When Bryan Colangelo took over as the Sixers general manager last spring, the former two-time executive of the year acknowledged what his predecessor, Sam Hinkie, put in place.
2017 NBA trade deadline: Grades for Sixers, Knicks, CelticsDuring an introductory press conference in April, Colangelo promised to take Philadelphia's process to the next stage.
"We're really changing our focus toward winning," Colangelo said. "It's part of a shift in culture, a mindset. I think Brett is excited about shifting that. ... There's going to be Nerobet a much-greater likelihood that we win basketball games."
Less than a year later, Colangelo's team has won more games than any Hinkie outfit--but more questions exist now than ever before.
After a tumultuous two weeks of lying, public relations snafus, questionable trades, strange leadership tactics and the star of the franchise publicly questioning how his injury was handled, Colangelo is being questioned at every corner.
The biggest one now facing the Sixers: Will the general manager brought in to take Hinkie's plan to the next level actually stop it from achieving its potential?
If Colangelo simply did nothing, left the team alone and made conservative signings and simple deals, the Sixers would likely be a playoff team by next season. When a job is inherited with Embiid, Ben Simmons (the no-brainer No. 1 pick in last year's draft thanks to Hinkie's final tanking season), Nerlens Noel, Dario Saric, clean cap space and future draft picks, it's hard to mess it up.
Sixers will regret Noel deal
Add in how poor the future looks in Sacramento and Los Angeles, and Philadelphia's future draft pick list looks like a pot of gold.
But after watching Colangelo allow Embiid to play with a torn meniscus, botch an Okafor deal and sell Noel for so little, his basketball acumen deserves to be debated.
The Sixers future is set up to be bright--assuming the man in charge doesn't get in the way.
Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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