NBA Draft 2018: Winners and losers

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Luka Doncic speaks to the media after being selected third overall at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Zhaire Smith is introduced before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Winner No. 4: Brett Brown, Coach/GM and Process-Truster

Brett Brown was at the wheel of the 76ers draft tonight, and it was like the Process never left. He channelled the ghost of Sam Hinkie with his two picks, grabbing two potentially high-value upside swings with the No. 10 and No. 26 picks in Zhaire Smith of Texas Tech and Landry Shamet of Wichita State.

Shamet landed in about the perfect spot for him to develop, as the 76ers need him to be what he projects best as in the NBA: A backup one that uses his pull-up shooting and sound decision-making to carry bench units and play off their stars. He was a player we had in the lottery on our final big board — he went 26th.

But the big move that really got 76ers fans considering Brown’s future with the club’s front office role was earlier, when they dealt Mikal Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for Smith, who could be brilliant as a nominal defensive one that plays the four or small-ball five on offense next to Ben Simmons. That’s a fantastic fit for him, even if he never reaches his potential as a secondary creator. That the Sixers also got an unprotected first from the Heat in 2021 out of the deal, though, is what truly makes this a Hinkie deal. The Suns got a valuable rotation player in the deal and it feels like they got fleeced. Trust the Process.

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