Who is to blame for the 76ers’ current mess? It’s not Elton Brand, and it’s not Brett Brown.
Every NBA organization has its own drama. When you compare other teams’ issues to the Philadelphia 76ers though, it’s like holding a twig next to a tree trunk. Thinking about the string of events that has gotten the Sixers to this point, “The Process” was supposed to make Philadelphia a championship contender. Yet, another offseason is here and disappointment has Philly in a familiar funk. I would argue that the Process should never have happened. Let’s examine the original thinking and explore alternatives.
In 2012, just one season after the Sixers took the Boston Celtics to a game seven in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, management put all their eggs in a basket — the Andrew Bynum basket. After Bynum thought bowling was more important than basketball, all went south for the Sixers.
Then, they panicked. When ownership’s fork in the road forced a decision between conventional management or unprecedented self-infliction, they chose the latter. Instead of hiring a conventional GM to build a championship contending team through free agency and trades, Sam Hinkie was picked, and history was made. Bad history. Really. Bad. History.