Philadelphia 76ers Revolutionary Rebuild Creating Optimism, Relevancy Despite Continuous Backlash

Sam Hinkie sits in his anechoic chamber days before the 2014 draft. The cryptic stare at his plan-laced walls unfitting for a general manager whose Armani suits scream businessman. He gazes at an elaborate and intertwined board with a bold name circled repeatedly. Hinkie’s blank stare a result of countless scenarios pacing through his tested synapses.

He repeats the individual of his focus. “Andrew Wiggins,” he utters with a reserved undertone. The soon-to-be drafted Jayhawk’s name is ushered repeatedly. It was also appraised by the Philadelphia contingency briefly after he selected point guard Michael Carter-Williams with the No. 11 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: NBA Finals History: Ranking The Last 50 Champions

The era of competitive basketball diminished to a Bizarro World mindset. Wins became a negative result while Riggin’ for Wiggins was the chic phrase fans got behind. Embracing the tank was simple for a relevance-starved basketball city. However, the historically porous season never culminated into Wiggins being drafted by the Sixers.

Wiggins inevitably became the flavor of Cleveland with a flurry of rumors of Hinkie’s desire to trade up for the hyper-athletic wing became a facade. “Trusting the Process” arguably started with the Sixers sticking at No. 3 and taking the leap into oblivion with Joel Embiid.

Wiggins was deemed a realistic option for Philly before Embiid’s detrimental foot injury a week before the draft. His fit as a Ferrari in a turbo-charged-paced offense turned out to be a pipe dream still fresh and bitter.

Embiid’s absence and prolonged rehab reiterated patience. The newest Sixer, however, wasted no time in becoming the NBA’s most charismatic Twitter user. His recruitment of LeBron James busted and his swooning needed adjustments, but Embiid had become on Twitter what the Philadelphia Sixers are continuing to pursue; relevancy and proficiency.

If only Twitter dexterity carried over to other areas of importance. Hinkie’s selection of Embiid has been magnified, criticized, analyzed and idolized. NJ.com’s Elliot Shorr-Parks attributed Embiid’s star appeal to the reasoning of the selection following the draft:

"Although a foot injury raised some serious red flags, there is a reason that Embiid has drawn comparisons to NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon. At 7-foot-0, 250 pounds, Embiid is extremely mobile for his size while still possessing an NBA ready frame. The center averaged 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds last season, his only season in college – and really his only season playing against elite competition, as he first picked up a basketball just four years ago.In addition to his athleticism, Embiid has the potential to be dominant on both sides of the court. He shot 62% from the field last season while averaging 2.6 blocks in just 23 minutes per game. Players of Embiid’s size and skill don’t come around often, which is why until the injury, he was projected to be the No. 1 pick."

Hinkie never shifted his approach to go all out and dilute his massive 2014 draft stash. He rather gave fans another potential star to believe in. It’s the optimism of Embiid being a monumental intricacy in Philadelphia’s rebuild that had many lauding Hinkie’s risk.

More from Philadelphia 76ers

• That escalated quickly: How the Harden-Morey situation intensified
• 3 NBA superstars with legacies on the line heading into 2023–24
• Ranking the 4 riskiest boom-or-bust NBA teams in 2023–24
• NBA Rumors: Stalled trade talks may lead to Blazers, 76ers keeping stars
• NBA Trades: This Blazers, Heat, 76ers, and Clippers swap would alter NBA

Like a cult following, his supporters believe he can do no wrong and is forgiven for every ethically questionable measure he takes.

He doesn’t have a anechoic chamber and he’s not a cult leader. We’ve been just entranced by his radical and chaotic measures to building a winning basketball team. Sam Hinkie is what Bray Wyatt is to the WWE.

Wyatt is one of wrestling’s outcasts whose cryptic dialogue and belief in change enthralls fans. His following, like Hinkie’s, consists of knowledgeable and passionate supporters. Optimism for a better future is a consistent theme for both. Wyatt and Hinkie also changed their initial state in order to become relevant.

Wyatt’s previous gimmick was leading him nowhere and likewise, the Sixers’ roster posed no threat to the East’s elite.

