Philadelphia 76ers: A full timeline of the failed “Process” and where it went wrong

Burner Accounts and the New Era of The Process [2018-2019]

Shortly after the 2017-18 season concluded, Colangelo resigned after it was discovered that he and his wife had anonymous burner Twitter accounts that criticized his own players such as Embiid and Okafor as well as other executives, including Hinkie and Raptors president Masai Ujiri, who had replaced Colangelo in Toronto. In response, the organization brought on former NBA center Elton Brand to replace Colangelo as they headed toward a new direction in The Process.

Brand’s first move as the new general manager was a major trade for disgruntled All-Star Jimmy Butler, trading away Saric, Covington, guard Jerryd Barless, and a 2022 second-round pick. Though the team had a successful season so far going into February, the Fultz-shooting drama remained from last season.

He went through many tweaks and in December 2018, it was revealed that he had neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. The inconsistent shooting numbers, numerous tweaks, and injuries caused Brand to trade him to the Orlando Magic. They acquired guard Jonathon Simmons as well as a 2019 second-round pick and a 2020 first-round pick, making Fultz another failed pick for The Process.

Brand wasn’t done just yet. Just days before trading away Fultz, he hauled in scoring forward Tobias Harris, big man Bobam Marjanovic, and forward Mike Scott. He gave away forward Wilson Chandler, guard Landry Shamet, and big man Mike Muscala as well as two future first-round picks and two future second-round picks. Though the first part of The Process was Hinkie getting draft picks and tanking for the future, Brand felt it was time to win now, giving away picks for stars around Embiid and Simmons.

With a brand-new look to the team, the 76ers finished another 50-win season, going 51-31, legitimizing themselves and solidifying a new winning chapter to The Process. Embiid and Simmons both locked up All-Star selections and Embiid added another Second Team All-NBA and Defense Team to his accolades.

They faced the Brooklyn Nets in the first round where Simmons and Nets forward Jared Dudley had their own beef going on. Behind Embiid’s averages of 25 points and 14 rebounds a game and Simmons’s 17 points and eight assists a game, the team handled Brooklyn in five quick games. Their toughest test of the postseason came in the form of a Kawhi Leonard-led Toronto Raptors team.

After six grueling games where Butler led the team in scoring and in assists, it all came down to a game seven. Both teams kept it close and after a split from Leonard from the line, Butler was able to tie the game at 90 with 4.2 seconds left. Then, the infamous shot happened: Leonard drove to his right and shot a mid-range fadeaway on Embiid and after what seemed like a million bounces, the ball went in and heartbreakingly put a cap on the 76ers’s season.

More heartbreak came in Philly over the off-season whenever Butler signed with the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade and Brand got back guard Josh Richardson. Though many were confused with the decision by Butler and many predicted that it was a bad decision by Butler, he came out later in a podcast with Redick and detailed how the management behind the scenes was unruly. From head coach Brett Brown not changing up game plans to other personnel concerned with Butler’s fiery personality, Butler gave the world insight into just how Philly was managed.

The organization also decided to give a huge contract to Harris, choosing him over Butler. The team also gave Simmons and big man Al Horford big contracts to fill out their future.