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.
Bryan Colangelo is doing a bad job right now, period. That stands on its own, no need to qualify it with speculation on what Hinkie would do
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) February 15, 2017
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:
Bryan Colangelo, The Doctor Will See You Now
Event I: Jerryd Bayless Health
The Philadelphia 76ers have not had a good track record with transparency historically. In fact, the team indicated Bryan Colangelo arrived to improve upon that history. The first indication of trouble wasconflicting messages by the team’s handling of free agent veteran Jerryd Bayless. From the moment he arrived, Bayless complained about a sore wrist.
That “sore wrist” turned into a season ending injury. As a matter of fact, that injury kept Bayless out for nearly the entire season. While I understand a player’s desire to play, the Philadelphia 76ers communication on Bayless always appeared to be after-the-fact discussion.
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Free Agency Disguised
There is no way in denying that Bayless was the linchpin of the team’s free agent strategy. Signed to a three-year deal, Bayless was that versatile guard who would run the point, play off-ball, and get the team through the challenging first months until Ben Simmons could be ready.
Unfortunately for the 76ers, Bayless never assumed any role for the team, causing fans to question. Was the team strategy sound? And in the end, did anyone vet Bayless for potential injury? Did the team sign an injured free agent trying to mask his injury from the public?
Unhealthy Matters Reveal More Unhealthy Practices
Event II: Ben Simmons’ Health
So the team mishandled communication and selection of Jerryd Bayless? Well, it’s not as though Bayless was Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid, right?
Oh. Ben Simmons suffered an injury you say?
The diagnosis of the Ben Simmons foot fracture was never on solid ground to begin with. The team was never clear about the injury until surgery was performed. After surgery, the team confirmed it was a Jones’ fracture, and would take significant time to heal. But the team never claimed it would take a season.
Air Alamo
In the interim, the team wisely elected to use the downtime of the player to work on suspect shot mechanics. While that was a positive spin, it did afford the team time to assess Ben Simmons’ progress.
Plenty of Youth
On one hand, the team had plenty of rookies to play. Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and even Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot all sought quality minutes to aid their development as NBA starters. On the other hand, fans’ hopes turned to the belief that the team would start Simmons at the end of January 2017. That was quickly nixed by head coach Brett Brown.
In the end, a question asked at the beginning of the season found it’s answer at the All-Star Break.
Can Ben Simmons lead the team in a four month season? The team has decided, whether by medical evidence or pragmatic assessment, that answer is no.
Unhealthy Matters Reveal Unhealthier Practices
Event III: Joel Embiid’s Health
The Philadelphia 76ers have been overly cautious with star rookie Joel Embiid this season. Joel Embiid is a player on minutes restrictions. In fact, he plays under minutes restriction, load restrictions (no back to back games) and even walks to the locker room if he takes a hard fall on the basketball court. He’s the franchise guy.
Daily Knicks
But Joel Embiid has been following the same track as Jahlil Okafor’s rookie season so far. A year earlier, Okafor suffered knee pain that eventually led to knee surgery. Right now, Joel Embiid is on the same track. The disappointing part? The news is just as poorly available from the team as the Okafor matter a year prior.
Don’t Bruise Embiid’s Ego
The team insisted on Joel Embiid’s injury was a bone bruise. But Derek Bodner, a top notch Philadelphia 76ers sports writer, broke the news about the knee suffering from a meniscus tear. While the meniscus tear is not a career ending risk, it’s certainly far more serious than a “day by day” knee bruise.
The fact now is that three strikes and you’re out. What began as a promising changing of the guard (at least in terms of getting accurate timely updates on key players) has devolved into something of a need-to-know basis. With Ben Simmons out for the season, and already with a team winning more games than at any time in the past three season, there is a presumption that Joel Embiid will be shut down for the season as well.
Bryan Colangelo, Operators Are Standing By
Event I: Trading Kendall Marshall
Trades are as much a part of the NBA as the draft, and the team got off to a good start when they traded point guard Kendall Marshall for two 2017 2nd round draft picks. Kendall Marshall was a roster placeholder in a 76ers jersey, and trading him for two 2nd round picks in a very deep draft seemed awfully fortuitous. It was a lofty beginning which was fraught with potential disappointment for the future.
Sir Charles In Charge
Grant Me One Wish
Event II: Trading Jerami Grant
Bryan Colangelo rolled the dice when he traded a rather popular-in-Philadelphia Jerami Grant to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for power forward Ersan Ilyasova and a 2020 first round pick (a top-20 protected pick). Should that first round pick not convey (and it likely will not at top 20 protected), the pick converts into a 2022 and 2023 2nd round picks.
On one hand, the initial results of the trade favors the Philadelphia 76ers. Grant was selected as the 39th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Just by converting a second round selection into two second round picks appears to be a win. Ersan Ilyasova, a veteran power forward, arrived and assumed the starting role for the team. Dario Saric flourished coming off the bench.
