The Philadelphia 76ers fans and Bryan Colangelo were a high risk marriage, arranged by NBA and ownership to redirect Sam Hinkie’s Process back to conventional methods. After a year, beware. The Honeymoon is over.
Arranged marriages are fraught with perils. So it should come as no surprise that the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers are no longer enamored with the doings of President Bryan Colangelo. He was brought to the organization via a complicated stage production.
As a matter of fact, team direction seemed to change in the early segment of the 2015-2016 season. After the team learned of off-court escapades of Jahlil Okafor, the team’s ownership brought in Jerry Colangelo to assess the team. Colangelo would advise and deliver corrective action items to convert the team from the least likely to win into a team which could win.
The trouble was, that was already “baked into” the team’s future timeline.
Hinkie Had A Plan
Sam Hinkie had a plan, and delivered the goods to the tee on that plan. There was not shock or dismay about the team not winning games in the period from 2013-2016. The objective was to maximize draft picks (number and quality), find elite talent, while simultaneously finding NBA ready talent capable of supporting those elite finds.
The 2016-2017 season is the proof that method delivered.
Colangelo Had A Plan Too
Meanwhile Bryan Colangelo had a number of objectives. Infuse veterans who would assume mentor roles while absorbing brunt of playing minutes. Rebalance talent on roster away from center position, add transparency to team doings, and build winning culture.
So far, that plan has no indication that is what the team is truly attempting. Let’s examine the way the team has handled the many health issues which have confronted the team: