Hinkie is Giving Philadelphia Fans What We Asked For
A contingent of 76ers fans are quite pleased with the 2014 NBA Draft even though Embiid will not play this year and Saric will not play for two years, at least. Then, there is a vocal group whining and complaining that Hinkie and the 76ers wasted their picks on an injury-prone center, who they fear will be the next Sam Bowie, and a European player who will not play for a couple of years. Meanwhile, they fail to acknowledge that the Hinkie-drafted ROY Michael Carter-Williams should only improve in 2014-15 and that adding Nerlens Noel to the lineup is the equivalent of adding a top five talent from this year’s draft.
Haven’t we had enough of our failed General Managers making moves for now instead of the future? Holmgren always signing the savior to put the Flyers over the proverbial hump, but coming up lame—Pronger, Bryz, Vinnie. Aren’t we killing Amaro at any chance we all get because he’s been obsessed with trading away young talent for older players and leaving the Phillies minor league system decimated because of trades and poor talent evalutation?
Hinkie is doing the opposite. He’s looking to build a contender for many years by accumulating as much young talent as possible. Few “experts” have said that Hinkie is taking players that are suspect. Sure, there is Embiid’s foot. That’s a gamble. Championships aren’t won by playing it safe.
Hinkie is the antithesis of Ruben Amaro, Jr and yet some of us still complain. You can’t complain about Amaro’s strategy and then Hinkie’s. They are polar opposites. With the Embiid and Saric pick, Hinkie is doing exactly what we crush the Phillies management for not doing. He’s building a highly respected pipeline of young talent. Hinkie’s building one of the best “farm” systems in the NBA and I couldn’t be happier. Last year, we had MCW. This year we get Noel. Next year we get Embiid and whichever player the Sixers get in the lottery. In 2016, the Sixers get Saric, who may be the best player in the world not playing in the US. The Spurs did okay with a collection of foreign players. The Sixers will probably add another decent first round draft pick to the 2016 Saric addition.
On top of all that young talent, Hinkie will have mad salary cap space. He may have the most in the NBA. If you’re not down with all this, I feel for you. The next few years look promising for the 76ers. Let’s just hope the Rapture doesn’t happen before the plan comes to fruition.
By the way, Hextall and Howie Roseman seem to have the same patient visions. Hexy has already been talking about the players coming up in 2016 and moving old, overpaid veterans. Roseman and Chip have the Eagles building through the draft instead of the days of the “Dream Team” signings.
Times are good for Philadelphia teams, except the Phillies. That could change soon. Amaro probably can’t keep control of the Phillies with the attendance numbers that are currently happening at Citizens Bank Park.
Again, Hinkie is doing what we have been begging the Phillies to do. Embrace it. Enjoy it.