Jerry Colangelo hiring signals change in 76ers' rebuilding plan

Jeff Zillgitt | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Jerry Colangelo to help rebuild Sixers Philadelphia 76ers hire Jerry Colangelo as Chairman of Basketball Operations to help the organization turn the corner.

The Philadelphia 76ers' rebuilding plan under general manger Sam Hinkie centered around draft picks and eventually selecting that franchise-altering player.

But that plan drew criticism as the losses piled up and with the absence of that transcendent player.

On Monday, 76ers co-managing owner Josh Harris announced that longtime NBA executive and one-time owner Jerry Colangelo, who is the chairman of USA Basketball, is the team’s new chairman of basketball operations and special advisor to the managing general partner.

It signals a change in the Sixers’ rebuilding plan.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had a significant hand in Philadelphia’s decision to hire Colangelo and placed a call to Colangelo to gauge his interest, two people familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports.

They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the private discussions.

Don’t mistake this as a PR move or a consultation role. Philadelphia ownership reached out to Colangelo, Silver assisted in the partnership and the 76ers hired Colangelo to rebuild the team faster than Hinkie.

"This season has not been easy for us and even more difficult than we anticipated," Harris said. "Our situation needed a review to make our situation better."

While Harris said he believes in the plan — to build sustainable success — it’s an admission the plan isn’t going the way the 76ers had hoped and change is necessary.

The 76ers were 19-63 in 2013-14, 18-64 in 2014-15 and 1-20 this season going into Monday's game against the San Antonio Spurs, and those draft picks haven’t generated the player Philadelphia believes is a game-changer.

During Monday’s news conference, Harris, Colangelo and Hinkie said all the right things, and Colangelo indicated Hinkie would have final say on player-personnel decisions.

But read between the lines.

"Everyone wants to make the right decision, and ultimately someone will make the call, and Sam is in the position to make the call on the final decision. But that’s after a lot of collaboration and discussions," Colangelo said.

Colangelo, 76, took this job so he could make an impact, and he wouldn’t be with Philadelphia if he wasn’t going to have authority to make decisions. He is a longtime executive, including one-time owner of the Phoenix Suns, and an influential voice across the league.

The 76ers’ rebuilding plan will take a detour under Colangelo. The 76ers still want that game-changing draft pick, but routinely finishing at the bottom of the standings with no end in sight to the losing while trying to get that player is no longer the only plan.

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown hinted at those detours before Monday's game, saying he thinks the team will take veterans and free agency more seriously.

Right now, the 76ers have one player who is older than 25, and there is hardly any veteran presence in the locker room. Those players are necessary with a young team. Also, veterans and free agents will take the 76ers more seriously because of Colangelo.

Colangelo likes to win, and he knows that you can build through a savvy combination of the draft, free agency and trades.

At this stage of his career, Colangelo is the boss, and Harris understands that. Hinkie should, too.

Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.