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On Tuesday afternoon, Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie emerged from hiding and spoke to the media for the first time since the NBA Draft in June. The topic of discussion was the Sixers three-team deal which sent Thaddeus Young to Minnesota, and as always he provided some pretty good talking points.
On First Round Picks
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Hinkie: "You don't see many 1st rounders trading hands these days." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sixers?src=hash">#Sixers</a></p>— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliotShorrParks/statuses/504336389459431426">August 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I don't totally agree with that. The 2015 draft alone has the possibility for twelve first-round picks to change hands (two of those being pick swaps between Atlanta and Brooklyn). It isn't necessarily that the picks aren't changing hands, but the packages for which you can get a top pick are different now. Expiring deals simply do not hold the same value as they have in the past, which is part of the reason why it took Philadelphia so long to find the right return for Young. Unless you have either a) a franchise altering superstar b) an up and coming player on a team friendly deal, or c) have enough salary space to where a team can dump it's poor contracts, it is really hard to get a first-round pick these days. While Young is only 26, he's essentially an expiring contract who can bounce after this year if he choses to. And for a smaller market team like Minnesota who can't really attract top tier free agent talent, they value every first rounder they can get.
To say first-round picks aren't changing hands is incorrect. The value attached to them now is much greater.
On LRMAM
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Hinkie says Mbah a Moute's role in mentoring Embiid was def a factor in the trade <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sixers?src=hash">#Sixers</a></p>— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliotShorrParks/statuses/504336915370618882">August 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I had assumed originally that the Sixers acquisition of Mbah a Moute and his relationship with Joel Embiid were more so coincidental, but it's nice to know they had Joel in mind when they made the deal. Even if he is here just for the season, he will certainly make the Sixers top pick's transition to the pros a whole lot easier.
On Arnett Moultrie
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sixers?src=hash">#Sixers</a> Hinkie: 'Arnett was working really hard last week. It's been going fine. It's a big summer for him. He's got to show what he can do.</p>— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/tmoore76ers/statuses/504337706454110209">August 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I find it sort of remarkable that they plan on giving him a chance this season, not that I think it would hurt to do so. Philadelphia picking up his option for this season really was never indicative of them keeping Moultrie around, because the Sixers clearly have no trouble with spending money to keep guys from playing on their team. Not to mention, his work ethic has been poor, he's performed poorly in the NBA and in his brief stint with the 87ers, plus racked up a five-game suspension after he a third failed drug test.
But the Sixers M.O. has been to give young talent a chance to perform, and this is clearly Arnett's last chance to make an impact with this team. Hope he makes the most of it.
On J-Rich
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sixers?src=hash">#Sixers</a> Hinkie on J-Rich: 'I know he's focused on getting ready 4 camp. I don't no exactly how that will go. We'll see when he gets closer.'</p>— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/tmoore76ers/statuses/504338743801942016">August 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Jason Richardson had knee surgery back in February 2013, and from that quote it still seems like he may not be ready to go for the start of this year. Granted, he put on a little extra weight (a google search of "Jason Richardson fat" pulls up nearly 400,000 results) so getting him up to speed may take a little while, but the news is somewhat disappointing. If he is unable to start the season, it only cements the fact that K.J. McDaniels and Hollis Thompson will both have giant roles on this squad.
On @samhinkie
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Hinkie says he wants Embiid to take over his Twitter account. "Maybe my followers will go up." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sixers?src=hash">#Sixers</a></p>— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliotShorrParks/statuses/504340244670713856">August 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Hell yes. Hinkie's social media presence is just a tad bit lacking; most are probably completely unaware he actually is on twitter. But if he truly cares about this franchise, then he'll let Embiid take over his un-tweeted upon account for a day. The future success of this franchise depends on it.