It’s been roughly two years since the beloved and infamous Sam Hinkie got booted out of the league. His polarizing strategy resulted in a controversial stint, even having a huge influence on a draft reform, but it appears that the former Philadelphia 76ers general manager gained respect from NBA executives.
Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report wrote in his column Tuesday that the former general manager is getting calls from present decision makers to ask for advice on personnel decisions. Here’s an excerpt from that piece:
“Sources both close to Hinkie and around the league said owners and executives routinely reach out to him for counsel. Several basketball operations vice presidents and owners said they would hire him, but they wouldn't put him in charge.
Others believe Hinkie and The Process weren't given a full trial, and that he didn't do anything wrong as much as the league turned on him.”
Hinkie, of course, was known for creating a whole new level of tanking. While with the Sixers from 2013 to 2016, he constantly traded away the team's best and rising talent — regardless of age — in order to gather as many high draft picks as possible. It's a list that included Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner, and Michael Carter-Williams, who got dealt half a season after winning Rookie of the Year.
“The Process,” as it is popularly called in the NBA and the league, especially Philadelphia, fan base, had the Sixers recording a 19, 18, and 10-win-season in consecutive years.
It was a three-year torture, but the results are now beginning to show. Two of the biggest prizes of their strategy, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, are looking good as leaders and could possibly lead the team back to the playoffs.
At 40 years old, Hinkie is like an infant compared to other GMs, so there's a chance he gets another crack at a job. The question is, with an anti-tanking rule now in play, what will be his new approach?
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