Keep Calm And “Trust The Process”

Philadelphia 76ers fans should embrace the losing, and think of the bigger picture.

With every day that goes by and every loss that comes, Philadelphia 76ers fans are growing tried of hearing all Hinkie advocates saying “trust the process.” I happen to be one of these Hinkie advocates. I have gotten in countless arguments and discussions with people who just want to judge the Sixers from an outside view without full knowledge of the team.

Most pedestrian Sixers fans say something along the lines of “we only draft injured players, or players who can’t play right away,” or they say “why aren’t we going after free agents?” These people need to take a deep breath, step back, and take a look at the total picture of not only the Sixers, but the NBA as a whole.

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I’m really tired of listening to the afternoon sports radio, and listening to fans criticize the Sixers when they haven’t taken the time to look at the big picture. Yes, at some point in time we will have to make some sort of significant free agent signing, but why would we have this past summer? Let’s look at the notable free agent signings this past summer.

1. LaMarcus Aldridge:

LaMarcus is a great player there is no question with career averages of 19.3 points per game 8.4 rebounds. Obviously he didn’t fit with the team, having hopefully three very impressive big men for the future.

2. Jimmy Butler:

The Sixers offering Butler, or even entertaining an offer, was a hot rumor this past summer. I don’t believe there was any validity to this rumor though. Why would the team have signed Jimmy Butler? Sure, he has improved greatly from the 2013-2014 season to the 2014-2015 season, increasing his averages from 13.1 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists to 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists. But what comes after the signing? Butler signed a five year $95 million contract with an opt-out clause after the fourth year. Butler was restricted, so to be able to acquire him, the Sixers would have had to give him significantly more money to pry him from the Bulls.

So let’s say for a scenario we signed Butler for five years and $105 million. We are banking on competing for a title in the next 4 years before Butler can opt out. Realistically we have only 5 actual NBA caliber players on our roster (Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Robert Covington, Tony Wroten, and possibly T.J. McConnell and/or Jerami Grant). In order to make the team relevant we would have to sign five solid role players to even think about this team being a current or future contender, and even then you have to pray Okafor and Noel pan out to be flat out stars. This just wouldn’t work.

Remember when the Pistons attempted to bounce back into the championship circle in 2009 by signing large contract big name free agents like Charlie Villanueva, and Ben Gordon? The Pistons gave Gordon $60 million and Villanueva $40 million. These signings ended in a combined 111-201 record for the length of Gordon and Villanueva’s tenture in Detroit. I’m afraid a signing of Butler could lead to us digging ourselves a hole like this as well. Butler would be a great signing for a team like Portland last year that was up and coming with LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard making Butler a third piece. That’s a move I would have liked to see pan out, and would have made for an interesting team.

Those were the only two guys who were superstar-like status that were available. You could say Kawhi Leonard was too, but realistically the Spurs were not going to let him walk. There were a slew of other guys like DeMarre Carroll, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Jae Crowder who are good players but not worth the money they were paid with the team we have.

Now that we examined the Free Agent market of last year, let’s touch on how the best teams are built in the NBA.

I feel that the “casual” Sixers fan has seen the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers teams of late. They threw together massive amounts of money, and top notch players came together to form these dynasty teams. I have argued that this scenario is only possible is the rarest of situations. LeBron could possibly bring anyone he wants to play with him, but few others in the league would be able to reel in talent such as LeBron. Only Kevin Durant comes to mind, as a player polarizing enough to be able to recruit successfully. I feel our best route to a championship would be the route we are already on, building through the draft and saving money, just like the San Antonio Spurs, the Golden State Warriors, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

You may say “Wait a minute the Thunder have accomplished nothing,” but here is the deal. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have not played more that 67 games together in one season since 2013-2014. I have no doubt that they would have contended for a title if both healthy the past two years. And even though they haven’t won, wouldn’t being in contention every year at least be good enough?

This brings up another issue. Philly fans need to curb the championship or bust attitude. The Fact is only 9 different teams have won an NBA championship since 1984… Let me reiterate this, in the past 31 years only nine different teams have won an NBA Championship. Let’s all remember that 2001 was the best sports year in many of our lives, and we did not win a championship.

Let’s all remember that we’ve tried to frantically sign and trade to make that championship push in the past. What did that get us though? It got us a Lot of first round playoff exits, and a series of 14-17 1st round draft positions. And to those people that say “well at least we were in the playoffs and had a chance”, you are probably the same person that called for Iguodala’s head, and were screaming for a rebuild a few years ago.

All I’m asking is that we Keep Calm and Trust the Process, because what is the alternative? We’ve tried everything else, and where has that gotten us in the past 14 years?

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