasons in the league, he was finally just selected to his first All-Star team. His ability to space the floor is invaluable for Atlanta, whose motion offense affords him ample opportunity. Korver has always been able to shoot, but he has developed other areas of his game as well. He averages over four rebounds a game this season, and almost three assists, while also developing into an absolute dead-eye. Any team in the league would be happy to have Korver.

Andre Iguodala: Iguodala never really lived up to expectations in Philadelphia, but that may have been because the expectations were off. Iguodala was never meant to be a franchise-carrying star, rather a complimentary piece; a multi-faceted forward that can be dominant defensively, and serve as an offensive option. Iguodala comes off of the bench for the NBA’s best team in Golden State, and is a key piece to their second-unit and defensive identity. While his numbers are down across the board, he continues to be a critical piece to a championship-contending team; maybe the role he was always meant for.

Image from pixgood.com

Thaddeus Young: Thad Young just can’t catch a break. He went from one of the league’s worst teams, record-wise, in the Sixers, to one of the league’s worst teams, record-wise, in the Timberwolves. Statistically, he has remained solid, and he serves as a nice on-court leader to some of Minnesota’s younger guys. It seems somewhat unlikely that he will stay there long-term however. Thad remains best-suited for a role as a third or fourth option on a contending team, as he is a versatile, multi-faceted forward who can contribute in a multitude of ways. Although he has been in the league for a while, he is still relatively young, and still has some good ball in front of him.

Nikola Vucevic: Nik Vucevic is one guy that maybe the Sixers should have help on to. Vucevic was played spairignly in his single season with the Sixers under Doug Collins, before gool ole’ Doug shipped him off in the infamous Andrew Bynum debacle. Since leaving Philadelphia and joining Orlanda, Vucevic has blossomed into one of the game’s best young centers, and a double-double machine. He is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds (!) for Orlando this season, and he serves as a centerpiece to that franchise’s own rebuild. He has good touch on the offensive end and is the league’s seventh-leading rebounder. You have to think, maybe if Vucevic was given a little more opportunity in Philadelphia, the organization wouldn’t have had to spend the past three summers chasing franchise-changing big guys.   

Bench

Lou Williams: Things are going well for Lou Williams. He was just the inspiration for a Drake song, he has not one, but two girlfriends, and he’s the sixth man on one of the East’s top teams. After two seasons in the A-Town with his hometown Hawks, Williams is having his best scoring season yet in Toronto. He remains one of the league’s best bench scorers, and one of its top sixth men.

Matt Barnes: Matt Barnes has been all around the NBA, and was only with the Sixers for a single season. Still, his hustle and hard-nosed play make him a guy that teams like having around. He is currently a starter on one of the West’s best in the Clippers, and he continues to be a guy that can do a little bit of everything. He is also found of getting technical fouls.

Evan Turner: Turner’s tenure in Philadelphia did not end favorably for the forward, and his time in Indiana ended even worse. Turner has a very specific skill set that requires him having the ball in his hands. When he is afforded such an opportunity, he can make plays, like he did last week when he hit a buzzer beater to give the Celtics a last-second victory over the East-leading hawks. Turner will show flashes of excellence and ability, but such flashes continue to be inconsistent. He has benefitted from being able to run some point in Boston in the absence of Rajon Rondo, but it seems very unlikely that the team will want to keep him there long-term, like when they’re trying to be good. So while Turner has some skills, his long-term future in the league remains uncertain.

Mo Speights: The Sixers selected Mo Speights directly before DeAndre Jordan in the 2008 NBA Draft, and I have never forgiven them for it. Jordan was a monster coming out of college who showed the same type of potential he has displayed for the Clippers over the past few seasons, and missing out on that for a jump-shooting, slightly out-of-shape power forward wasn’t ideal. With that being said, I am somewhat surprised that Speights is not only still in the league, but that he is contributing at a high level on a championship-caliber team. Speights has really found his niche with the Warriors as sort of an instant offense type of guy. Speights averages 12 points in only 18 minutes of action per game in Golden State this season; an impressive output considering the minutes. Together with Andre Iguodala, Speights is a critical piece to the NBA’s top team’s bench and depth.

Spencer Hawes: Spencer Hawes’ minutes, and numbers, have dipped drastically in his first season in Los Angeles. He is not getting the same court time or opportunity that he did with the Sixers, but for the sake of the Clippers, that might be a good thing. Hawes has unique talent for his size, especially his ability to knock down shots out to the three-point line, and that ability makes him attractive to most teams. He is however not a starting-caliber center, like he played in Philadelphia. His role as a big off the bench that can come in, grab some rebounds, and pop some shots may be ideal for him. If he can find his stroke consistently, he could play an important part in the Clippers’ upcoming playoff push.