Losing is the New Winning: How the Sixers Can Follow the Hornets Model to Success

In theory, rebuilding an NBA team is pretty simple.  Draft a few high-effort guys, sign a couple of veterans, and hopefully land a big-name free agent, or draft the league's next transcendent talent.  However, in practice, it's not that easy.  My extensive experience playing "Association" mode in the NBA 2K franchise would make me the most successful GM in NBA history.  In every franchise, I follow my model, and within two to four years, the team is competing for a playoff berth.

The most recent actual team to follow something close to this model is the now Charlotte Hornets.  After finishing 7-59 in the 2011-2012 season, the then Bobcats finished as the worst team in NBA history.  After drafting defensive stud Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the 2012 draft, the Bobcats finished the 2012-2013 season 21-61.

Owner Michael Jordan wouldn't let his team flounder for another five seasons.  The team hired well-respected coach Steve Clifford, a man well suited to turn the Bobcats around. After drafting Indiana big man Cody Zeller, the team aggressively pursued Utah Jazz star Al Jefferson.  Jefferson was the perfect fit for the Bobcats, who lacked a true big man that could back down defenders in the paint.

Big man Al Jefferson led the Bobcats to success in
the 2013-2014 season.

After the two major additions in Clifford and Jefferson, the Bobcats finished 43-39, and made the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference as the eighth seed.  Although they were swept by Miami in the first round, the franchise finally had hope for the future in their powerful center, promising point guard, and strategic coach.  No matter what happens the rest of this up and down season for the now Hornets, their rebuild was successful, albeit what looks like for only one season up to this point.

The Philadelphia 76ers look a lot like the 2011-2012 Bobcats.  A team full of D-League caliber players and a few promising youngsters, the Sixers have no hope of competing this year.  GM Sam Hinkie has been given the green light to tank after last season's trades of Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes, and oh, is he tanking.

With a 4-11 (as of January 27th) record in 2015, the team has shown a will to win that wasn't shown throughout their dreadful start.  The inspired play of late has propelled the young team out of the pit of the NBA, as they are fighting the Timberwolves and Knicks for that honor.

Promising youngsters Michael Carter Williams, Joel Embiid, and Nerlens Noel
look to be the foundation of the Sixers for years to come.

The Sixers have a clear desire to not develop "losing habits", and the team looks poised to make a leap next season.  With promising young point guard Michael Carter-Williams, big men Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, European Player of the Year Dario Saric, and a lock at another high draft pick, the team looks to be in a good position heading into next season.

Emmanuel Mudiay projects as a top draft pick
with unlimited potential.

With another high draft pick almost a certainty, the Sixers have their choice of impact prospects.  19-year old point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, currently playing in China, looks to be the best fit for the team, as they already have a crowded front court rotation.  However, if GM Sam Hinkie decides Noel or Embiid are not the future for the team, he has his choice of big men in Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns, or even coveted rim protector Willie Cauley-Stein.

As mentioned before, the problem with building from the draft is waiting for the prospects to develop into playoff caliber players.  To go back to the Bobcats comparisons, let's assume Michael Carter-Williams eventually develops into an efficient scorer who can run the Sixers offense, much like Hornets guard Kemba Walker.

Walker and Carter-Williams have somewhat similar NBA stories.  Walker arrived in the league and wasn't expected to be an impact player immediately, but with time would eventually lead the Hornets - and that's exactly what happened.

Carter-Williams was never expected to lead the Sixers right away, but that's what he had to do.  With mid-season trades of Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes, the team was left without a true leader.  Carter-Williams went on to win Rookie of the Year, and quickly became the face of the franchise.  Despite relative inefficiencies in his game (38% shooting from the field), he's continued to show the will to win.  With trade rumors swirling around MCW's future, no one knows if the guard will be in town for much longer.  For the sake of this argument, we'll assume that Hinkie can't get what he wants in return for MCW, and he stays in Philly for the foreseeable future.  Hopefully paired with a free agent or two.

An anonymous NBA veteran recently stated that no one wants to play for the lowly Sixers. After trading for Andrei Kirilenko, and his refusal to report to the team, that statement looks fairly accurate.

However, let's say the Sixers manage to continue showing signs of life in the second half of the season, and MCW starts playing efficient basketball.  What's to say a top free agent wouldn't want to join the likes of MCW, Noel, Embiid, and a potential top draft pick?

This year's free agent crop is as strong as ever, featuring the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol, Goran Dragic, and Jimmy Butler.  The list goes on and on, but let's assume that most of the top players resign with their current teams or another contender.

The top target for the Sixers is without a doubt Chicago Bulls' emerging star Jimmy Butler. This season, Butler has improved his PER from 13.5 to 21.3, the biggest leap in NBA history, and is without a doubt the league's Most Improved Player.

Jimmy Butler has established himself
as one of the top players in the NBA
this season.

The Sixers lack depth at the wing, and need someone who can carry the offensive load night after night.  While Butler has stated he doesn't consider himself a star, his numbers surely say he is.  Along with the 21.3 PER, Butler is averaging 20.1 PPG and 6.0 RPG, on the Bulls, who also feature stars Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol.

With the Sixers emerging stars, Butler won't need to be the face of the franchise. Joel Embiid is expected to make his debut next season, and with superstar potential, most eyes will be on him.  Couple that with the continued improvement of Michael Carter-Williams (assuming he's still in town) and another top draft pick, and Butler has every chance to thrive in the city of Brotherly Love.

Unfortunately, GM Sam Hinkie seems determined to continue with his rebuild strictly from the draft.  While Sixers fans have shown support for Hinkie's plan, everyone would agree watching a Sixers game is just plain ugly.  Ranking 29th in attendance since the start of the new year, Sixers fans have slowly started to stray away from spending money on tickets to a show that's hard to watch, for any party involved.

As a new Philadelphian and lifetime basketball fan, I was ecstatic to finally live in a city with a professional basketball team.  However, my hopes were quickly crushed when I attended a blowout loss to the Suns on November 21st, and another loss to the Celtics (in their second to last game with Rondo!) on December 15th.  What was once optimism from Sixers fans has quickly turned into apathy, and another losing season may cause the team to lose even more of their following.  Hinkie, with the best of intentions, needs to try to expedite the rebuild in order to save some face with the casual Sixers fans, who were already angry over increased food prices (but that's for another time).

Will the Sixers return to glory be easy?  No.  But no one thought that.  For a team filled with youngsters trying to make their way in the league, pain has become a common theme. However, with a bit of luck and some crafty management, the Sixers can be among the NBA's elite in a few seasons.  In the meantime, Hinkie can test out different recipes for success in the latest installment of NBA 2K.