Sixers Take Next Step In Rebuilding Process
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Sam Hinkie never said it would be a fast turnaround.
The Sixers general manager continued with the team's long rebuilding process with a flurry of trades on Thursday. Gone are Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Lavoy Allen. While the Sixers received players in return, they also acquired a host of second round draft picks. For Hinkie, it was another step in turning the franchise around.
"We're trying to acquire things that will help us move forward," Hinkie said. "The net result of what happened is we picked up six additional second round picks. We gave nothing in return except the opportunity to use our cap space."
The Sixers are 15-40 and have the second-worst record in the NBA. Thursday's trades may help the franchise in the long run, but the current team appears headed towards one of the top picks in next June's draft. However, Hinkie said he is more concerned about progress than where they will finish in the draft order.
"I don't know how things will play out," said Hinkie. "I think we'll continue to focus on what we can control. We talk about this every day. We have a variety of ways to measure our progress against that."
The Sixers will need time to let their new players adjust to Brett Brown's system. The results could be ugly on the scoreboard over the final 27 games, and Hinkie is willing to take another step backward in order to build for the future.
"I think it'll be tough for the next few days as we try to figure out our new playing rotation," Hinkie said. "The losses from our team are material, and there's a whole new challenge in front of us, but it doesn't change the kind of things we've been focused on."
One of the players acquired in the deal which sent Turner and Allen to Indiana was Danny Granger. The forward has put together nearly nine impressive seasons with the Pacers before being sidelines by injuries. Now that Granger is healthy, Hinkie is eager to talk to Granger about his plans going forward.
"I think we're going to just sit and talk like men," said Hinkie. "He's been in one place is whole career and has had a heck of a career already. We're going to sit and talk with him about what it is he wants."
