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In the fallout of the Nerlens Noel/Brett Brown drama blazing with the Philadelphia 76ers, there is plenty of room to question the player, the coach, and the front office. But how would Sam Hinkie, the former executive of the Philadelphia 76ers, handle this situation?
The situation is the fraying of the relationship between center Nerlens Noel, coach Brett Brown, and the front office of the Philadelphia 76ers organization. It’s bleak.
We got here from a series of moves, each benign in their own right, but combined to become a malignant issue that has begun to consume far too much attention of this organization.
Once upon a time, the Philadelphia 76ers were a team with few draft picks, limited salary cap, and few young prospects. The team had just brought team president Sam Hinkie into the fold, and Hinkie had just one asset to offer NBA teams: Jrue Holiday. And so, in the 2013 NBA Draft, Hinkie traded Holiday and the 42nd pick (Pierre Jackson) to the New Orleans Pelicans for their selected Nerlens Noels, a 2014 first round pick.
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That 2014 pick would eventually become Dario Saric.
A benign transaction that gave Hinkie an additional pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. But Sam Hinkie played chess with the NBA Draft. In 2014, he selected third and chose the player who would sit for two years, Joel Embiid. Like Noel, Embiid played center but was injured.
Noel would play the 2014 season, and Embiid would rehab.
Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (R) and center Jahlil Okafor (M) greet Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson (L) prior to game action at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Third Time A Charm Or A Harm?
In 2015, Sam Hinkie learned that Joel Embiid would need another surgery and be out an additional season. While the team had Noel at center, even Noel had cross-trained to play alongside Embiid at the four. Unfortunately, with the news so close to the 2015 NBA Draft, the team needed to recalibrate priorities.
With both Karl Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell gone, the Philadelphia 76ers had to select from either Jahlil Okafor or Kristaps Porzingus. Neither option would come without second guessing, and Okafor was the more “NBA ready” player.
In the end, there were logical reasons why the Philadelphia 76ers selected three NBA centers in three consecutive drafts with a top pick. But there was a plan in place throughout all points in the timeline.
With the information available to the Philadelphia 76ers, their decision to meet the needs of the 2015-2016 season with Jahlil Okafor was the right call. It was clearly Sam Hinkie’s vision to use the season to build value in either Okafor and Noel, and then take the best deal possible. Sam Hinkie understood that Joel Embiid held the key to this team’s future.
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce Jerry Colangelo (not pictured) as special advisor before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Interview That Set It Straight
I cannot do better describing the details of the selection of Jahlil Okafor than Sam Hinkie himself. And so, into the archives we go, and the interview after the fact that spelled it all out for us. I urge you to read the entire interview, it’s worth it.:
On whether Joel Embiid’s injury status affected the team’s decision at #3
“I would like to think we would have the courage to do it anyway, I really do. It’s kind of hard to know because I knew and it’s hard to un-know where things stood with Joel, but I’d like to think we would have had the courage anyway.
For example, some of the things we have paid attention to and tried to collect information on give us some confidence that, like, there are some things that can work even in these pairings, that there are things that can really work, like watching Nerlens start the year largely playing the four and then play the middle two thirds of the year or so at the five and then go back and play some five at the end.
You get a sense of his defensive versatility and the kinds of things he can do and the kinds of things he needs to get better at.
Nov 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Can You Elaborate?
Hinkie would elaborate even further, and as always, he spoke substance:
All of our players need to improve at one thing or another, but having remarkably quick feet and quick hands and being able to bother people with his length and get out on the perimeter and bother shots as well as be weak side shot blocker, you just don’t have to be one the post man all the time and you’re Nerlens, and to be a weak side shot blocker and to be able to fly around, he was remarkably effective in both.
He has real defensive versatility that I think would fit very well with Jahlil. In a similar way, Joel, which is not, sort of, the primary motivation, but as well, the versatility that we saw in our practice gym and that his teammates saw that the skillset that Joel had gave us some confidence that you could put another player in the post with him.
That’s not out of the realm of possibility at all. Like, he shot it on the perimeter remarkably well. He slid his feet remarkably well, and we think he will continue to. We’ve got to get through this and figure out what is best for him, but Joel has gifts that are unusual and they are array for such a big man.”
Next: Picking Up Not Where Hinkie Left Off
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Picking Up Not Where Hinkie Left Off
The fact of the matter is that the team decided to go a different direction, and in the process caught Sam Hinkie completely unawares. And so, the team severed the major artery of this issue, and as Bryan Colangelo busied himself with touting how he would take action to build a winning team, the lifeblood of the plans laid oh so carefully by Hinkie bled out.
Hinkie was frequently two steps ahead of the competition, but he was not flawless. He simply embraced his “oops” moments, and focused on mitigating the damage, optimizing the outcome, and moved on. He did so with Michael Carter Williams. He did so with K.J. McDaniels. Hinkie knew when to cut and run, and when to trade a player at their apex.
The response of the Bryan Colangelo front office was a backhanded jab at the former president of this Philadelphia 76ers organization, Sam Hinkie with the following claim:
#Sixers B Colangelo: ‘We have a logjam at center due to decisions that were made before I got here.’
— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) December 19, 2016
The same predecessor who delivered Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, three first round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft – including the first overall pick- left the team in a tight spot at center. That seems awfully… myopic. Clearly Bryan Colangelo needs help. So let’s give him some sound action items. In short, WHAT WOULD SAM HINKIE DO?
Oct 8, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie (R) talks with chief executive officer Scott O
Never Paint Yourself Into A Corner
Sam Hinkie played things close to the vest. It was not so much shyness, nor insecurity. He was simply aware that other teams might have more timely opportunity to exploit his plans. Hinkie was far less trusting.
