If you’re not competitive enough to vie for an NBA title, you should be tanking. This is a team building system that gains prevalence day by day throughout front offices and fan bases alike. There are of course geographical anomalies, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, free agent destinations so sought after that little is required of their general manager other than maintaining cap space. But, for the common townsfolk of the NBA, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Denver, a true systematic strategy must be employed and be aware your fan’s loyalty is at stake. For this discussion we find ourselves eating cheesesteaks, running up stairs, boxing, dressing up like Ben Franklin and generally acting out any other cliche associated with the city of Philadelphia, the Panzer of the NBA.
Sam Hinkie, 76ers general manager, took over in 2013, since that time he has never outright said it, but his actions clearly depict a man who has no interest in seeing his team win games. Should you prove to be a serviceable player over the age of 22, you might as well pack your bags now, Sam will deal you for future draft picks faster then a Tim Hardaway killer crossover. Many teams in the league tinker with this notion, but only Philadelphia goes all in, casting aside fan interest, disregarding league wide humiliation and risking any legitimacy in free agency, all for what Hinkie believes is the greater good. When cap space is required, the 76ers are all too happy to absorb bad contracts and receive second round picks, they have become the leagues scrapyard. Sam Hinkie might as well don a cheap suit, pop in a grill and run ads on local public access cable offering to “Buy your junk!” But is it working? The 76ers have drafted in enviable positions for the last three years, however, they do find themselves in a bit of an oversized quandary.
With the NBA shifting more and more to positionless lineups with a propensity for small ball, the 76ers will have a tough time fitting 21 feet of center into their regular rotation. Hinkie leaves no room for debate, he believes in drafting the player he sees as the best available. Clearly he thinks it has been a center… For the last three years. At some point, at least one of the three will likely be on the move once the roster shapes up. There’s at least one of the three that it appears would like to make his way out sooner rather than later. There are also some other issues that may have influence on that decision process.
Any injury is bad, but when a seven footer misses seasons because of broken feet, the clock is ticking. Hopefully Embiid will not suffer the same fate as previous big men with similar issues.
The 76ers other recent lottery pick, Dario Saric has indicated that he will not play for them this season, as he continues to fulfill his contract with Turkish team Anadolu Efes. Saric is in the second year of a three year commitment, there is a buyout option on his contract, but it has proven to be high enough that Philadelphia will unlikely meet it. What does all this mean? In short, Philadelphia would love to stash Saric away in Europe and bring him over next year, thus beginning his rookie pay scale contract. Saric and his representatives are aware of this, which is why he will see out his contract, come to the NBA at it’s end, where he will be eligible to negotiate a new deal under the escalated salary cap in 2017. Bad news for Sam Hinkie’s pennywise 76ers.
In the meantime, the 76ers have played to greatly diminished crowds, exampling the distinct fading of their once loyal fans. Philadelphia runs the risk of sustained irrelevance resulting in permanent disdain. Should the 76ers 21 feet of center take the league by storm or a windfall of up-and-comers imported via trade, eventually get them on the winning path, the fans should eventually return. But what if they don’t? Is this a risk worth taking, is it even necessary, do you have to be this bad to get good? Philadelphia is typically not a premiere free agent destination, now it’s name is never uttered with any consideration. Seemingly just the way Sam Hinkie likes it. Some think Hinkie is creating job security for himself, with such lowered expectations, the spotlight is rarely cast upon his decision making, rather the hope for a transcendent player. Should that player never come, there will be few questions as to who is to blame for this period of prolonged anguish. For the sake of Sam’s career, there better be something brighter for the city of brotherly love. Forgot to add that cliche earlier.
