Sixers lose original Process-truster in Brandon Williams
Per reports, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ vice president of basketball operations, Brandon Williams, has departed for a role as the assistant general manager for the Sacramento Kings.
The Process and irony bleed together. Philadelphia 76ers VP of basketball operations, Brandon Williams, has signed onto a role as the Sacramento Kings’ new assistant GM, as reported by Marc J. Spears.
Philadelphia 76ers
Williams came to Philly in 2013 when Sam Hinkie tabbed him as the GM of the Delaware 87ers. Williams worked his way up from the then-D-League, eventually becoming an influential member of the Sixers’ process-driven decision making under Hinkie.
He was the with the team when they heisted Sacramento in the infamous Nik Stauskas trade. Now, one of the originators of the pick swap success story is looking to rectify what was previously a disaster in California’s capital.
Losing Williams could have a varying degree of impact on this Sixers squad moving forward. While Bryan Colangelo has managed to stick to the long term view, his management style has always been different than Hinkie’s. The change in guard brought about a change in style, and Williams’ fit is tough to gauge as a result.
We do, however, understand that the Kings are making one of many smart moves they’ve stringed together this offseason. From the cultural emphasis placed on their draftees to the veteran leadership they were able to bring in, Vlade Divac and company are finally committing to a change in culture. That has always been the biggest hurdle they’ve needed to clear during Divac’s time as president.
"“I was told, by a couple of OG general managers when I first started in the league, that there were three main types” of executives, Williams said over the weekend. “There was the cap type, the personnel type and there was operations rule guy. If you found a good general manager, he could master one of those things. If you found a great general manager, he could master two, and nobody could manage all three. And so I kind of made it my mission to master three. That’s what my process has been about.” — Brandon Williams, via NBA.com"
De’Aaron Fox is one of the hardest workers in this year’s class, while all four of their rookies are high character guys coming from four elite collegiate programs. Zach Randolph and Vince Carter bring obvious experience at their respective positions, while George Hill — who they got on a reasonably constructed contract — is one of the league’s more underrated point guards.
Williams now gives them somebody who was a part of one of the strongest team cultures in the league, while also bringing extensive experience in dealing with a younger roster. He understands the nuances of building a team from the ground up as well as anybody Sacramento will find, and that in and of itself makes this a commendable move on the Kings’ part.
Next: 4 players who will benefit from J.J. Redick
The Sixers lost one of the original Process trusters, and the Kings — who are undergoing a rebuilding phase of their own — added some much-needed experience to their front office.