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Now this, this is news we can all get behind.
Adrian Wojnarowski dropped another #WojBomb today regarding the Sixers, reporting that the team has hired Sam Hinkie, formerly number 2 in the Houston Rockets front office, as the team's GM:
Philadelphia has reached agreement with Houston assistant GM Sam Hinkie to be the 76ers new GM, league source tells Y! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 10, 2013
Hinkie will replace Tony DiLeo w/ Philadelphia. With president Rod Thorn's pending retirement, Hinkie will be top basketball decision maker.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 10, 2013
Full story from Woj can be found here.
As most of you reading this know, the Sixers had previously be averse to embracing analytics and advanced statistics. The hiring of Hinkie indicates the team is moving in that direction, as owner Joshua Harris indicated when Doug Collins announced his resignation. Hinkie is highly regarded around the league, as evidenced by the response from NBA observers:
Sam Hinkie is a fantastic hire by the Sixers. As smart a guy as I've encountered in the NBA.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 10, 2013
Huge congrats to Sam Hinkie & Sixers. Ridiculously bright, great teacher, better man. My favorite person in the NBA. Will be sorely missed.
— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) May 10, 2013
Good hire by the Sixers. That's a total change in direction.
— Paul Flannery (@Pflanns) May 10, 2013
Hinkie previously interviewed with and turned down the Sixers over the summer during their ill-fated GM search which ultimately resulted in Tony DiLeo's lame-duck situation. It also ensures that the new GM takes an active role, and may ultimately make a decision, about the new coach. This is awesome, awesome news, it seems. I'm legitimately excited for the first time about this team since Doug officially left. Talk about how awesome this is below in the comments.