I feel like we should revisit this topic every once in awhile just for general conversation. A lot of what we talk about on this forum is based on how to build a team the right way, the Knicks in general of course. I have always been adamant that i don't like Hinkie's plan to rebuild the Sixers one bit. I think it's too extreme, but mainly i think he has conveniently sold the Sixers organization on job security for himself. Most GM's have 3 years or so to really show progress in the standings, Hinkie has convinced ownership to give him 5 years of salary where he doesn't have to show any sustainable growth in the standings. And here we are year 3 of his "plan", and the team is actually getting worst, if that's even possible.
In 3 years, in fact, with all of those draft picks and flexibility, he has maybe 2 players who are currently playing and look like they could be long-term starters and foundation players. So not only he is not improving a team 3 years into a plan, but the core of players isn't even in place yet. Sixer's ownership could have hired any of us to go into that job and collected and recycled assets without any roster construction or moves that actually require players playing and showing competitive basketball. His plan has been inconsistent as well. I really felt like he would pass over Okafor for Porzingis. Porzingis was labeled as an unknown with great upside, but 3+ years away from contributing. That seems to fit Hinkie's vision. Okafor was expected to be too good too soon for a team like the Sixers not ready to win games yet. In addition, Porzingis was a better fit with their personnel, Embiid and Noels. Hinkie also traded MCW, rookie of the year, for a future unprotected draft pick because he admitted that those don't come around that often, so he had to have it. No real thought process. He seems like when he was a kid he had to have the shiny new toy before everyone else, regardless of what it cost him or if it was even something he was into.
Looking at other teams around the league who have adding young talent/assets around the league; Boston has managed to not only build a gradually improving team from the bottom to a playoff team, but they have also collected as good or better assets than the Sixers. They own control over the Nets picks the next 3 years, either outright or right to swap. So they are a playoff team with a top 5 pick likely the next 3 years. That doesn't count the other picks. Ainge has done it again. Hinkie should take notes, just in case he gets another job in the league when this is all done for him. Minn has a great young team, although they got lucky with 2 #1 picks, that should be taken into account. Even the Knicks, who try to be good every year, and fell hard enough into the fourth pick, managed to draft a player that has more upside than anyone the Sixers have drafted in the past 3 years. That's sad.
To be fair, Hinkie has not had the ping pong balls fall in his favor, nor has he missed out on any stars drafted behind his picks, but that is on him as well, because that is the chance he signed up for when he committed to this process, so he needs to own the fact that the draft has yet to carry the talent level capable of turning his team around where he has selected the past 3 years. And here he is 3 years down, 2 players on the team who might be there for the long-haul, or maybe not. Maybe Okafor and Noels get traded for future draft picks. How long does this last? How long does the Sixers ownership and fan base put up with that? Is 5 years or more of really terrible basketball worth what seems to be the same chance at success as every other team? Do you see any light at the end of the tunnel for them while Hinkie is still employed?
11/17/2015 2:26 PM
