Canaanball upgraded
But that production is comparing Canaan THEN to Bayless NOW. The Phoenix Suns have signed a new-and-improved Canaan. His 13.0 points and 42.9 percent shooting from the perimeter would be welcome indeed on the Philadelphia 76ers team right now, a team who is eighth in the league on three-point shot attempts, but 24th in the NBA in accuracy, shooting just 35.2 percent.
The Hinkie resignation letter, a.k.a. The Manifesto, warned about the perils of NBA teams emulating the 76ers track to success. The hope for the Philadelphia 76ers fans that the team was too solid on draft picks and salary picks to fail now. But moves made by the Phoenix Suns demonstrates the wisdom of former team executive Hinkie. Getting a 13 points per game perimeter shooter at 42.9 percent accuracy from the arc is like hitting a lottery pick in the NBA.
So many NBA insiders continue to miss the point. Building a championship team is not simply spending sacks of salary dollars on NBA free agents. If you haven’t resources, you must take a chance at signing players like guard Isaiah Canaan. If he does not produce, it’s a low risk. Still, if he pans out, as Canaan is right now for Phoenix, it appears to be an ingenious move.
Next: RECAP: Toronto Raptors 102, Philadelphia 76ers 86
Sam Hinkie discovered T.J. McConnell and Robert Covington. He drafted Richaun Holmes and former 76ers Jerami Grant in the second round. All the while, he added draft picks and salary cap capacity to the team. But the team is trending down now in draft picks, and the free agents signed are not producing as desired. Isaiah Canaan was available. But it was Bryan Colangelo’s former team, the Phoenix Suns, who managed to sign him to turn their team around. Despite the 76ers struggling with injuries and lack of production, it’s the Suns who sign a former 76ers player to fill that very need. Ironically, it is the Suns who “Out-Hinkied” the 76ers.