When San Antonio guard Steve Kerr came off the bench to hit big shots in the Western Conference finals and the NBA championship series, it might have given the 76ers optimism.

Kerr was the 50th selection in the 1988 draft, by the Phoenix Suns. The Sixers, who traded away their first-round choice this season, have the 50th pick in Thursday's NBA draft. The pick is their first.

The fact that a player such as Kerr, who has won five NBA championship rings, was selected 50th could offer hope for the Sixers. But based on the recent staying power of the 50th pick, it could also turn out to be false optimism.

On the whole, players selected 50th don't stand a good chance of staying on a roster. And if they do, they likely won't contribute much.

In addition to Kerr, two other 50th picks who have made it are Atlanta's Chris Crawford and Phoenix's Alton Ford, both of whom ended the season on the injured list.