Sam Hinkie’s “The Process”

 the worst place in the NBA to be is in the plaoffs with no real shot at winning the playoffs.

But you hit the nail on the head, the culture you develop with this tank plan can’t be switched back or fixed overnight. In that way, Hinkie was only good for starting it and taking the heat. Once it was time to actually use the talent they got, Sixers went and got Colangelo to try and help that culture change.

His name will forever be tied to tanking instead of winning or developing or even trying.

I would never put my NBA2K guys through that, I care about them too much!

 the worst place in the NBA to be is in the plaoffs with no real shot at winning the playoffs.

But you hit the nail on the head, the culture you develop with this tank plan can’t be switched back or fixed overnight. In that way, Hinkie was only good for starting it and taking the heat. Once it was time to actually use the talent they got, Sixers went and got Colangelo to try and help that culture change.

His name will forever be tied to tanking instead of winning or developing or even trying.

I would never put my NBA2K guys through that, I care about them too much!

 I fully understand the thought process behind hinkie’s plan. They took a gamble by trading for bynum thinking they could be getting a possible franchise player. It didn’t work out and they were left with a team that wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to get a high draft pick and seemed poised to be mired in mediocrity for the near future with no real path to contention. From a purely business standpoint, tanking was really the best strategy and it’s hard to argue against that.

However, it’s just hard to set up any meaningful culture and camaraderie in an organization when you treat players as little more than assets. The players and the fans  need to trust and have confidence that people running the organization really are building towards something in the long run and have their best interest at heart. This was a vision that hinkie was able to sell early on but gradually that trust just evaporated. Its the main reason why a long-term tanking strategy is almost impossible to pull off.

I must say though that philly could be very nicely set up for the future. With a few moves and continued maturation this could be a team that could be in contention for years if everything comes together. Even if hinkie isn’t around to see it he will undoubtedly deserve much of the credit should that happen. The jury’s still out on if this was ultimately a success or failure.

 I fully understand the thought process behind hinkie’s plan. They took a gamble by trading for bynum thinking they could be getting a possible franchise player. It didn’t work out and they were left with a team that wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to get a high draft pick and seemed poised to be mired in mediocrity for the near future with no real path to contention. From a purely business standpoint, tanking was really the best strategy and it’s hard to argue against that.

However, it’s just hard to set up any meaningful culture and camaraderie in an organization when you treat players as little more than assets. The players and the fans  need to trust and have confidence that people running the organization really are building towards something in the long run and have their best interest at heart. This was a vision that hinkie was able to sell early on but gradually that trust just evaporated. Its the main reason why a long-term tanking strategy is almost impossible to pull off.

I must say though that philly could be very nicely set up for the future. With a few moves and continued maturation this could be a team that could be in contention for years if everything comes together. Even if hinkie isn’t around to see it he will undoubtedly deserve much of the credit should that happen. The jury’s still out on if this was ultimately a success or failure.

 Well the process is still going so it really can’t be graded yet. I would say by the end of next season or next years trade deadline we can really start to grade what he can put together. He will have to make some trade/moves to have a team fit together.

 Well the process is still going so it really can’t be graded yet. I would say by the end of next season or next years trade deadline we can really start to grade what he can put together. He will have to make some trade/moves to have a team fit together.

What if the only way The Process could work is if the initial GM that did the demolition, or phase I fell on the sword so a new one could come in and start phase II, the renovation?

If a player or agent was associating a team or GM with losing, they now can look at the new process and want to be a part of it. Whatever credit goes to the Colangelos, the team wouldn’t be in the position without phase I

What if the only way The Process could work is if the initial GM that did the demolition, or phase I fell on the sword so a new one could come in and start phase II, the renovation?

If a player or agent was associating a team or GM with losing, they now can look at the new process and want to be a part of it. Whatever credit goes to the Colangelos, the team wouldn’t be in the position without phase I

Sam’s resignation letter was very ego friendly to say the least. I agree that he did need to rebuild and managed to get picks back for Philly, I supported his plan mostly but there has been no real development on the team this year with Okafor and Noel in tandem. Too many injuries to players they have drafted etc.

We don’t know what the owner really thinks or if he had been given an ultimatium by either Hinkie or Jerry.

At least with Jerry there, FA’s see a hugely respected guy and Philly is still a big franchise and giving a star player the chance to be "the man", play with some young talent and help a team improve may interest a few egos.

Sam’s resignation letter was very ego friendly to say the least. I agree that he did need to rebuild and managed to get picks back for Philly, I supported his plan mostly but there has been no real development on the team this year with Okafor and Noel in tandem. Too many injuries to players they have drafted etc.

We don’t know what the owner really thinks or if he had been given an ultimatium by either Hinkie or Jerry.

At least with Jerry there, FA’s see a hugely respected guy and Philly is still a big franchise and giving a star player the chance to be "the man", play with some young talent and help a team improve may interest a few egos.

I do find it especially precious that the GM who spent three years thinking he can outsmart the league by not trying to win taking so much umbrage to his boss being concerned about there still being to clear vision about the way forward that he quit.

He cited a great many leaders in various businesses, but what is funny about him citing Warren Buffet is that one of the hallmarks of Buffet’s successful investing is the notion of being able to understand the business he is putting his money in. Hinkie clearly did not understand the business of building an NBA team. In discussing tolerance for uncertainty, he writes about a player having a 10-20 percent chance of becoming a star while not mentioning how systems, tactics, and the abilities, personalities, and weaknesses of his teams play into whether a player maximizes his abilities. He writes about tracking every shot in every gym where they shoot, but in three years failed to appreciate that games and shots have different meaning and intensities when there is a 20-point lead in the 3rd quarter. He failed to understand Chris Rock’s distinction between a job and a career. When you are on a winner, there is not enough time in the day and you cannot wait to get back in the gym the next day. When you are on a loser, you are taking too long in the bathroom and counting the seconds until the season is over. Details and data are unquestionably important, but so is a person’s ability to understand the business and people who make up the business. His failure as a GM is about his not only failure, but unwillingness to learn to understand the business in which he operates. Yet, somehow, I find it fitting that he walks away as oblivious and arrogant as when he started.