But that allowed his deceptiveness to sneak into virtually every transaction. He would select a player in the draft, only to flip that player to a team coveting those skills, and walk away with his original target plus more draft picks.
From day one, Bryan Colangelo discussed the team strategy of hinging upon the NBA Draft. By the time the lottery balls fell, virtually every NBA team knew the shopping list of the Philadelphia 76ers. Colangelo made a media circuit, revealing the strategy of the team – and emphasizing the strong need to deal an NBA center.
Fans who had come to “Trust The Process” saw the flaw. NBA teams knew the Philadelphia 76ers were motivated to deal a center, so teams slipped in very lowball bids to see if they could pry out a rare bargain from the team.
But with the message about “gotta free ourselves from the logjam” already made public, Colangelo had publicly painted himself into a corner. Hinkie would never let that happen.
Dec 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) and center Jahlil Okafor (8) celebrate a score against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sell High Buy Low
Sam Hinkie understood the oscillating value of NBA players. He astutely understood that public perception ran counter to the actual value of the player to his team. When a player peaked in popularity, Hinkie sought to deal that player. Why? Not to tank, but merely to profit from the difference of perceived value and virtual value.
Hinkie frustrated fans, because he dealt the players fans loved most.
Hinkie was trying to deal a center at the trade deadline in 2016. Did Jerry Colangelo block the moves? It would be intriguing to know now what happened. The Philadelphia 76ers had talks with several teams, and were close on some deals. In the end, no deal was made, but teams agreed to revisit the discussions at the end of the season.
Hinkie never lasted to the end.
And so, the value of a rim protecting center with some offensive upside and a post offense specialty center with some defensive upside remained on the shelf. Eventually, both would further erode in value from obsolescence when Joel Embiid arrived and brought the best of both worlds.
Hinkie knew enough not to stick with a player on the way down the value chart. The off-season, even if the “asking price” was not met initially, was the only clear opportunity to deal one of the centers. In that time frame, the 76ers would get the best offer possible.
Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) dribbles the ball during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Talk To Me
For all of his secrecy to the public, Sam Hinkie did not shy away from his players. In fact, he was usually there for them, explaining the team’s strategy, highlighting areas for the player to improve and earn more playing time.
Hinkie courageously placed expert opinions at his player’s disposal, and counted on them to make the right choices. While not necessarily a pure loyalty matter as found on some teams, Hinkie respected his players, confronted them with the business dilemna surrounding the team, and kept them in the loop.
Last year, the team had three centers, and tried to find a compatible match.,
This year, most of the discussions seem to be taking place in the public forum. We are reading and learning about player frustrations real time. Is Colangelo off-limits to his players? It certainly seems to playing out that way.
Noel is a quality NBA center and a decent young man. He has done all the team has asked of him, at least until the Colangelo family intervened. It seems that Colangelos seem to pattern conversation to the public, and talk around the player.
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and his father David Simmons (M) and head coach Brett Brown (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Don’t Wrestle Control Away From An Auto-Pilot
Despite his premature departure, Sam Hinkie left the Philadelphia 76ers in excellent shape. Redshirted rookies Joel Embiid and Dario Saric were slated to join the team in the 2016-2017 season. And while the luck of the NBA lottery landed top selection Ben Simmons to this team, his absence so far proved that this team would be on the upswing regardless of where that first pick fell.
Hinkie’s three year austerity program accumulated plenty of NBA assets that have begun to deliver this year. Even with the front office change, the only requirement for Bryan Colangelo was simply: (A) remain close vested about team strategy (B) Level talent among five positions and (C) Communicate with players.
But new executives like to make decisions. That’s why they are paid huge salaries.
And so, the team abandoned the belief of time-sharing at the center position and rotating overflow to the power forward role. Instead, the front office nimbly traded small forward Jerami Grant to the Oklahoma City Thunder for power forward Ersan Ilyasova and a 2020 top-20 protected first round pick.
Another benign move. But it had serious repercussions. Ilyasova and Saric would timeshare at the four. Holmes would cover overflow minutes at the five. Embiid would play limited minutes and start two of three games. Okafor would play limited minutes and pick up games when Embiid rested. And Nerlens Noel, who had opted for elective surgery and rehabbed away from the team, found no room in the lineup.
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jerry Colangelo (R) is introduced as special advisor to the Philadelphia 76ers during a press conference with owner Joshua Harris (M) and general manager Sam Hinkie (L) before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Don’t Blame The Previous Guy
The ultimate NO NO from Sam Hinkie is simply that he would never blame it on the previous execs.
Bryan Colangelo was hired by the Philadelphia 76ers due to the recommendation of his father Jerry Colangelo. In a position of “my father got me this job”, the worst thing to do is to flail as a crises develops and you try to toss the previous guy under the bus.
Focus must remain on you exclusively – win or lose, success or failure.
Sam Hinkie is already destined for martyrdom by the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase. He was a rogue, an NBA executive who dared to do the right thing for the team, and not for his career.
Not everyone embraced the arrival of Bryan Colangelo. Some preferred the cerebral strategic approach of Hinkie. Some observed flawed history in his tenure with the Toronto Raptors. Some simply dared to challenge the executive search advertised as wide reaching but solely focusing on the son of Jerry Colangelo.
However the team arrived to this point, the Philadelphia 76ers faith has been placed upon Bryan Colangelo. Philadelphia is not big on PR. Do the deed, then tell the city about it. ‘Fess up that it’s a quagmire, and simply admit that it’s going to end up more poorly than hoped for.
But from the moment of assuming the role of President, the right to throw up hands to the sky and proclaim that the last guy made it too difficult was waived. To run the team, an executive must assume accountability, responsibility, and outcomes.
When Sam Hinkie drafted the 13 page resignation letter, that is exactly what he did.
