Sixers draft history: Mo Speights selected No. 16 overall back in 2008
With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise's history.
This series continues with the 2008 draft. After the Sixers made a surprise run to the playoffs and gave the heavily favored Detroit Pistons a run for their money, they held the No. 16 pick as they were looking to add to their roster. They did so by selecting Mo Speights out of Florida.
Speights spent three seasons with the Sixers helping them reach the playoffs in 2009 and 2011. He averaged 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 205 games for Philadelphia before he was sent to the Memphis Grizzlies in a 3-team deal in 2012.
Speights would go on to play 10 years in the league averaging 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds playing for the Sixers, Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Orlando Magic. He earned the nickname "Mo Buckets" during his time with the Warriors and finished seventh in the 6th Man of the Year voting in 2015 for Golden State.
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