Philadelphia 76ers legend Charles Barkley says the biggest mistake the Sixers ever made was not drafting Brad Daugherty in the 1986 NBA Draft.
The Sixers traded that 1986 draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected Daugherty with the first overall pick. Barkley thought this was the wrong move:
“The biggest mistake the Sixers ever made was not drafting Brad Daugherty,” Barkley told Michael Lee of The Athletic. “Because No. 1, they should’ve drafted Brad Daugherty. But secondly, they traded Brad Daugherty; then they traded Moses Malone for Jeff Ruland, who never played. That set me back. I didn’t have a center the next few years, and that was when I was in my prime. We could never get over the Daugherty trade. That was the biggest mistake. Not drafting Brad Daugherty. That was the beginning of the end.”
Charles Barkley played eight seasons for the Sixers. He averaged 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds in 610 games with Philly, but was never able to win a title.
Daugherty carved out a productive career in the NBA. He was a five-time All-Star who put up 19.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in 548 games with the Cavs. That's the type of production Barkley would have loved to have next to him in Philly.
Unfortunately, the Sixers just made the wrong move at the time.
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