The Sixer Sense
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5 Reasons former Philadelphia 76ers Sam Hinkie Stockpiled for Anthony Davis

By Bret Stuter

Mar 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2), Philadelphia 76ers guard Hollis Thompson (31) and forward Carl Landry (7) reach for a loose ball during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Hornets won 100-85. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2), Philadelphia 76ers guard Hollis Thompson (31) and forward Carl Landry (7) reach for a loose ball during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Hornets won 100-85. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 6, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Reason V: Davis Will Eventually Want to Win, and New Orleans will need to decide whether to trade him or simply lose him to free agency.

The New Orleans Pelicans are scrambling this season to find help for Anthony Davis. The team has plenty of reason for the urgency.  Sitting 12 games below .500 at the peak of Anthony Davis’ career is not going to build strong confidence in their star that the team is climbing to a championship.

In a recent article by ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Pelicans are taken to task for their inability to pull together a winning team around the star Davis.  A struggle Anthony Davis is all too well aware of:

"“It has been such a struggle to find our identity,” Davis told ESPN.com. “And we don’t have much time left.”"

Without confirming with Sam Hinkie, I certainly can speculate that he saw this struggle coming. Or rather, the probability of this struggle coming. And as such, he was stockpiling to give the New Orleans Pelicans one additional option:

Building The War Chest

Lose Anthony Davis to Free Agency, or sign and trade him to the Philadelphia 76ers for a ransom. And what could the 76ers have to offer in 2020?  Right now, the team has it’s own first round, an Oklahoma City Thunder 1st round (top 20 protected) and three 2nd round picks.  But the team also has a 2019 first round pick from the Sacramento Kings.

RELATED STORY:  Which NBA Superstar Was Sam Hinkie Saving For?

Sam Hinkie was famous for “plowing picks back” into future NBA drafts.  He  had another perfect opportunity to do so in the 2016 NBA Draft with the 26th pick. I am also of the opinion that he would have dealt one or two of the Philadelphia 76ers centers for future draft picks as well.  Much of the hold up in current trade negotiations in the 76ers insistence that compensation be a 2017 draft pick.  Hinkie, building for the mega-deal, would insist upon future picks.

YOU SHOULD ALSO READ: Philadelphia 76ers Future NBA Draft Picks

The cost for Anthony Davis would be astronomical. Three first round picks, two second round picks, and an exchange of good players for players of lower quality as a starting bid.  But keep in mind if the New Orleans Pelicans are about to lose Davis to the open bidding of free agency, the team will be in a position of looking to get something for nothing.

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In summary, there are other such NBA superstars who could be considered targets of the Philadelphia 76ers.  But the window of opportunity will never open until the team concludes there is no reasonable chance of retaining the player. Once that decision is made, it’s up for the highest bidder.  The Philadelphia 76ers are on track to be that highest bidder if the opportunity occurs.