The Process has taken the Philadelphia 76ers to new heights, but it’s left some former Sixers behind. Can the outcasts hang around elsewhere in the league?
The Process – it’s spent time as a shameful label, a beacon of hope and now a proud term of endearment for Philadelphia 76ers fans.
It’s easy to forget how it all started. When Sam Hinkie first took over as Sixers GM and started spruiking his philosophy of patience, they were still a middling team with playoff aspirations.
It didn’t take long for that to change – All-Star guard Jrue Holiday was traded, and a slew of veterans followed him out soon after for a return of five second-round picks and Henry Sims. Little did anyone know, but one of the worst stretches in professional sports was beginning.
Across the next four seasons, the Sixers saw 75 wins, 253 losses and a carousel of young draft picks and unknown players on minimum contracts. Some of those players failed dismally, while some showed glimpses of potential.
Even of those that had some success in Philadelphia, most are no longer on the roster. Hinkie’s philosophy was built around building a player’s value, then trading them for the best possible return.
Of those that left the Sixers, most couldn’t sustain their success. Some of them are still hanging on in the league, but just by a thread.
It’s make-or-break time for four members of The Process who didn’t stick in Philadelphia. Was their potential a mirage brought about by a terrible team, or can the skills they briefly showed still be utilised in the NBA?