The Sixer Sense
Fansided

NBA remains ripe for Sam Hinkie return

By Bret Stuter

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and J. Cole attend the 2018 JBL Three-Point Contest at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and J. Cole attend the 2018 JBL Three-Point Contest at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 7: Hall of Famer Jerry Colangelo Joins Philadelphia 76ers as Special Advisor to Managing General Partner and Chairman of Basketball Operations along side Owner Josh Harris and General Manager Sam Hinkie prior to the Philadelphia 76ers against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center on December 7, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 7: Hall of Famer Jerry Colangelo Joins Philadelphia 76ers as Special Advisor to Managing General Partner and Chairman of Basketball Operations along side Owner Josh Harris and General Manager Sam Hinkie prior to the Philadelphia 76ers against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center on December 7, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Straight shooting Hinkie strategy not tanking

Let’s cut to the chase. There are two versions of rebuilding which are lumped into “tanking”. On one hand, there is a true “tank”. This is a team struggling to attain and maintain a record of wins and losses which achives a 50-50 plateau. The team is heavy on veterans with expensive contracts but limited upside in the future.  And most of all, the team’s current trend is downwards.

On the other hand, there is a strategic future-focused team. The goal with this entity does not hinge on one draft class, but on draft picks. It’s the team’s willingness to “pan” the NBA draft and undrafted players for gold nugget elite players. While this panning for superstars often leaves a current roster less able to compete, that is not necessarily the case.  It’s simply teams which had fallen to needing a rebuild which stand out as “tanking”. But they are not tanking. These teams pursue multiple draft picks in the future.

Houston and Boston trusted their process

If Sam Hinkie had some draft picks, some salary cap space, and some productive players, much like the Houston Rocket of his origins, or the Boston Celtics did after that Keven Garnett which crippled the Brooklyn Nets, no word would be spokent.  In both cases, teams with a supply of resources converted those assets on a gamble.  The Rockets traded picks and players for James Harden. The Celtics traded known veteran assets for a truckload of future draft picks.

They employed a similar strategy as Sam Hinkie. But they were already successful. They were already teams in the “haves” group.  And in the NBA, they judge motivation based on the team’s win loss record. If you are playing poorly, they discourage trying to gamble your way to improvement. True tanking  is tactical, not a strategic rapid auditioning of NBA talent.