Are Sixers Fans Too Quick to Defend Sam Hinkie?

This is interesting, isn’t it? With the Sixers, it seems there are two current sides to the spectrum. It’s a dichotomy. On one side, people against the Sixers’ plan believe every move makes little sense and even if it does, most can’t see the reason behind pawning real players off for future draft picks. It’s all viewed in the short-term, instead of the long-term. With that being said, looking at the long-term when things are happening in real time is difficult.

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On the other side, people that believe in Sam Hinkie and the plan are quick to defend every single move made, not even questioning the mad man and his tactics. He is never wrong, he is always right.

Why is it not possible to be in the middle and admit when something may not work or have been the best option?

There are few of us who step back and say, “This move may not work for Sam Hinkie, but who knows what will happen.” The two major trades for the Sixers at the trade deadline made me question if the Sixers faithful move too quick to defend Sam Hinkie and every move he makes.

I’ll admit that I’m guilty as charged for defending Sam Hinkie. I’ve never been more aggressive at defending the Sixers GM than at the recent trade deadline. As soon as the trades were made, my mind suddenly switched to understanding why the trades made sense and why Hinkie would make these moves.

To be honest, the Michael Carter-Williams trade did make sense. However, while he was on our team, I did my best to remain optimistic and hope that he would eventually turn the corner. But, the second he was gone, I bashed him for what everyone bashed him for — turnovers and low efficiency. While outsiders were praising the “former Rookie of the Year,” I — and others — had to bash him to defend Hinkie. The Lakers top-five protected pick is an asset that typically doesn’t trade hands in the NBA. That’s a blue chip prospect that Hinkie has under his belt, so it’s understandable to see why Hinkie would pull the trigger.

Feb 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd talks with guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

However, one could also argue that trading Michael Carter-Williams for a future pick is dangerous, because of the uncertainty. MCW was a No. 11 pick, while Evan Turner was a No. 2 pick. Turner is a bust for his draft position, while the jury is still out on Carter-Williams, the future doesn’t look as bright as it did a season ago. One could argue that draft position doesn’t matter THAT much and that trading MCW for a future pick is almost a redo on the pick, or another chance to grab a superstar instead of an average point guard.

But, the Lakers will have cap room this summer and there in lies a lot of uncertainty. There’s a small change the Lakers top-five protected pick comes over in 2015, and it will switch over to top-three protected in 2016 and 2017 before becoming unprotected in 2018. The Lakers are currently slotted in the fourth draft slot and the makeup of their teams leaves them more likely to head closer to the worst record than anywhere close to the fifth pick.

However, I could be 100 percent wrong and the Lakers could be a decent team next year and that pick could wind up in the middle teens. Regardless, it’s a bunch of uncertainty. The only truth is that both major trades Sam Hinkie made at the deadline will take years upon years to figure out if it was the right decision. Hopefully, by that time the Sixers will be in a much better position.

The trade that was harder to defend was sending K.J. McDaniels to the Houston Rockets for a second-round pick and Isaiah Canaan — who has shot the ball nicely from range in his first two games. Fans that have watched McDaniels grow have seen his flaws — shooting, dribbling — but have seen his defensive potential rise and his unique ability to guard the rim as a guard.

Feb 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard KJ McDaniels (32) passes the ball during the fourth quarter as Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross (31) defends at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Raptors 98-76. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

K.J. McDaniels might have the defensive potential of Dwyane Wade that never figures out the offensive side of the ball. Though, one would imagine the Sixers and Sam Hinkie didn’t believe resigning him was realistic. Regardless, there was a good amount of people that agreed with this trade, without recognizing that it could be dangerous. Even I was one of them.

It’s getting to the point now that outsiders are so quick to bash Hinkie without judgement, that us, as fans, are also jumping to defend Hinkie without any judgement. A/k/a, we’re feeding a machine that keeps spinning the same circle.

A lot of this is human nature. While someone is on our side, we defend them. If they leave, we bash them. At times, it’s hard to step back and think critically about the situation, especially when Twitter is a world where critical thinking is nonexistent.

The Sixers faithful have a lot of hope, blind or not, it’s still hope. That hope is filling a city that doesn’t have much else to root for at the moment. There are championship aspirations for the Sixers and the fans realize this, even if the general manager is taking the path no one has really traveled in the NBA before.

However, sometimes we need to just sit back, let the haters hate, and acknowledge that every move by Sam Hinkie isn’t amazing or franchise destroying as it stands. Fighting fire with fire isn’t getting us anywhere, except into a bunch of Twitter arguments and making us hated as a fan base. Sit back and laugh, and let’s see what happens.