Hinkie: 76ers' Approach In Rebuilding Could Be Viewed As Contrarian

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Philadelphia 76ers are taking a somewhat radical approach in rebuilding their roster under Sam Hinkie, stripping the team down while accumulating as many draft assets as possible.

"We spend a lot of time with everybody in the organization making sure we are all focused on a singular purpose: to build something special for Philadelphia," Hinkie said by phone Sunday night. "That takes a willingness to look at things differently. It requires, at times, a contrarian approach, by definition. It requires it. And my role is to play the role of the steward, to focus on doing the best we know how with something that doesn't belong to me -- if anything, it belongs to the owner and it belongs to the fans. And I take that job very, very seriously. And it's very likely that we'll be unwavering."

The 76ers could have six of the top 40 or so picks and nine overall in the June draft.

Via David Aldridge/NBA.com

[maddog50]

Well, the current tank effort isn't very contrarian, at least not this year. There seems to be a lot of competition, which drove down the prices of the Sixers' assets being sold.

Maybe the degree that the Sixers want to start from scratch is the thing that sticks out, but that is more of a function of new management. All new regimes have some kind of agenda for "cleaning house" and "getting their guys".

Also, where did these numbers come from: "6 of top 40" and "9 overall"?

[jroane]

Maddog50. Good point. Looks like they have 4 (2,11,32,39) in the top 40 (as of today) for 2014 with 7 overall this year. Assuming that Noel comes back they will have two number 1s from 2013 (top 11) two number 1s from 2014 (again top 11) plus two high 2nds. Lots of potential young talent but man, a long ways from being a legitimate team unless everything really comes together. They will probably have at least 6 rotation guys that are under 22 years old with most, if not all, having no more than 2 years of college experience. Take a seat cuz this could take a while.

p.s. Will it be all for naught if they don't get a Kevin Durant, a true scoring machine? At least one of those picks has to be a 20 plus PPG scorer, preferably 2.

[Bryan Colangelo]

Will be interesting to see 9 rookies on one NBA team haha

[MRxBLACK]

Build it and they will come.

[armchairgm]

Also, where did these numbers come from: "6 of top 40" and "9 overall"?

The NBA draft section has all the information on future pick obligations in the future draft details tab (it's a great read if you are a wanna-be GM or you are trying to get a baby to fall asleep). Philadelphia has obligations on their 1st and 2nd round pick in 2014, but the protections mean that they won't have to send them out this season. Philly has a 1st from the Pelicans (last year's Noel-Holiday trade). Philly also picked up two 2014 second round picks in trades during last year's draft. Also, the Spencer Hawes trade brought two 2014 second round picks to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia's draft picks in ascending order: Their own, which has an 87.7% chance of being top 4; New Orleans pick, which is currently 11th; their own second rounder, which is currently 32; Cleveland's 2nd rounder, which is currently 39; the other three 2nd round picks that are coming this year are the Nets, Grizzlies, and Rockets which all currently project out of the top 40.

The current projections give us a total of...
2 first round picks
2 second round picks that are 40 or below
3 second round picks that are above 40

Not sure who came up with these numbers for draft picks, but based on the trade information (on this site) I can find they look completely wrong to me.

[BNelley24]

Will be interesting to see 9 rookies on one NBA team haha

They will almost 100% not keep all those picks, a lot of will be used as trade chips, for example packaging with Thad Young to get a higher 1st pick or something.