Although he has not said this, the first few years of the Sam Hinkie era is essentially a tryout period for future pieces, or as Brett Brown would call them, “gypsies”. For that reason, they have, understandably, not been too quick to hand out guaranteed contracts, especially to second-round picks. That is why K.J. McDaniels signed a one year deal, he was not interested in the non-guaranteed terms.
Turns out McDaniels is not the only one frustrated by this tactic. RealGM’s Shams Charania is reporting that the National Basketball Players’ Association is investigating Philadelphia. However, they have technically not done anything wrong, but some could argue they are not operating ethically.
“The NBPA told agents in a meeting on Monday that it will actively look into the 76ers’ handling of the CBA, such as salary distributions, the cap floor and contract format loopholes. For the NBPA, Philadelphia’s approach over the past several seasons may not be a technical violation of collective bargaining as much as it is one of the spirit of negotiating under the CBA.”
Adding more clarification to what exactly they are in investigating, Liberty Ballers’ Jake Fischer reports that the Sixers’ tendency to hand out non-guaranteed contracts, such as Jerami Grants’ and the one they tried offering McDaniels, has “rubbed agents the wrong way”.
Checked w/ several agents re NBPA report: Sixers frequently offering four-year, non-guaranteed contracts has rubbed agents, NBPA wrong way.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 23, 2015
This seems like a perfectly logical tactic for Hinkie. The Sixers have over 20 draft picks combined over the next six drafts, including four first round picks next season. That being the case, there more than likely will be a player they draft that bumps someone like Grant or Jakar Sampson down the organizational depth chart, and so it would be wise to not guarantee money to those type of players if they are only going to be replaced. Some could say it is unethical, but the fact is no one is forced to sign a contract they do not want, a decision McDaniels made.
