Jerry Colangelo Is The Sixers John Calipari

The Philadelphia 76ers hiring Jerry Colangelo made him their John Calipari.

The Philadelphia 76ers nearly broke the internet Monday after principal owner of the Sixers, Joshua Harris, announced that the Sixers were bringing Jerry Colangelo on board as the new “chairman of basketball operations.” The signing has sparked numerous conspiracy theories that the signing was not only suggested by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, but he pressured the Sixers into it.

Many writers and fans believe that this signing shows that the Sixers Organization has a lack of trust in Sam Hinkie’s “Process.” I believe that this couldn’t be further from the truth. I believe that Jerry Colangelo was brought on to be a smokescreen for the media, the average fan, and the NBA.

It’s no secret that most of Sixers Nation, the NBA, NBA owners, and most basketball fans have criticized the “Process” and the morality of the whole situation. The Sixers’ backs been placed against a wall by the media’s perception of the undoubtedly purposeful tanking. The Sixers had to do something to quiet the critics, so what do they do? They bring in arguably the most respected basketball mind in the world in Jerry Colangelo, and place him in a figurehead position. Jerry Colangelo is not all in on this Organization as is obvious with his numerous other commitments, and fact that he will still reside in Arizona, a mere 2293 miles away from Philadelphia.

I strongly believe that Jerry Colangelo was brought in to be a John Calipari figure of sorts. Before anyone jumps down my throat about John Calipari let me explain the correlation I am making. I don’t mean that John Calipari is a bad coach, or that he is a figurehead. I have always and will always believe that John Calipari is an A+ recruiter, a A+ facilitator, but a B- coach. What Calipari does so well is his ability to communicate to players, have them like him, and keep them liking him. What John Calipari has done for his NCAA teams he has been a part of in terms of creating power house teams, Jerry Colangelo has done in his complete brilliant overhaul of USA Basketball. Colangelo has continuously brought in the right talent, and the right people to coach USA Basketball and has brought the nation back to its glory days.

Colangelo may be able to bring in talented free agents for the Sixers when the time comes, but that time is not now. Sam Hinkie is still very much in charge, and that point was stressed in Harris’ press conference. So why did the Sixers hire him? Like I said before, to silence the media. I don’t believe for a second that Adam Silver actually pressured the Sixers into hiring Colangelo, but I do believe Silver had a conversation with Joshua Harris that potentially went like this.

"Harris: “Mr. Silver I hear that you’re frustrated with the process.”Silver: “Harris you’re making a mockery of our league with Sam Hinkie’s incredibly intelligent loophole-like rebuilding process.”Harris: “Sorry to upset you Silver, but my organization has tried everything and it has never worked in the past. This is how we would like to proceed.”Silver: “Can you guys at least attempt to make it look like your not taking advantage of our system, kind of how the Lakers are secretly tanking?”Harris: “How would you like us to do that?”Silver: “Have you met my old pal Jerry Colangelo?”"

The mock conversation above is obviously a joke, but I think everyone gets my point. The Sixers brought Jerry Colangelo in to shut the media up, and to possibly recruit in the future when the time is right to spend money on stars, nothing more nothing less.