Like a snake shedding another layer of skin, Hinkie sending MCW to Milwaukee rebooted the incremental approach to field a competitive team. Carter-Williams, the 2014 Rookie of the Year, was a piece in the long-term puzzle initially. His size, vision and awareness on defense could play on any team.

It was apparent that his skills weren’t commendable enough for the Sixers and his endurance as tanking eventually wore on the 23-year-old whose previous background had little blemishes to note. While he wasn’t adamant about departing the City of Brotherly Love, the new, more stable and competitive environment appeased Carter-Williams.

"“I love it,” said Carter-Williams said after the Bucks’ 87-71 loss to the Chicago on Monday per Sean Highkin back in February. “They have a great attitude here and they’re chasing the playoffs. There is a different vibe. These guys are great.”“It’s different,” he said. “The teams are in different stages. Philly is rebuilding and trying to do it a different way. Here there are some really established players. I’m not knocking one, Philly is just in a different place. Milwaukee is a playoff team and I am just here to try and help.”"

Again, another Hinkie decision created serious noise. It also provided a nugget of heightened anticipation when the Lakers protected first-round pick joined the asset-housing project in Philadelphia. Mixed reviews following the trade deadline had the Sixers draining any chance of competitiveness down the sink or cashing in at maximum value.

Sports Illustrated gave the Sixers an “A” while CBS Sports initially was less favorable with a “C-” with room for improvement.

The negative connotations tied into the deal painted Hinkie as a villain who viewed players solely as assets with a value. Similarly, the former Sixer was reportedly dangled in an attempt to move up in the 2015 NBA draft, showing Milwaukee’s faith in MCW’s abilities as their point guard of the present and future.

Carter-Williams’ professionalism was admirable and paralleled Thaddeus Young‘s ability to cope with a lost season. Carter-Williams could be argued for and against as a reliable point guard developing into a two-way dynamo at lead guard. Matt Moore of cbssports.com, complimented Philadelphia’s bold move:

"Michael Carter-Williams doesn’t grade out as a difference maker. The Sixers haven’t been big on him for over a year, when trade talks first came to light. He can’t shoot in any meaningful capacity anywhere on the floor. He’s reckless and raw. There a very good capacity for him to be a good or even great NBA player given his athletic talents, defensive instincts (which need to be refined), and vision. Many point guards don’t hit their true stride until the last year of their rookie deal or first year of extension. But the Sixers were willing to determine with some finality that MCW wasn’t the right fit for their future, despite having drafted him just 18 months ago. Whether that was some analysis of his shooting mechanics, the drafting of Joel Embiid changing their focus, or the simple value of the pick they got in return, the result is the same."

It wasn’t solely Hinkie’s desire to cash in on Carter-Williams, rather the bond lost in the process was severed as a result. MCW was Hinkie’s first draft selection as a GM. Pundits continuously berate the organization due to a lack of stability and chemistry, but friendships formed aren’t managements primary focus.

The last Sixers blockbuster, if you discount the Evan Turner–Danny Granger swap in 2014, at the deadline was their attempt to find Allen Iverson‘s ideal counterpart in Chris Webber back in 2005. Hinkie has made the last available day to trade his primary source of taking in cap-clogging talent loaded with extras.

Never in the Billy King/Tony DiLeo era had the trade deadline been a perennial factor. Trades for draft picks have evaded the naysayers when judging Hinkie’s plan. Adding fringe NBA contributors seemingly is a looked-over bombshell, but hoarding picks at a rapid pace is the contributing factor of future intentions.

Eric Maynor, Keith Bogans, Earl Clark and many more have been discarded with Philadelphia scrapping the remaining luster attached to the less than favorable contract. They’re acquiring picks while using other teams’ incoherent salary situations against them. For the second season in the row, they’ve topped the charts in deals made.

Just Isaiah Canaan remains as a deadline player the Sixers have acquired on their roster.

Spencer Hawes turned into rotational lock Jerami Grant, whose progress as a second-year player defied expectations. Thaddeus Young, who was a complete professional during the first rebuilding season, gained Philadelphia a protected first-round pick. Hinkie relieved his initial roster completely to formulate his vision and build through the draft.

