2015 Draft Will Make Or Break Sam Hinkie

Two straight seasons of tanking has been exhausting. The request to be patient is still felt by most, but how much longer should people accept loosing before frustration sets in?
The “X” factor is the man with the plan, Mr. Sam Hinkie, who preaches the importance of acquiring assets which makes it impossible to predict what the guy “could” do come draft night. In consecutive drafts he has made trades in the first round, will he elect to do it again for a third straight year?

I believe it’s necessary for Hinkie to use some of the “future” assets “this” draft, finding a way to make a “minimum” of two lottery pick selections. I say this, because projecting where the potential Heat, Thunder and Lakers 2016 first round selections would be next year, I see “more” value in getting a guy now, even if that means trading away all three of those picks.

The Lakers were awful last season, very rare for a team with a rich history of success. I expect them to be aggressive in free agency and they also hold the second overall pick. The return of Kobe and Randle in addition to offseason acquisitions probably won’t be enough in a stacked Western Conference to sneak into the playoffs. The problem with not getting the pick this year is that the 2015-2016 Lakers teams will be good enough, and the pick we get will suffer, falling in that 10-12 range.

The 76ers have dealt with their share of injuries with Noel and Embiid, but with Durant going down for the Thunder last year and Bosh for the Heat, the 76ers watched two playoff hopeful teams falter, and in the end, the 76ers only have “one” first round pick.

If I’m Hinkie, and I’m not going to spend money just to spend money in free agency, I’m recognizing that the media and fan base has been supportive with the plan, and something needs to happen to keep it that way. With Saric staying overseas and the unknown of Embiid, the entire 2014 first round class could go two straight years without logging a minute of playing time.

I’m making it known to any team looking to make a trade that Saric; and the 2016 protected first round picks of the Heat, Thunder and Lakers are on the table.

I’m not open to the idea of trading Noel, even if I knew Embiid was healthy for several reasons. First, I like what I saw in the second half of the season and see enough upside to think that he can start in the NBA. Second, there needs to be a familiar name and face for the fan base to connect to, and Noel plays with that high energy that Philadelphia appreciates.

As for Saric, I get the 76ers aren’t going to be winning anytime soon, so why rid ourselves of a guy who could help the team two or three years down the line? The problem that I see is the contract that Saric is going to command once the outline of the NBA rookie contract no longer applies. I’m not comfortable throwing a lot of money at a guy who hasn’t played against NBA talent. I’m also hoping that in a few years the 76ers are opening up their wallet and signing top talent players to pair with their young nucleus.

So what am I looking to see on Thursday? First off, my guy from the beginning was D’Angelo Russell, and that hasn’t changed. If Russell were to come off the board prior to the 76ers pick, I’m going Jahlil Okafor.

I’m also finding a way to get back into the first round and attempting to get into the top ten, calling the Sacramento Kings and seeing what it will take for that 6th pick.
76ers fans came away excited in 2013, MCW immediately played and we knew to stay patient with Noel and his recovery. Last year it was understood that both first picks wouldn’t contribute, but fans gave Hinkie another pass and prepared for year two of tanking.

The 2015 draft needs to blow away Hinkie’s previous two drafts. There is a nice collection of talent and the Sixers have to put some marketable names in their newly designed jerseys.
It’s fun to have a guy like Hinkie who is willing to make major roster shakeups and has a proven track record of finding ways to make trades. I expect the trend to continue, trades are going to happen as Hinkie wouldn’t be himself if he merely picked in the current first and second round spots the 76ers have with their six total picks.