The writing was on the wall. Sam Hinkie’s time with Philly was numbered from the start. There isn’t a lot to be said for the reveling of the Analytics movement and how it differs from traditional front office management, but there was a bad taste in the mouth with the Sixers fan base from the get go.

Hinkie took over a growing 76ers team, replaced them with “assets” to hopefully garner top pick game changers in the draft based on the players’ given up, equals in value of a chance to get a great position in the draft they’re traded for. I’m not even goin to get started on his love for 2nd round draft picks. 

His ‘Process’ is a hard one to pull off and deals with a lot of algorithmic valuations and tests and measurements. You can’t even pull it off in 2k successfully. Trust me, I tried. But, Hinkie tried to do it. And it failed. Miserably. The past 3 years, they Sixers have drafted (Noel was traded for Jrue Holiday, so not drafted) a promising big man has been sat out for a number of games or whole season for knee injuries. They have had injury history, but what the hell…potential, right?! Wrong. Noel has become formidable, Okafor has shown promise but is a dinosaur in today’s game, and Embiid may not even play, ever. He sold the house, brokered a future, and used it on talent that may or may not be a part of said future and were peices for a trade for more future. I mean, he traded MCW, Rookie of the Year mind you, the next year. Huh? He helped take the Bucks to the playoffs the same year, and became a little bit better for being a #11 pick. 

The end was nigh, when doubt was cast and maybe some intervening by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was involved, and Jerry Colangelo was hired as a ‘Consultant’ for the Sixers. Once the hiring of Jerry took storm, there was a sort of resurgence for the Sixers. They had finally found hope instead of looking over their shoulders to see if they were going to be dealt for more assets. He in turn hired Mike D’Antoni to help Brett Brown who has been coaching his ass off with no real recognition or help from the front office and traded for a piece Hinkie let go in Ish Smith who has been a light in the dark for Philly. Even though the Sixers hired Jerry Colangelo, they were still in the midst of reachcing their own futile mark of 9 wins in a season made by a futile team made up of the ‘Process’. Many though Jerry was going to take control and push Hinkie out, but he reassured he was consulting and not for Hinkie’s job. 

Call it too many chefs in the kitchen or jumping ship before it truly sank, Hinkie has decided to leave. He has left his tenure with the Sixers with a 47-195 record and sporadically, the label of laughingstock (Chip Kelly-esque. Except he won games and went to the playoffs before. His ‘Process’ was blah too).

The Sixers have targeted genius basketball mind Bryan Colangelo to become the New GM (OH PLEASE DO THE DEAL!), now we can see where the Sixers are headed. Chock full of ‘assets’ and cash, with a true direction the Sixers could be a formidable contender if they are led correctly. They have been set back 4 years. The fans are hungry and so is their core. If they even have one. The Sixers are now in full rebuild mode. Will they maximize on the deep top 5 picks of the draft? Ahem, Ben Simmons. Or will they go for the Veteran Star willing to be apart of something new and exciting to bring the love of basketball back to the City of Brotherly Love. Ahem, Kevin Durant. Only one can speculate. This summer is going to be something for the Sixers fan base to essentially and eagerly hope for in a very, very long time.

Hinkie’s letter via Deadspin.com

Photo via sixerssense.com