Sixers hire Hinkie as GM

May 14, 2013 - 9:28 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers officially hired Sam Hinkie to be their new president of basketball operations and general manager on Tuesday.

Hinkie comes to Philadelphia after eight years with the Houston Rockets, where he served as the executive vice president of basketball operations since 2010 and was responsible for the Rockets' considerable and ground-breaking analytic efforts.

"I am very pleased to announce that we have named Sam Hinkie as the 76ers president of basketball operations and general manager, which I believe to be an important step in building a high-performance organization," said Sixers managing owner Josh Harris. "Sam is a proven innovator and holds values that align with those of our ownership group. Sam's experience, his judgment, and his analytical approach make us confident that he is the right leader to build a foundation for long-term success -- with the goal of ultimately contending for a championship -- here in Philadelphia."

Hinkie's first job will be to hire a coach after Doug Collins resigned following three seasons at the helm.

Philadelphia reached the playoffs in each of Collins' first two seasons, including a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2012.

The Sixers went on to acquire center Andrew Bynum from the Lakers as part of a four-team blockbuster deal in August of 2012. Bynum, however, never played a game for the 76ers because of knee issues.

With Bynum on the bench, the Sixers struggled to a 34-48 mark this past season.

Philadelphia shipped out Andre Iguodala as well as rookie Moe Harkless and second-year player Nikola Vucevic to acquire Bynum and Jason Richardson, whose season also ended early because of knee surgery.

The Sixers are hoping that Hinkie's analytical skills will help turn the team around.

"Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander hired me to bring a data-driven approach to their front office and general manager Daryl Morey allowed me to flourish. I am so fortunate and grateful for the opportunities they both afforded me," said Hinkie. "I agreed to come lead the Sixers because the first, and to my mind, the most important building block is in place: A thoughtful ownership group committed to building a basketball operation that is data-driven, strategic and relentlessly innovative. The challenge ahead of us is real, but I am invigorated to build something lasting for Philadelphia."