On the other hand, the fact is that Jerami Grant had huge upside. He was one of two 76ers chosen as participants of Team USA Select in 2016. Grant had that robust youthful energy with strong defensive skills which seemed to fit the 76ers future needs. In the end, he became Ersan Ilyasova. Did the team cash in on Jerami Grant too quickly? That is a question which will continue to haunt the team.
Yo Yo Treatment
Event III: Yo Yo Treatment of Jahlil Okafor
Was he or wasn’t he? In the end, the Philadelphia 76ers did not trade Jahlil Okafor. But the team has wasted nearly half the season in the debate over if or when it would happen.
Hoops Habit
Jahlil Okafor is a center worthy of starting for many NBA teams. But where his youthful excitement exposed him to many regrettable experiences in his rookie season, his second year in the NBA found him maturing far beyond normal human capacity. You see, he wore a trade bullseye fabricated by Bryan Colangelo.
Each day, every day.
Trade Day Was Every Day in the Life of Jahlil Okafor
Trade rumors were a daily occurrence over the young Duke center. Rumors that heated up so intensely that he was pulled from games. But those trades never happened, and so the team returned Okafor to the lineup.
In the end, Jahlil Okafor should not apologize for playing on the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a diminished role, less playing minutes, and constant concern over trades, he remains one of the team’s most prolific scorers. With the team’s health concerns over Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, his offensive punch may be too precious for the team to give away at rock bottom prices. The results of the trade deadline showed just how lowball the NBA had valued Philadelphia 76ers assets.
He arrived as the third pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, and he’s scored like a top three pick. That’s not a bad player to keep on the roster.
Philadelphia 76ers NBA Fire Sale
Event IV: Trading Ersan Ilyasova
It was the classic conflict: something for nothing or let it ride? Ersan Ilyasova arrived in the trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had few words, but let his play as the starting power forward for the team do his talking. He quickly gained support as he played. On one hand, he knew how to space the floor. On the other hand, he knew how to score from three-point range.
And the team began to win.
But he arrived in the final year of his current contract, and as a veteran he like viewed the Philadelphia 76ers as a team on the rise, but not at their peak. And so, the team and the player’s agents began a cat-and-mouse game of committing to one another. In summary, Bryan Colangelo did not feel the team would succeed in retaining Ilyasova in free agency. And so he traded the veteran for center Tiago Splitter and a second round pick, and the rights to swap a 2017 second with that of the Atlanta Hawks (2nd). Keep in mind, the team acquired two picks for Kendall Marshall.
Trading Noel
Event V: Trading Nerlens Noel
Nerlens Noel was a lightning rod of controversy, and so it’s fitting that his trade would epitomize the angst over his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. Nerlens Noel’s contributions and productions, his voice and his opinions were well documented. And even so, as a result, the Philadelphia 76ers traded all that, and his potential, to the Dallas Mavericks for center Andrew Bogut, small forward/shooting guard Justin Anderson, and two second round picks. As a matter of fact, the two picks happen in 2017 and 2020. Keep in mind that the team consented to absorb Andrew Bogut’s overpriced contract.
In the end, Nerlens Noel was worth less than Kendall Marshall.
Bryan Colangelo, The Honeymoon Is Over
On one hand, the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers are some of the brightest fans in the NBA. In fact, they are smart enough to anticipate the moves of the front office.
On the other hand, they were familiar with former president Sam Hinkie’s mad-cap zaniness on draft night or at the trade deadline. For all the vitriol hurled over Hinkie’s inability to sign free agents, he never seemed to run in short supply over NBA in trade negotiations.
As a matter of fact, it’s unfair to hold Bryan Colangelo to that standard. He cannot replicate the surprisingly adept maneuvers of the last guy to sit in his chair.
Accountability, Transparency, Fiduciary Responsibility
But the team can and must hold Bryan Colangelo accountable for delivering upon HIS promises. Transparency. Converting the highest possible value of the assets entrusted to his watch. In the end, the team finally began delivering on transparency.
Hating the injuries but loving the transparency pic.twitter.com/PTWXhygefE
— max (@MaxOnTwitter) February 27, 2017
I do not believe I speak for everyone, nor do I believe I am alone now. And as we turn our attention to the future, no more passing blame to the guy now replaced. No more taking initial press statements at face value. No more believing the guy who pulls players in and out of starting lineups is acting in the player’s nor team’s best interests.
NEXT: Ben Simmons and Sixers May Have Done Bone Marrow Injection to Avoid Surgery
In short, Mr Colangelo, the honeymoon is over. You have the authority to run the team however you see fit. But the eyes and ears are no longer trained elsewhere. In fact, the Philadelphia 76ers may be one of three executives positions you have held in the NBA. But it’s the only NBA team of this proud city.
Do better sir. As a matter of fact, do it quickly.