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After Sunday’s absolute embarrassment by the 76ers has rightfully raised this question, has the process been worth it? The Process era started about a decade ago and very little success has come from the approach of asset management by Sam Hinkie who cursed the franchise with this.
So where do we begin with what is wrong with “The Process”? Well let’s begin with a lack of culture and accountability. From day one players were not held accountable and could do basically anything they wished hence the constant finger pointing and blame game attitude that has been shown time and time again.
Now I’m just going to get into the draft picks that were supposed to build this new generation for Sixers. It all starts back in 2013 where Hinkie’s first steps in building the process by drafting Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel which did not work out despite Carter-Williams winning rookie of the year, but hindsight is 20/20 but if asset management is the goal then maybe they should selected Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 11th instead of MCW so not the best start to this approach but let’s move along to 2014.
2014 may be the crown jewel of this whole thing is selecting Joel Embiid who sat the first 2 years with injuries but as it stands Embiid is the shining light in this dark period. So, we are now in 2015 where the idea to go big had to be the reason for drafting Jahlil Okafor to go along side Embiid and we know how it went. But maybe instead of Okafor they could have taken the gamble and selected Kristaps Porzingis who would have been a better fit alongside Embiid in the future, now we get to 2016 where everything changes when it comes to the process.
In 2016 Ben Simmons is the next piece to join the process where his playmaking abilities, size and athleticism would be ideal despite Simmons lack of want to work on his shooting and his rather lazy approach to criticism or improvement (which is still to be decided) but as we saw the relationship between Simmons and Embiid was tumultuous. So what is solution to making a solid young core work the next season with the number one pick again in 2017?
Draft highly touted guard Markelle Fultz who had some major shooting issues there only lasted two seasons before being traded to Orlando in 2019. In between the crisis they had with both Simmons and Fultz 2018 they had a chance to draft Mikal Bridges whose mother works for the franchise and played in their backyard at Villanova but instead went with terrible analytic report and took Zaire Smith who was out of the league in very short fashion.
There was a brief moment of hope when they got Jimmy Butler in 2019 and saw an immediate change in culture until they played the Raptors and lose in heartbreaking fashion, but Butler’s leadership, approach and personality did some good but wasn’t well received by Ben Simmons. That friction led to them not bringing Butler back but sign Tobias Harris instead to pander to Simmons and bring in a nice guy veteran which later doesn’t pan out, but 2019 was the beginning of the excessive finger pointing mentality/culture by Embiid and others which led to firing of Brett Brown that was the problem which we found out was false and still has great regret in not bringing back the brash but valuable Butler especially with his current performance this postseason.
2020 was the bubble run where they were swept in round one with a completely out of shape Embiid who has yet to be held accountable on that topic and Simmons at home created that embarrassing effort and intensified the conflict between the 2 young building blocks. Then get to 2021 where it was up and down which bled into the playoffs where Simmons had his memorable meltdown of sorts by passing up a slam dunk over a smaller Trae Young which set in motion his chaotic exit from Philadelphia and has not been the same since but gave new GM Daryl Morey his favorite back in James Harden.
Yet the finger pointing continued from their “Golden Boy” Embiid who did not deliver in that series either but yet the blame landed on Simmons giving Embiid more validation to being the entitled finger pointing star who was not accountable and has not been. 2022 was an injury filled playoff run but coming into the 2022-2023 season the expectations were high and reasonable for the 76ers.
Finishing third in the east with a 54-28 record went into the playoffs by sweeping the Nets but the shocking exit the number one seed Milwaukee Bucks should have been the lucky break this team needed along with Joel Embiid winning MVP after years of campaigning got it only to have one of the most shameful performances by an MVP in a game 7. This along with another disappointing performance from Harden sent the sixers home but in the post-game, the MVP decided to blame the supporting cast not doing enough (even though Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris scored more points than him and Harden) which has 76er fans wondering what is next?
Well, they can start with finding a new coach after firing Doc Rivers which everyone had expected all season, but a lot is in the air from finding a new coach to will Embiid ask for a trade to is James Harden going back to Houston? All important things that need answered but just for fun here are some of the things I would do to possibly salvage whatever is left of the process.
Anyone but D’Antoni!
Now I have not been subtle about my disgust of Mike D’Antoni and his “coaching” but don’t be surprised that Daryl Morey goes back to the good ole days in Houston and bring in D’Antoni to coach and hopefully encourage James Harden to come back but that would be a horrible choice. Again, creating a culture of accountability is what needs to happen so maybe look into bringing in better coaches like Frank Vogel, Monty Williams and Nick Nurse who will command change and keep the centerpiece in Embiid involved and not phased out.
Hold Joel finally accountable!
I know the city of Philadelphia and sixer fans have embrace and adore everything that is Joel Embiid but it’s time to admit that Joel has not delivered when it counted, attempt to be in condition to lead the franchise, then finally be held accountable and be challenged to be his absolute best.
Run it back.
This may be the absolute least appealing option of running this back with the current roster with maybe some small changes to this group and hope for the best. Then there are these next two options that might be chaotic but may be what is needed if they want another championship in the city of brotherly love.
Dame Time!
Now I don’t how this would exactly work to make it possible since the sixers are low on worthwhile draft picks, but a package of Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris is a good start to possibly getting long suffering megastar Damian Lillard out of Portland and somewhere he can be competitive for a title. Perhaps another team could help the mechanics of this trade happen so Philly can truly make a run for the championship which would mean saying goodbye to Harden which is something good ole Daryl may not be willing to do.
End The Process/Start New
Then there is finally admitting that the process was a failure, start over and attempt to wash away the bad memories with new beginnings as they say. That would mean letting Morey go potentially, hiring a coach opposite of their previous choices, and of course let go of the crown jewel of this era Joel Embiid by trading him to the highest bidder as well as let James Harden pursue his basketball happiness back in Houston or wherever he gets his next big deal.
Starting over around Maxey and other pieces could be a good thing long shot and culture changing by getting rid of the ways that came from the process to setting new standards to the storied franchise as well as give that passionate fanbase a ton of hope during the rebuilding.
As much as the process gave so much hope for it to not even coming close to delivering on the expectations it had, leaving fans disappointed, frustrated, and weary of what will come next in the city that desperately needs some sunny days.
