In 2 short years, Sam Hinkie has solidified himself as a very good General Manager. He’s done that by making many correct decisions. These decisions have been trades, signings, draft picks, and more. I’m counting down the best of the best moves Sam Hinkie has made in Philly.
This is the most recent of moves. The Sixers traded away 2 overseas players and a 2nd round pick for Nik Stauskas, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, and future 1st round pick. Sam Hinkie does it again. The Kings made this deal to simply free up cap space, but they gave up way too much. Nik Stauskas has loads of potential, Jason Thompson is a quality big man, and a 1st round pick is always a nice touch.
4. Unloading Evan Turner
The inevitable happened. The brief, but yet too long affair between ET and the Sixers came to an end. Evan Turner was drafted 2nd overall in the 2010 draft by the Sixers, which at the time was the easy pick. Turner was a hell of a player at Ohio State. It’s just his game didn’t translate to the NBA. Turner was decent at just about everything. He was a pretty good rebounder, solid passer, and a decent defender. He didn’t have good flow on the offensive side of the court. Turner wasn’t a good shooter, and struggled to substantially contribute to anything. Hinkie sent Turner and Lavoy Allen off to Indiana for Danny Granger and Golden State’s 2nd rounder.
3. Drafting Jahlil Okafor
Okafor is a perfect fit. I think drafting Okafor was smart for multiple reasons. In my head, Joel Embiid is as good as gone. I think within the next 2 years Sam Hinkie will find a suitable trade partner that wants Embiid, and he will make a deal. But if you look closer you’ll see how well he fits with Nerlens Noel. Noel is a defensive minded big man who has a very limited offensive game. Okafor is quite the opposite. The future blend of the Noel-Okafor frontcourt will have teams running in circles, all thanks to Sam Hinkie.
2. Hiring Head Coach Brett Brown
Sam Hinkie figured he needed a head coach before the NBA Summer League, so he made a phone call down to San Antonio and picked up one of many Gregg Poppovich disciples. Brown has a very good basketball mind. Either take the 3 or go to the rim, hard. No long twos. There’s a reason why the mid-range game is dissapearing from the NBA, and Brett Brown is on top of it. It’s tough to evaluate Brown as a coach, because we can’t evaluate him on success. Until the Sixers spend real money in free agency and quit tanking, Brett Brown’s job will be safe. We will have to be satisfied enough with his version of Phi Slamma Jamma.
1. Trading Holiday
It pains me to say this, but this was Hinkie’s best decision as the Sixers GM. I was shocked when he made this trade, because you don’t find young all-star point guards growing on trees. But, Nerlens Noel has been phenomenal. The deal was Holiday and a pick (Pierre Jackson) for Noel and a pick (MCW). Needless to say, Hinkie won this trade. This trade was vital to Hinkie’s image, because it showed he feared nothing. Sam Hinkie’s unpredictable persona was created because of this deal. This move started the tanking process, which is still in the act.
If this process works, it will be one for ages, and all the credit will go to the man behind the curtain, Sam Hinkie.
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