“The Process” Incomplete: Sam Hinkie Resigns
In a 13-page letter penned to the front office, Sixers General Manager and President of Basketball Operations made the decision to resign from the post he’s held since 2013. In the letter he states the organizational changes and devotion to fans as cause:
“Given the changes to our organization, I no longer have the confidence that I can make good decisions on behalf of investors in the Sixers- you… So I should step down. And I have.”
Hinkie, the mastermind behind the extreme rebuild, dubbed “the process,” which entailed sacrificing wins for draft picks, had turned a mediocre playoff team into the laughing stock of the NBA – just four years ago, the 8-seed 76ers beat the 1-seed Chicago Bulls, and took the Boston Celtics to seven games- in hopes of building a dynasty. Over his three years, Hinkie had been notorious for trading at the deadline for nothing more than assets, amassing over 20 draft picks over the next three years, including eight in the first round, through use of analytics.
The Sixers managing partner Josh Harris responded Wednesday night:
“While we are disappointed in Sam’s decision, we would like to sincerely thank him for his contributions over the past three seasons. There is no question that Sam’s work had put us in a very strong position to take advantage of numerous opportunities for an exciting future.”
Sixers’ Chairman of Basketball Operations, Jerry Colangelo, is expected to hire his son, Bryan, as Hinkie’s replacement. Bryan Colangelo was selected 2005 executive of the year, when with the Suns. He had previously built Phoenix’s high octane offense, led by Steve Nash; he worked for the Suns from 1994-2006, when his father owned the club, before taking over in Toronto.
The 76ers will seemingly finish out the 2016 campaign with the league’s worst record, currently sitting at 10-68 with four games remaining. A positive, if there is any, is their best chance for the number one overall selection in the June draft.
Photo: Flickr
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