Sixers: Adam Silver is to blame for this pitiful team
By Josh Wilson
How the Sixers got here
As a quick refresher, the Sixers were a pitiful team in the mid-2000s. In 2015-16 they won 10 games.
Sergio Rodriguez was at one point arguably their best player. The likes of Tony Wroten, Pierre Jackson, and Isaiah Canaan were headline players for Philadelphia.
It was intentional. Sam Hinkie more or less designed the team to lose which was a two-prong experiment. On one hand, it would allow Philly to identify undiscovered talent on a bargain. On the other, it would allow Philly to position themselves in the NBA Draft Lottery for a top pick.
Hinkie repeatedly took on bad contracts in return for draft picks as well, accruing a backlog of picks for the team to use over the years, opening up a wide range of doors, possibilities, and backup plans.
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Over time, the Sixers ownership group led by Josh Harris grew tired of the team losing for draft picks. It wasn’t sellable, marketable, or palatable for the average fan. Tickets were cheap and their investment in the team wasn’t paying off swiftly.
Other owners complained, too, according to a report from ESPN and Brian Windhorst. The Sixers were ruining the league. When one team hurts the product, all teams suffer at the bottom line.
"“Owners routinely complained about the economic drag the 76ers were inflicting on the league as the revenues of one of the largest-market teams — a franchise expected to contribute more robustly to league revenue-sharing — sagged. For many teams, games featuring the starless and woeful 76ers as the visiting team have been the lowest-attended of the season, sources said.”"
And so, the solution was for the Sixers to bring in Jerry Colangelo alongside Sam Hinkie. He would be an advisor, but immediately his presence was felt and the fit was awry.
The front office signed Elton Brand to a playing contract and established him as the veteran presence, something Hinkie had avoided in the past.
Shortly after, Hinkie resigned from his position, and Jerry Colangelo conducted an extremely brief search for his replacement, ultimately selecting his son, Bryan Colangelo.