Patrick Causey, on Twitter @InsdeTheHuddle
Earlier today, the Philadelphia 76ers unexpectedly announced a press conference with co-owner Joshua Harris for 4:30 pm. Speculation was abound about the topic of the press conference, vacillating between the mundane — the Sixers naming their new practice facility in Camden — to the bombshell — Sam Hinkie or Brett Brown being fired.
It was a bombshell alright, but one that no one saw coming. When Harris entered the hastily arranged press conference, he was flanked by Sam Hinkie, naturally, but also a third guest, Hall of Fame executive Jerry Colangelo:
Sixers co-managing owner Josh Harris enters room with Jerry Colangelo, Managing Director and Chairman of USA Basketball.
— Brian Seltzer (@brianseltzer) December 7, 2015
Within minutes, Harris announced that Colangelo was being appointed the chairman of basketball operations and special advisor to the Sixers. The move sent shockwaves throughout the NBA and seemed like a direct affront to Sam Hinkie's "Process."
Colangelo is currently the managing director and chairman of USA Basketball. He was put in charge of USA Basketball at a time when the program was in a tailspin. He dramatically overhauled the program, hired Mike Krzyewski, and forced NBA players to commit to the team for a set period of time to foster roster continuity and chemistry. The USA men's team is 75-1 and have won two gold medals since he was hired.
Prior to running USA Basketball, Colangelo was a long-time executive of the Phoenix Suns, serving in various capacities from 1968-2012, including CEO, president, head coach and general manager. He spearheaded a group which purchased the Suns in 1987, which quickly led to 13 straight playoff appearances for the franchise.
Philadelphia might also remember Colangelo as the manager who traded Jef Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang to the 76ers for Charles Barkley in one of the more lopsided trades in NBA history. In addition to being a Hall of Famer, Colangelo was also named NBA Executive of the Year in Phoenix in 1977, 1982, 1990 and 1994.
In other words, Colangelo is kind of a big deal, people know him.
Why Now?
According to Colangelo, this move was not on his radar screen a week and a half ago. "This has happened relatively quickly," he said.
It's no coincidence that the Sixers approached Colangelo around the same time that Jahlil Okafor's off-court indiscretions become fodder for TMZ.
In what seems like a panic move in response to Okafor's indiscretions, Joshua Harris solicited the help of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who had a "significant hand in Philadelphia's decision to hire Colangelo" and personally called "Colangelo to gauge his interest," according to a report from USA TODAY Sports. It is unusual for the commissioner of a league to play an active role in the hiring of a league executive, but it underscores the importance that Harris (and even the league) placed on speeding up the timeline by which the Sixers start to become competitive again.
It's not hard to draw a link between Okafor's troubles and one of the more controversial components of Sam Hinkie's plan: his refusal to sign NBA veterans for the backend of his roster. Instead, the Sixers churned through NBA D-League type talent, hoping to uncover a diamond in the rough at little to no cost.
While that approach yielded a quality long term role player in Robert Covington– or a valuable trade asset in the near term – this move suggests that the lack of a veteran presence became a point of contention within the organization. While Harris, Colangelo and Brown acknowledged as much, the unstated implication of this move is that at least some people believed vets in the locker room would have mitigated the trouble Okafor has gotten himself in.
Colangelo's presence likely puts an end to that practice, or at least will curtail it to some extent. During the press conference, Colangelo noted the need for veteran leadership and to repair the relationships with agents around the league. According to multiple outlets, agents had been turned off by Sam Hinkie signing D-league talent instead of their own clients, which led to promises of boycotts when the Sixers became serious about spending in free agency.
The Sixers hope to leverage Colangelo's contacts in order to facilitate the "next phase" of the process: "He knows every player, every coach," Harris explained.
That sentiment was echoed by head coach Brett Brown, who acknowledged that the Sixers will start taking free agency more seriously:
#sixers head coach Brett Brown on the addition of Colangelo and the future of the Sixers. pic.twitter.com/vOv3XhN0kC
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) December 7, 2015
What Does This Mean for Hinkie?
There is no soft-peddling this move: it amounts to a public castration of Sam Hinkie by the 76ers ownership group. Up until this point, they have exhibited the patience of Job with Hinkie's long term tank job. But it seems that even their patience has limits, which likely was met after Joel Embiid — considered by many to be the centerpiece of Hinkie's plan — suffered another setback with his foot injury. Embiid's absence was compounded by the latest indiscretions from Jahlil Okafor, the subpar play of Nik Stauskas, and Dario Saric marinating in Europe instead of plying his trade in Philly.
Of course, everyone present during the press conference said all the right things. According to Colangelo, "This is a collective effort," that Hinkie will still have final decision, but emphasized that his decision will come "after a lot of collaboration and discussion with us."
But make no mistake, this move was made because the ownership group has lost at least some confidence in Hinkie's approach.
The move also places Hinkie in an impossible Catch-22 situation, especially among his detractors — if the Sixers turn things around and start wining, all the credit will go to Colangelo. If the Sixers continue to lose, it will be spun as a mess that was too great for even Colangelo to fix:
Literally any good that happens now with the Sixers will be because of Colangelo. Lol
— Sohil D. (@oh_sohilarious) December 8, 2015
2016 Offseason Looms Large
I have discussed this before but it bears repeating: the 2016 offseason is setting up to be THE offseason for The Process. Even before this move, it was becoming increasingly obvious that the Sixers were going all in during the 2016 offseason. This hiring, and the stated emphasis on bringing in quality NBA free agents certainly lends credence to that theory.
The Sixers figure to be a drastically different team this time next year, with the following players at their disposal:
- Jahlil Okafor
- Nerlens Noel
- Dario Saric
- Nik Stauskas
- Jeremi Grant
- Robert Covington
- Sixers high lottery draft pick
They might also have Joel Embiid (health permitting), and three first round picks from the Lakers, Thunder and Heat. Add in the most cap space in the league, and the Sixers are in prime position to take this from zero to 60 in short order.
Ben Simmons is obviously the prized asset of this offseason, and the Sixers are well-positioned — at least currently — to be the odds on favorite to win the top overall pick. Remember, in addition to their own pick, they also have the rights to swap picks with the Sacramento Kings, and could get the Lakers pick which is top 3 protected. Each of those assets could theoretically be moved in a blockbuster trade to secure the number one pick even if the lottery balls don't bounce the Sixers' way.
Which brings my biggest concern to the forefront: will Colangelo's hiring cause the signing/acquisition of quality NBA players to occur too soon before the Sixers can land a franchise caliber player in the draft? As distasteful as this "Process" has been for some, the Sixers already own the worst record in the league. While I am by no means against signing competent NBA players, and indeed, I have advocated for doing so in the past, the Sixers are pot committed this season to going all out for the top pick. It would seem incredibly shortsighted to abandon that approach midseason for the marginal upgrade of winning a few games.
Here is a roundup of the league's reaction to the stunning move:
There is not a sense that 76ers GM Sam Hinkie is in trouble, however Colangelo will likely have a significant voice in the process.
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) December 7, 2015
League insiders speculate Jerry Colangelo may end up with a 76ers ownership piece as part of Chairman of Basketball Ops arrangement.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) December 7, 2015
Hard not to see this move as a crack in the confidence Harris and Co have in Sam Hinkie. #Sixers #SixersTalk
— Patrick Causey (@InsdeTheHuddle) December 7, 2015
76ers owner Josh Harris says thi Colangelo move is about making "The Process" go faster.
— Dan Gelston (@APgelston) December 7, 2015
Despite management shakeup, Sixers committed to coach Brett Brown — and a contract extension is very likely, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) December 7, 2015
I think the biggest thing Jerry brings is giving the Sixers a bit of a reset on their reputation with agents and players.
— Max Rappaport (@MaxRappaport) December 7, 2015
