Written By Satchel Price at SB Nation.com
Sam Hinkie has stepped down from his roles as president of basketball operations and general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, the team announcedWednesday. The move signals a major change for a franchise that’s undergone one of the most aggressive rebuilds in NBA history under Hinkie’s watch.
76ers owner Josh Harris released a statement confirming the news:
“This evening, Sam Hinkie notified the organization that he has elected to step down as President of Basketball Operations and General Manager. While we are disappointed in Sam’s decision, we would like to sincerely thank him for his contributions over the past three seasons. There is no question that Sam’s work has put us in a very strong position to take advantage of numerous opportunities for an exciting future.”
Hinkie announced his resignation in a 13-page letter to the 76ers’ ownership, reportsESPN’s Marc Stein. A complete copy of it can be found here.
“There has been much criticism of our approach,” Hinkie says in the letter. “There will be more. A competitive league like the NBA necessitates a zig while our competitors comfortably zag. We often chose not to defend ourselves against much of the criticism, largely in an effort to stay true to the ideal of having the longest view in the room.
“… Given all the changes to our organization, I no longer have the confidence that I can make good decisions on behalf of investors in the Sixers — you. So I should step down. And I have.”
A key factor in Hinkie’s decision to step down is the team’s recent pursuit of other executives to share power with the 38-year-old. The team asked him to take a reduced role in the front office, reports USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt, which comes just months afterlongtime executive Jerry Colangelo was hired as a special advisor.
Bryan Colangelo, Jerry’s son, had been targeted as the Sixers’ new GM in a partnership with Hinkie, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This would’ve “fully marginalized” Hinkie’s role with the team, however, so he has opted to step down. The younger Colangelo and Philadelphia are now in “advanced negotiations” and his hiring is “imminent,” per Stein.
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