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Immediately following the Sacramento Kings' salary dump that primarily netted Sam Hinkie and the Philadelphia 76ers Nik Stauskas and several appetizing draft assets, speculation ensued that both Jason Thompson and Carl Landry's days in Philadelphia would likely be numbered.
Gone is the hometown kid Thompson to Golden State. As is Gerald Wallace — who the Sixers acquired for Thompson — after the team waived the journeyman swingman last weekend. Despite constant rumors that Landry has no interest in remaining in Philadelphia longterm, the veteran power forward still remains.
Landry isn't participating in the Sixers' training camp as he recovers from wrist surgery that ended his 2014-15 season. He did make appearances at PCOM during pre-training camp workouts and recently tweeted a photo from inside the team's locker room. On the surface, it appears Landry may defy the odds and appear on the Sixers' 15-man roster on opening night.
Although, when asked about Landry on Wednesday, Hinkie's response was noncommittal to say the least.
"I had a good talk with Carl yesterday about this stage of his career," Hinkie said. "I was in Houston when we drafted Carl and spent the first few years with him. It seems like a lifetime ago for the both of us. But we talked about this situation and how it's different than the way people might perceive it and the importance of his voice and how that might matter. And that doesn't take away from his game, I think he'll be able to play fine. But, like, how this role that he might have on this team — and there's lots of decisions still to be made — but what that role might look like and what things might be required of it and the added importance to your voice because of that — to the positive or the negative — and what it all means."
Hinkie absolutely alluded to the value of having a player like Landry within a young locker room, but he didn't specifically say that Landry will in fact be that voice of reason. If you listen to Hinkie's answer, there's an obvious air of speaking in the theoretical. This brief monologue sounded awfully similar to how Hinkie discussed acquiring Danny Granger at the 2014 trade deadline. Granger, of course, was bought out shortly after.