After "refusing to accept another marginalization of his power," 76ers President of Basketball Operations & GM Sam Hinkie resigned yesterday, "clearing the way" for former Raptors and Suns exec Bryan Colangelo to take over the role, according to sources cited by Adrian Wojnarowski of THE VERTICAL. The sources said that 76ers ownership and Chair of Basketball Jerry Colangelo "wanted Hinkie to accept Bryan Colangelo's hiring as a complement to Hinkie in the front office, but he rejected the idea." Sources added that Bryan Colangelo "had actively pursued" the Nets GM job, "initially unenthusiastic about the perception of working for his father for the second time in his career." Sources said that the 76ers "considered" former Hawks GM Danny Ferry in recent weeks, but Bryan Colangelo "emerged as the choice" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/6). NBA.com's David Aldridge cited sources as saying that Hinkie "was unwilling to accept a power-sharing arrangement the 76ers wanted to create going forward, with Hinkie still part of the team's decision-making structure." The idea was to have Hinkie and Bryan Colangelo "work together," with Bryan Colangelo "handling the job of working with agents and other teams that Hinkie struggled with over the last few years." It was "clear around the league" that Jerry Colangelo "had full authority over the franchise" once he was brought in by Sixers Owner Josh Harris. Sources said that Harris "had grown weary both of the criticism he (and Hinkie) had received the last couple of years, and by the lackluster on-court product" (NBA.com, 4/6).
QUIET EXIT: In Philadelphia, Keith Pompey cites sources as saying that Hinkie "stepped down without notifying his employees," who "learned of his resignation via social media" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/7). ESPN.com's Marc Stein noted Hinkie "addressed the Sixers' ownership group" yesterday in a 13-page letter. He wrote, "Given all the changes to our organization, I no longer have the confidence that I can make good decisions on behalf of investors in the Sixers -- you. So I should step down. And I have" (ESPN.com, 4/6). SPORTS ON EARTH's Sean Highkin writes Hinkie's decision to step down is "a little unusual" considering "he did so with a week remaining" in the NBA season. But "somewhere in the wreckage of the Hinkie era is the foundation of a good basketball team." Whether or not Hinkie's vision is successful "will take years to answer." His "greatest mistake was never fighting back against his critics, keeping interviews to a minimum and letting his decisions speak for themselves." The next few years in the 76ers' "long, drawn-out rebuild play out, one thing is for sure: There will be a focus on getting the team back to being at least competitive in the near future" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 4/7).
BATTLE FOR POWER: CSNPHILLY.com's John Gonzalez wrote the "idea of a behind-the-scenes power struggle" comes through in Hinkie's resignation letter. Sources said that ownership wanted both Colangelos to "take a bigger role with players and agents as the offseason approaches and the Sixers hope to be significant participants in free agency for the first time in years." A source said that Hinkie “thought he had it covered" (CSNPHILLY.com, 4/6). TNT's Shaquille O'Neal said, "When it comes to the Colangelo family, they are wizards. They know what they are doing." He added, "Sam was the fall guy, but the Colangelos are going to bring in some new energy" ("NBA Gametime," NBA TV, 4/6). In Philadelphia, Mike Sielski writes for Hinkie, there was "nothing but conflict, nothing but a fundamental clash of values at the core of this new front-office structure." Hinkie "had his way of doing things, and he would not compromise it." Ultimately, his "costliest error was trusting Harris and the other owners to honor their word that they would tolerate years of bad basketball for the hope of something marvelous later" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/7).
I DID IT MY WAY: USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt noted the Sixers hired Hinkie in '13, and it was "the start of a painful and polarizing rebuilding plan" as Hinkie "tried to compile draft picks and young players." In his "effort to acquire draft picks and a franchise-altering player, Hinkie was accused of tanking and put a constant spotlight on his plan, especially as the losses piled up." But results "were hard to find, and it didn’t help that top draft picks were either injured or still in Europe" (USATODAY.com, 4/6). NBA.com's Aldridge said, "When you keep saying, 'We're going to build through the draft, and if we have to wait two years for a guy, we are going to wait,' that's not what free agents want to hear." Aldridge: "I think Bryan Colangelo is very well-regarded around the league and I think he will be able to make some moves that will help bring that organization up a little bit" ("NBA Gametime," NBA TV, 4/6). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Devine noted eventually, all the losing "wore thin with the NBA's other 29 owners," who "tried (and failed) to institute lottery reform in the wake of the Sixers' sink to the bottom, and reportedly lobbied NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to 'step in with regard to the direction' of the franchise" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/6). In Philadelphia, Bob Cooney writes under the header, "For Sixers, It's The End Of Sam Hinkie Error." Harris "must have gotten an earful from [Jerry] Colangelo over the past four months about Hinkie's incompetence when it comes to dealing with agents, his own staff, players and coaches." Many "talked through the years of Hinkie's inability to communicate with those who mattered in moving the team forward." There "never appeared to be a comfort level with anyone" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/7).
DROPPING THE BALL: CSNPHILLY.com's Jessica Camerato noted the 76ers "compiled a league-worst 47-195 record in Hinkie’s tenure." The team also "encountered embarrassing problems" off the court, such as when C Jahlil Okafor "became embroiled in a spate of viral legal issues." But Hinkie during the incident "was stunningly silent, leaving head coach Brett Brown to act as team spokesperson" (CSNPHILLY.com, 4/6). The INQUIRER's Pompey noted Hinkie "made several mistakes during his tenure" and he "has admitted that." Perhaps the "biggest blunder was his refusal to address the media" after Okafor's string of off-the-court incidents. Another "major misstep was not taking advantage of the team's security apparatus to shield the rookie in the public." But "everything about Hinkie's blueprint for building a championship-caliber franchise is unique." The team "was criticized for having just one 'basketball person' in its front office" in D-League Delaware 87ers GM Brandon Williams, who played 18 games in the NBA. The 76ers, under Hinkie, also "preferred to keep to themselves instead of joining the old boys' network" (PHILLY.com, 4/6).
ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION? In Philadelphia, John Smallwood writes, "There is no way I can say that this is not a positive thing for the Sixers organization." Hinkie "did a horrible job" and "that can't be sugarcoated." Whatever the idea, process or plan Hinkie had when he took over for the 76ers, it "quickly derailed into a train wreck" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/7). In Boston, Gary Washburn writes Hinkie's departure marks the "end to one of the NBA’s oddest eras." Not many in the 76ers organization "knew what Hinkie’s blueprint was." The 76ers "are no better off now than they were three years ago in terms of respect and the ability to attract free agents." Hinkie "made sure of that with his curious moves, embarrassing the organization with substandard talent" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/7). FOXSPORTS.com's Dieter Kurtenbach writes, "The Process, as it was dubbed, wasn't sexy, and it was going to be painful, but when you're trying to exploit market inefficiencies, the market usually bites back." The "problem is that The Process, no matter how logical, needed some luck too, and the 76ers were unlucky under Hinkie." The 76ers "only needed the ping-pong balls to bounce right just once, but they didn't." At some point this season, the 76ers brass "stopped trusting The Process, and they're now looking for a less painful way to earn respectability." Kurtenbach: "It's a shame it ended like this. The Process stood out as bold and daring in a sports world chalk full of conformity" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/7).
