Last week, the Sixers made a flurry of moves, trading Michael Carter-Williams to Milwaukee and K.J. McDaniels to Houston. Sam Hinkie clearly didn't believe MCW was the future at point guard moving forward and sold high, taking a risk and getting a possible lottery pick. Meanwhile, K.J. McDaniels was an unknown past this season after signing a rare one-year contract as a rookie.
While some folks are still trying to figure out exactly what goes through Sam Hinkie's mind, it seems he is looking for a player, or set of players, to build around. If he feels like there isn't a fit and an opportunity to obtain future picks, he is going to do it, as was the case with Carter-Williams. According to a recent Forbes.com report, the Sixers were listening on pretty much everyone at the deadline, including their first-round pick from this year, Joel Embiid, in hopes of moving up in the upcoming draft.
In an unnoticed development at last week’s trade deadline, the 76ers were still trying to trade up for a top pick in this draft, indicating a willingness to talk about Joel Embiid or any player on their team, an NBA source told Forbes.com.
Yes, that’s the Joel Embiid they drafted No. 3 overall last spring. In other words, after going 65-144 over the last two-plus seasons and parting with Jrue Holiday, Nikola Vucevic, Louis Williams, Thaddeus Young, Jodie Meeks, Spencer Hawes, Nick Young and Andre Iguodala, the 76ers don’t have an asset on the lot whom they’re committed to.
All they have to show for that wheeling and dealing is Dario Saric, a hot Euro-prospect who’s signed with a Turkish team through the summer of 2016, and, of course, more No. 1 picks.
As this rebuild continues, or shall we say restarts, Sixers fans will have to remain patient until Sam Hinkie finds what he is looking for.
