Moments after the draft lottery handed the Philadelphia 76ers the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, team owner Joshua Harris said he had one person to thank: Former 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie.
76ers owner wants to send kiss emoji to Sam Hinkie a year after forcing him out
Hinkie’s process is still paying off in Philadelphia after he was forced to resign last summer.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
After the Sixers ingloriously dismissed Hinkie over the summer, the fruits of his labor continue to grow in Philadelphia.
After all, it was Hinkie who orchestrated a trade with the Sacramento Kings — a heist, rather — obtaining Nik Stauskas, a protected first-rounder, and swap rights to the Kings’ first-round pick this year just to absorb the salaries on Carl Landry and Jason Thompson. (Sacramento later used that cap space to sign Rajon Rondo.)
And it was Hinkie who drafted Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, and also traded Elfrid Payton for Dario Saric, while putting the Sixers in position to draft Ben Simmons last summer. Those moves have helped form a formidable 76ers core to build around for the foreseeable future.
Hinkie’s gift isn’t even finished giving yet.
The former Sixers GM has two more presents for the Philadelphia franchise that ditched him last year.
When he traded Michael Carter-Williams to the Bucks, he got the Lakers’ 2017 first-round pick in return. That selection was top-three protected this season and because Los Angeles is selecting No. 2 in this year’s draft, Philly gets its 2018 first-rounder no matter what.
And as part of the same Sacramento deal that landed the No. 3 pick in Philly this year, the 76ers will also receive the Kings’ 2019 first-rounder. That kind of foresight is something 28 other teams wish they had, and only the Boston Celtics have shown.
While other GMs have failed miserably, a post-mortem Hinkie continues to thrive. It’s for that reason Joshua Harris owes his former general manager more than just a kiss.
He owes him his old job back.
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