Where are all the people who said binkie Hinkie was still in complete control of the team?
Where are those people?... Predicting this EXACT outcome a month before it happened:
Phase II of the rebuild probably would have started this offseason had Embiid been healthy and Saric came over. It'll start this Summer. Unless you consider signing Elton Brand and maybe a couple small-level trades to bring in a PG "the beginning of Phase II", this team will tank until the Summer and deal with it then (as they should... and as they have clearly been planning to do).
Elton Brand = Elton Brand
Small level trade to bring in a PG = Two 2nd rounders for Ish Smith
Tank until offseason = Tank until the offseason
Mostly just placating the rabble-rousers. I wouldn't be stunned to see Noel or Okafor moved before the deadline, but they aren't giving either away for free.
Wake me up when the sell Embiid or Saric to the highest bidder and trade away their unprotected 1st.
Or all these moves have come from Jerry Colangelo putting pressure.
It sure as heck doesn't seem like a coincidence.
Yes, it is not hard to tell that Hinkle has lost some control, though there is of course a way, however deceitful, to claim that these types of moves were coming regardless of Colangelo and that it's all just a coincidence.
LarBrd is right in that the moves the Sixers have made and will realistically make within the boundary of this season are not likely to be all that tangibly impactful, and that the course of the Sixers is still on track: get a bottom 3 pick, take another stud prospect, choose between Okafor/Noel, and start trying to win. What he chooses to ignore though, is that Hinkie would never trade 2nds for a guy that already has them playing better but in the grand scheme of things isn't a difference maker, or cut Wood to make room for E. Brand, without outside pressure. That indicates that he has lost some control, which in itself could have a very real impact on Philly's future, good or bad. It is not business as usual, no matter how easy it is to push that narrative.
It is pretty funny that LB predicted they'd sign Elton Brand, though.
First, to clarify, Zach Lowe pointed out the Elton Brand thing before I did. Hinkie had been talking to him for a while.
Second, in regards to the bolded... Philly needs a PG and Ish clearly had chemistry with Noel (in the games they have played together last year, Noel averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals with 56% shooting).
It can be argued that paying two 2nds for Ish was a necessary move to crank up the waning trade value of Noel and prove that he's still an outstanding prospect. In the 5 games since Ish was put back into the starting lineup, Noel has averaged: 16 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.2 blocks, 2.4 steals, with 71% shooting in 27.6mpg.
If in the long run, bringing in Ish was necessary towards getting a team like Boston to cough up an asset like Marcus Smart for Noel, it was probably worth the two 2nds. 2nds grow on trees in this league anyways. If teams were gun-shy about a move for Noel or thought he had "regressed", his play alongside Ish has tempered those concerns and proven he's still an excellent prospect as long as he's playing with NBA-caliber players and playing his natural Center position (he's spent the bulk of this season playing out of position). It's also clear from Noel's own comments that his enthusiasm had been waning and it likely had impacted his effort level. This season hadn't been fun for him (can you blame him?). Having no PG and playing out of position was stunting his development. He was also reportedly close with Ish Smith last season. For those who believe Noel will be the one Philly keeps (with Okafor getting moved), an argument could be made that the move was more about placating a clearly disgruntled franchise cornerstone and getting him to re-focus.
Topic: Elton Brand joins Philadelphia 76ers (Read 14362 times)