Despite the outpouring of criticism aimed at the Philadelphia 76ers for tanking, what we are actually witnessing is a multi-year plan being masterfully executed. Tanking is not some new phenomenon that Sam Hinkie has innovated himself in order to intentionally disgrace the integrity of the NBA. 

Since 1987, a lottery system has been in place that incentivizes the worst teams in the league to lose. For some reason (perhaps the record for consecutive losses in a season being at stake), the cries about the detriment that causes to the league have never been louder. It is certainly something that should be open to discussion in the Adam Silver era, but with the current system being what it is, a shrewd general manager will have to consider this option, and Hinkie is certainly that. 

The 76ers haven’t been a truly competitive franchise since the height of the Allen Iverson era. No team has been a better example of being trapped on the mediocrity treadmill than this one. A plethora of late lottery picks and first round playoff exits have not moved the needle in either direction. A rotating door of retread general managers (Billy King, Ed Stefanski, Rod Thorn) and coaches (Maurice Cheeks, Eddie Jordan, Doug Collins) hasn’t helped either. This team should have been rebuilding since the Iverson trade in 2006 that netted veterans (Andre Miller and Joe Smith) instead of young talent with potential (one potential rumored deal would have sent Rajon Rondo and Al Jefferson back to the 76ers). 

Without much appeal for free agents, the draft is really the only method for teams like the 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings to find legitimate pieces to build with, and it’s been proven time and time again that those prospects are stacked at the top of the draft order. What’s the best way to secure top draft position for your team? Clean house. 

Hinkie was inserted as GM and immediately initiated the reboot by sending Jrue Holiday (an All-Star that season, which quite possibly will be his only appearance) to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nerlens Noel and a top-5 protected pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. With Dell Demps in win-now mode mandated by ownership, Hinkie probably shaved a year off of the rebuild by getting that extra draft pick. The Pelicans may have overestimated their potential coming into this season, although the season-ending injury to Holiday could not have been anticipated. That pick (currently 10th) is likely to be conveyed this year, and to say that the praise for this draft has been hefty would be an understatement.   

The next series of Hinkie’s moves have been to acquire young players with potential on cheap rookie-scale deals either via undrafted rookies, D-League standout players, or end-of-bench players that have gone unappreciated. Players like Tony Wroten, James Anderson, Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims all have had opportunities to showcase their skills and improve their games by getting legitimate minutes that they otherwise would not receive. 

Lastly, Hinkie had to decide which veterans to keep and which to deal before the trade deadline. Spencer Hawes went to the Cleveland Cavaliers for two second round picks and the aforementioned Sims, while Evan Turner went to Indiana for Danny Granger’s expiring and another second rounder. The market clearly wasn’t great for either player, but Hinkie garnered what value he could as both players are in the last year of their contracts and don’t fit into the future plans.

He held on to Thaddeus Young, arguably his most valuable trade asset, who could possibly be dealt  in a draft night deal or even kept on the roster as a veteran presence. Young’s character is highly regarded throughout the league, and his style of play is such that he won’t take the ball away from developing players who need it. 

The result of losing Turner and Hawes has not been pretty, but let’s face it: it wasn’t exactly shimmering before either. Hinkie is interested in going into the May 20th draft lottery with at least the second worst record in the league. It’s doubtful that he cares whether or not this team loses 36 games in a row to end the season and smash the current 26-game record. If he can walk away from this draft with a franchise player, he will be satisfied. 

How soon we forget that even though many predicted Philadelphia was intentionally tanking this season, they had a Western Conference counterpart in the Phoenix Suns. Before the Sixers were shipping away Turner and Hawes to anyone willing to part with second round picks, the Suns were unloading a quality center in Marcin Gortat to the Washington Wizards for Emeka Okafor’s expiring and this year’s protected lottery pick. This was a blatant move to worsen the team in the short-term, and everybody knew it. The only problem is…they got good. Although it’s looking like Phoenix might just miss the playoffs to end their Cinderella season, their unexpected success has focused what was originally a two-headed tanking microscope, squarely on the Sixers.