Despite the Philadelphia 76ers open roster spot and needing perimeter shooting, it is the Phoenix Suns who signed up former 76ers Isaiah Canaan who has since put up 13 points per game. Ironically, it is Bryan Colangelo’s former team who “OutHinkied” 76ers
It’s time had come. When the Philadelphia 76ers traded outcasts Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and a future second round pick for power forward Trevor Booker, many stood and cheered.
Philly will send Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and a second-round pick to Brooklyn for Trevor Booker, sources say.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) December 7, 2017
Many celebrated. I was skeptical. The urgency to trade two contributors and a draft pick to a team competing in the same Atlantic conference was risky. The only logical solution for the Philadelphia 76ers strategy was that injured Markelle Fultz was ready to return to the starting lineup.
But he didn’t.
Open roster spot to fill
Therefore, the only other logical answer was that team president Bryan Colangelo was on the cusp of adding a difference-maker. Whether a seasoned veteran or a young prospect ready to produce on an NBA roster. In anticipation, we had even identified ten potential free agents to sign to the Philadelphia 76ers and immediately contribute.
Three weeks later, not a sign of a signing. Despite a two win nine loss December 2017. Nothing. Ne’er a peep. But the volume to fire head coach Brett Brown is building. Why Philadelphia why?
Who’s minding the team?
The Philadelphia 76ers executed a trade of Okafor, Stauskas and a pick for Booker. That trade become public on December 7th, 2017. On December 13, 2017, the Phoenix Suns signed G-leaguer and former Philadelphia 76ers wing man Isaiah Canaan. In four games with those 12-23 Phoenix Suns, he has averaged 25 minutes per game, 13 points per game, and 3.5 points per game.
Isaiah Canaan last played on the 2015-2016 Philadelphia 76ers, and he finished that season averaging 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and .2 blocks per game. Since his departure, only J.J. Redick has produced more for the team.
Bryan Colangelo let Isaiah Canaan walk. He signed Gerald Henderson, Sergio Rodriguez, and Jerryd Bayless. Only Bayless remains, but only played three games total last season. So far Bayless is averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, .8 steals, and .2 blocks per game this year. But the difference is the economics. Sam Hinkie paid Isaiah Canaan $1 Million. Bryan Colangelo pays Jerryd Bayless $9 Million for similar production.
Out Hinkied!
So the Philadelphia 76ers need perimeter help, and the team has an open roster spot. The team has plenty of options. Still, it comes as a surprise that the team has yet to fill a roster spot on a team with significant numerous injuries.
But the Phoenix Suns are enduring their own struggles with injuries. You see, they are struggling with their own losing streak. The Suns are four wins and eight losses in the month of December 2017. But on December 13, 2017, the Sun pursued a hardship exception from the NBA, and signed guard Isaiah Canaan to help out the team. Since that signing, the Phoenix Suns are turning the ship around, benefiting from three wins to just two losses. And in that time, Canaan is scoring an average of 13.0 points per game while shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range.
It was Sam Hinkie’s philosophy not to commit to high priced free agents. When Bryan Colangelo arrived, he immediately set about changing that. While signing FAs does score points with the industry executives, it’s clear that a team spending $9,000,000 for production that had come from a $1,000,000 player seems… foolish.
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.