The Jrue Holiday fiasco was the one serious blemish that sprouted up during Hinkie’s first year as a GM. The Sixers recently lost $3 million in compensation, but the poor judgment call resonated throughout the league. Wyatt-esque heelish tactics have been tied to the calculated former and current analytics guru.

The loophole situation with the CBA also shed harsh light on the organization and the Andrei-Kirilenko buyout ordeal created the notion of Philadelphia’s rift with agents.

There is no defending these occurrences for Sixers fans. Arguments, however, come up in other instances. Ones that could result in full-fledged, heated, back-and-forth deliberation. The media are divided and fans either are down with the cause or demanding necessary change.

Philadelphia is being poorly run with a failing plan has been the No. 1 debate since Hinkie took over in 2013.

The Sixers have lost the most combined games in the NBA the past two seasons. A product built for ineptitude has fans deferring the option to attend games and rendering the team only watchable to those who believe in the organization. Try convincing people to shell out more than $20 on a starting roster barely superior on paper to a D-League team.

While teams finishing high in the lottery are building not solely through the draft, the Sixers have been reluctant to add a notable name over the summer in the past two years. They inquired about Jimmy Butler‘s services, but the lacking roster was a hard sell for a player entrenched in a winning situation.

Bleacher Report’s Ethan Skolnick questioned the organization’s offseason mentality and willingness to compete before free agency hit:

"There are many questions as NBA free agency opens, so many that one may have slipped under the radar like the team that typically slinks from view this time of year. Will the Philadelphia 76ers participate this time?After all, there’s hardly ample evidence that one of the league’s prouder franchises remains an active member of the league, not with the manner it has operated over the past 25 months. That’s how long it has been since Sam Hinkie became the general manager and president of basketball operations–positions he’d never previously held–and began the painstaking, frustrating process that Philadelphians have been repeatedly told to trust."

Are the Sixers violating any rule by not partaking in the free agency festivities? It might be a different route, but the theme has been evident since management took over. Hinkie’s made it clear he intends to build primarily through the draft and grow talent on cheap rookie scale contracts.

Their repeated place in a fortuitous selecting position gives the team a chance to eventually get the star they covet, explains Grantland’s Zach Lowe:

"If Philly is really willing to do this for five, six, or seven seasons, it almost cannot fail. It will either land a superstar or draft so many good players that they will gather a solid NBA team. Brett Brown may check himself into an asylum before then, but if you keep getting lottery picks, you will eventually succeed."

The Sixers’ willingness to fold on Michael-Carter Williams reiterates Lowe’s theory and does maintain the mindset that nobody is safe on the roster. Grantland labeled their 2014-15 Sixers preview “The Sixers are the Best at Being the Worst” in their video. It’s a demeaning title but correlates with the theme “it’s better to be first or worst in the NBA.”

Once again, Philadelphia is expected to be an easy opponent in the league next season. They have outplayed their initial ranking the past two seasons, but are a favorite in the Ben Simmons sweepstakes. It’s that optimism fans have been accustomed to the past two seasons. Twice Philadelphia has failed, but the odds are favorable to most in the lottery.

While they’re developing and adding to their roster, the foundation isn’t apparent yet to push past teams in the East. The expectations remain low, which aids Philadelphia’s quest to select a star.

For a team predicated on cashing in at the draft, it’s beneficiary to select what seemingly was the best player on the board in Jahlil Okafor and still be in contention for a top pick. The Milwaukee Bucks had a breakthrough campaign last season. It would be detrimental, however, if the Sixers followed their same path.

The Sixers mediocrity and irrelevancy was a product of finishing in the middle of the draft for countless seasons. There was little belief that a powerhouse could be formed when the Sixers were continuously bounced from the playoffs. That’s been the argument from fans who have bought into the rebuild.

All U Can Heat

It’s the quest to remain among the league’s struggling teams to avoid gaining traction back to their previous state.

The 2014 draft still creates buzz after both Embiid and Dario Saric didn’t play one minute in their rookie seasons. It might be unprecedented that a team with two first-round picks selected players that won’t play their first two seasons. Saric will continue to play overseas in Croatia while Embiid’s setback with his foot injury has the big man on the shelf again.

