Nov 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sam Hinkie gets hired
The recent “tanking” and rebuilding effort can be traced back and credited to one man, essentially. So, if you didn’t already know who was causing your misery by being content with losing and getting top draft picks, that man is Sam Hinkie.
At this point, his motives are being questioned, but you can’t exactly blame him for all of the losses. Trying to pull together a formidable team is a tough task, and just because he’s going about it in an unconventional way doesn’t mean it won’t pay off someday.
It was in 2013 that this man was hired, and his efforts were very clear. He wanted to bring a “moneyball” approach to the game of basketball, using stats and analytics to his advantage in making a team that could contend for a championship title. Prior to being with the Sixers, Hinkie spent eight years with the Houston Rockets, and was the executive vice president of basketball operations there.
Nearly three years later, and there has been hardly any progress. If anything, regression has been evident, with the team making record of consecutive losses. There’s no doubt that Hinkie is largely criticized, but he’s also trusted.
At this point, the success of the team under Hinkie is largely unknown because the process has not been completely played out, but success or not, his hiring has proved to be a big moment in the franchises’ long history.
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