I do find it especially precious that the GM who spent three years thinking he can outsmart the league by not trying to win taking so much umbrage to his boss being concerned about there still being to clear vision about the way forward that he quit.

He cited a great many leaders in various businesses, but what is funny about him citing Warren Buffet is that one of the hallmarks of Buffet’s successful investing is the notion of being able to understand the business he is putting his money in. Hinkie clearly did not understand the business of building an NBA team. In discussing tolerance for uncertainty, he writes about a player having a 10-20 percent chance of becoming a star while not mentioning how systems, tactics, and the abilities, personalities, and weaknesses of his teams play into whether a player maximizes his abilities. He writes about tracking every shot in every gym where they shoot, but in three years failed to appreciate that games and shots have different meaning and intensities when there is a 20-point lead in the 3rd quarter. He failed to understand Chris Rock’s distinction between a job and a career. When you are on a winner, there is not enough time in the day and you cannot wait to get back in the gym the next day. When you are on a loser, you are taking too long in the bathroom and counting the seconds until the season is over. Details and data are unquestionably important, but so is a person’s ability to understand the business and people who make up the business. His failure as a GM is about his not only failure, but unwillingness to learn to understand the business in which he operates. Yet, somehow, I find it fitting that he walks away as oblivious and arrogant as when he started.

 If Josh Jackson was in this draft, I would say "Job well done Hinkie"…still a couple of studs though. Embiid and Saric next year with the four first rounders this year + Noel and Okafor (only two notable players on the roster). Thats like an entirely new team.

 If Josh Jackson was in this draft, I would say "Job well done Hinkie"…still a couple of studs though. Embiid and Saric next year with the four first rounders this year + Noel and Okafor (only two notable players on the roster). Thats like an entirely new team.

 Sam was brought in to gather assets for an organization who literally had none after Andre Igoudalas reign and the terrible decision to build around Andrew Bynum. The 76ers are now plentiful with assets and ate a strong organization in terms of treadeable and developing assets from a foundation perspective. When erecting a building you start with the foundation which takes 3/4ths of the time to construct. Hinkie job was to fix the foundation and he has done it well. Colengelos job is now to use the assets Hinkie acquired and build the team. Essentially the rebuild starts now.

They will likely get Ingram/Simmons to go along with Noel, Okafor and Embiid. Saric has stated he wants to come over this year. That’s alot of talent in the frontcourt and whether it works or not these are moveable assets. Next year is a draft heavy with gaurds (Monk, Smith, Fox, Ball, Fultz, Alkins, Jones, Jackson, and more) and the 76ers should have another top 3 pick where they will be able to select amongst the cream of the crop and have alot of moveable assets after figuring out who they want to keep in the frontcourt. They also have unlimited draft picks and tons of playing time available. 

It will be interesting to see if they assign a new coach.

 Sam was brought in to gather assets for an organization who literally had none after Andre Igoudalas reign and the terrible decision to build around Andrew Bynum. The 76ers are now plentiful with assets and ate a strong organization in terms of treadeable and developing assets from a foundation perspective. When erecting a building you start with the foundation which takes 3/4ths of the time to construct. Hinkie job was to fix the foundation and he has done it well. Colengelos job is now to use the assets Hinkie acquired and build the team. Essentially the rebuild starts now.

They will likely get Ingram/Simmons to go along with Noel, Okafor and Embiid. Saric has stated he wants to come over this year. That’s alot of talent in the frontcourt and whether it works or not these are moveable assets. Next year is a draft heavy with gaurds (Monk, Smith, Fox, Ball, Fultz, Alkins, Jones, Jackson, and more) and the 76ers should have another top 3 pick where they will be able to select amongst the cream of the crop and have alot of moveable assets after figuring out who they want to keep in the frontcourt. They also have unlimited draft picks and tons of playing time available. 

It will be interesting to see if they assign a new coach.

 Sam Hinkie essentially Simulated whole seasons like it’s NBA 2K. 

 The problem with that is you cannot turn the Chemistry switch off. Players who are 19-20-21 who have NEVER lost at this rate in their lives are not equiped for this at all. 

Fans — who pay for the product want to feel like they know what is going on. Hinkie refused to give interviews during his tenure.

Yeah, he ‘simulated’ whole seasons, but the collateral damage that he caused was something he must have not foreseen.

Ish Smith was signed and it gave the impression the Sixers were trying. They still suck, but it looks like they’re trying. 

Add to the fact he drafted THREE Centers in three drafts. These picks are assets, but they are people, too. It just won’t sit well with a player knowing he’s going to a franchise like this. 

This isn’t 2K, real life factors will affect play and morale.

 Sam Hinkie essentially Simulated whole seasons like it’s NBA 2K. 

 The problem with that is you cannot turn the Chemistry switch off. Players who are 19-20-21 who have NEVER lost at this rate in their lives are not equiped for this at all. 

Fans — who pay for the product want to feel like they know what is going on. Hinkie refused to give interviews during his tenure.

Yeah, he ‘simulated’ whole seasons, but the collateral damage that he caused was something he must have not foreseen.

Ish Smith was signed and it gave the impression the Sixers were trying. They still suck, but it looks like they’re trying. 

Add to the fact he drafted THREE Centers in three drafts. These picks are assets, but they are people, too. It just won’t sit well with a player knowing he’s going to a franchise like this. 

This isn’t 2K, real life factors will affect play and morale.