Despite being labeled as the league’s worst team once again heading into the 2015-16 season, the team looks to be more coherent at any point so far in the rebuild. Jahlil Okafor has displayed similar footwork, touch and interior dominance he was famous for at Duke.

His selection, like Embiid’s, was questioned, but it has increasingly won over fans who favored D’Angelo Russell previous to the draft.

In his brief Sixers career, Okafor has shown the willingness to improve and is becoming a fan favorite. He recently voiced his desire to be an intricate and vital member of the team per The Washington Post’s Michael Lee:

"“I am ready,” Okafor said. “I was the No. 1 player out of high school, so I always had a lot of attention and then I went to Duke University, one of the bigger schools in the country, won a national championship. So I’m used to it. I think I’ll handle it fine.”"

It’s the safety in knowing Okafor is ready to succeed at the next level that’s assuring for fans. An elite college player whose NBA ready game is paramount for a rebuilding organization, “Jah” instantly becomes the Sixers focal point on offense.

Detractors have constantly brought up Okafor’s fit with another primary center in Nerlens Noel, but in actuality, Noel’s defensive capabilities down low can cover Okafor’s inefficiencies at times.

Vice versa on the offensive end, Okafor relieves the constant pressure Noel faced last season as the lone interior threat. What’s promising for the organization is head coach Brett Brown’s abilities to mold young players through his first two seasons (Noel, Grant, Robert Covington).

Noel played both frontcourt positions last year for Brown but his production came within the paint on offense while protecting the rim primarily on defense. Utilizing high ball screens created mismatches for Noel and Brown went to the defensive savant more as the season progressed.

It’s a buzzkill that Embiid will not be featured with both bigs, but Brown has arguably the most promising interior tandem a coach can develop in the league.

Brown also bought into the optimistic rebuild in the summer of 2013 and knew the process would take time. The disciple of Gregg Popovich has a two year track record that might not show positive results, but any viewer can see improvement. With Noel, the Sixers allowed their opponents to shoot only 44.9 percent, which was 2.2 percent less than their disastrous 2013-14 season.

Brown has another chance to take an afterthought and reclaim hope in their abilities. Okafor isn’t the only top-10 pick possibly starting this season. Nik Stauskas was the centerpiece of Hinkie’s heist of the Kings.

Stauskas, despite flailing mightily in a tumultuous situation in Sacramento, brings many positive traits. On the court, Stauskas brings a watchability factor as an exciting 2 guard who the fans can get behind. He’ll increase ratings while converting a few highlight reel plays his sophomore seasons.

The most pivotal area he’ll assist in is his floor spacing, which will benefit both Noel and Okafor mightily.

It’s hard to discount Stauskas’ initial struggles as he shot only 36 percent from the field, but at only 21, his timeframe to rebound meshes well with the Sixers’ wide window to compete. Along with Tony Wroten and Covington, the backcourt is a potential-laden group that will endure its share of struggles this season as developing players.

Hinkie has bought low on the triumvirate in three separate situations and while they might lack in talent, their development to reach their eventual capabilities is reason for optimism. Factor in two centerpieces on the block and the Sixers could surprise.

It’s not even the roster in place that’s the primary reasons fans are in a state of nirvana. With four potential first-round picks, Hinkie has a chance to crash the 2016 NBA Draft party in style.

The optionality the third-year GM preaches allows the team to add another high lottery pick for the fourth straight season. The fans have a reason to care. Following four other teams’ seasonal paths creates intrigue that few teams possess. The assets have proved what the Sixers are doing was the right decision at the time and is a journey few would take but some will eventually envy.

It’s hard to argue the results and the promising current situation compared to what Hinkie was dealt with in 2013. The plan hasn’t gone exactly the way the team anticipated it would. Embiid has not yet played a minute in the NBA, they didn’t land the No. 1 pick in consecutive drafts and have been on the receiving end of heavy criticism from the media.

All plans have hiccups along the way, but Philadelphia is in a position to mitigate setbacks with by far the most draft picks until 2021 of any team and managing their future salary cap situation. The Sixers are building at their own pace to eventual championship status. Not everyone is on board with the process, but those who have been know the Sixers are in an ideal situation.

Next: Are The 2014-15 Golden State Warriors An All-Time Great Team?

More from Hoops Habit

• The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout