Report: Sixers Hire Houston Assistant GM Sam Hinkie To Be General Manager
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Sixers have reached an agreement with Houston Rockets Executive VP of Basketball Operations Sam Hinkie to be their new general manager, Yahoo! Sports is reporting.
Sixers beat writer for the Daily News Bob Cooney reports that current general manager Tony DiLeo is "out."
Hinkie worked closely with Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, who is considered a leader in advanced basketball analytics. Sixers owner Josh Harris promised more use of advanced analytics moving forward.
Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski writes:
Hinkie, who had been the Rockets' vice president of basketball operations since 2010, met with 76ers officials a year about the job, but the team ultimately promoted DiLeo to the GM role. Philadelphia president Rod Thorn is retiring this spring and assuming a consultant's role with the organization. Doug Collins resigned as coach at season's end.
Hinkie has had a major influence in reshaping the Rockets franchise, bringing an analytics background to the organization's strong run of draft picks, trades and free-agent signings. Houston GM Daryl Morey finished third in the voting among his peers for Executive of the Year.
Grantland's Zach Lowe, who is just about the best basketball writer I've ever read, says Hinkie is "as smart a basketball guy" as he's come into contact with. That is quite an endorsement.
Hinke graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a 4.0 GPA, and holds an MBA from Stanford University.
Hinkie was made the youngest VP NBA history in 2007, and was promoted to executive VP of Basketball Operations in 2010.
