5 Notes from Sam Hinkie’s Latest Interview

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

(Dr.) Sam Hinkie recaps Joel Embiid’s surgery. Bigger screws, new angles, stem cells & more: http://t.co/9j0uBPdQ6E pic.twitter.com/RB7PSHoks6

— Breakfast On Broad (@BOBonTCN) August 20, 2015

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After the fan outrage surrounding the team’s near-month-long silence on the Embiid situation, the Sixers are making a concerted effort to be more open about things this past week. As part of that push for transparency, Sam Hinkie has been doing a media blitz. He went on Breakfast on Broad, and also popped up with Mike Missanelli on 97.5’s morning radio show yesterday; you can listen to the full interview here. I’ve listed below what I found to be the 5 most interesting things to draw from his conversation on the radio waves.

• Hinkie said he spoke to Joel, who feels better now than he did the first few days following his first surgery. I don’t think there’s necessarily too much to take from that, but it’s at least another tally in the optimistic about the future bucket.
• With the procedure, the piece of hip bone that was used was spun through a centrifuge to derive stem cells. Those stem cells were then injected into the navicular bone of the foot to try to accelerate bone growth there. This is basically a third-hand explanation at this point, but modern medicine is pretty crazy.
• Hinkie said there are several players currently playing in the NBA who have had stress fractures in their navicular bones before, but he wouldn’t say who they are because they would prefer not to be known for it. I like the idea of guys going around with secret injury histories in today’s age of exhausting 24/7 access to everything.
• When asked who most impressed him during summer league, Hinkie immediately went to Richaun Holmes. He described Holmes as having ‘remarkable bounce’, and said he would surprise a lot of people as a shot blocker and continue to improve as a shooter. We know the Sixers already signed Holmes to a 4-year deal with the first 2 years guaranteed, while also trading away Jason Thompson in part to free up minutes for Holmes. Expect him to be a big part of the frontcourt rotation this year.
• Hinkie basically confirmed Robert Covington is locked in as the starting 3, while there is more or less an open competition at the starting PG and SG positions.

Got to say, I like this world of a more open and honest Sam Hinkie. Enjoy your weekend everybody.