The Pick Was Valuable, but Philadelphia Did Not Draft Daugherty
Basketball-Reference's 1979-80 transaction ledgers record Philadelphia sending Joe Bryant to San Diego for the Clippers' 1986 first-round pick. The legacy archive entry labels the asset with Brad Daugherty because he was eventually selected No. 1 with that pick.
That label needs context. Philadelphia still controlled the selection in June 1986, but one day before the draft the 76ers traded the No. 1 pick to Cleveland for Roy Hinson. Cleveland then selected Daugherty. This review therefore evaluates Philadelphia's realized return as Hinson and the later Hinson branch, not Daugherty's Cavaliers career.
Bryant Gave San Diego Three Useful Seasons
Bryant played 81 games for the Clippers in 1979-80, averaging 9.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in 28.7 minutes. He followed with all 82 games in 1980-81 and averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds.
In 1981-82, Bryant played 75 games, started 49 and averaged 11.8 points. Across the three seasons he appeared in 238 regular-season games for San Diego.
That is substantially more direct production than the old F-style framing suggests. The Clippers gave up a future premium asset, but they received three full years of rotation and starting-level forward play in return.
Philadelphia Eventually Converted the Pick into Hinson
On June 16, 1986, Philadelphia traded the No. 1 selection to Cleveland for Roy Hinson. Hinson then played 76 games for the 76ers in 1986-87, starting 58 and averaging 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.
He added 29 Philadelphia games the next season before a January 1988 trade sent Hinson, Tim McCormick and a 1989 second-round pick to New Jersey for Mike Gminski and Ben Coleman.
Because McCormick and the second-rounder were also included, this review does not assign the entire Gminski-Coleman return to the original 1979 pick. Hinson's 105 Philadelphia games are the cleanest direct realized outcome.
Why Philadelphia Still Gets the Edge
San Diego received more games from the original player than Philadelphia later received from Hinson. Bryant was a legitimate three-season rotation piece, so the Clippers deserve a strong grade.
Philadelphia, however, turned an outgoing player who had just averaged 7.6 points into an asset that matured into the No. 1 pick and was then converted into a productive starting forward. Hinson also retained enough trade value to become part of another substantial package.
Final Verdict
Slight 76ers Edge, A-/B+. Philadelphia receives an A- because the future first matured into the No. 1 pick and was converted into 105 Hinson games plus later trade utility. San Diego receives a B+ because Bryant delivered 238 games across three seasons. The result is much closer than an evaluation that credits Philadelphia with Daugherty's Cleveland career.