Sixers bid adieu to Hollis Thompson, a Process OG
Less than 24 hours after pulling out a thrilling, last-second victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Philadelphia 76ers crushed the jubilant spirits of many longtime “Process” supporters by announcing they were waiving Hollis Thompson:
https://twitter.com/Sixers/status/816771082296365058
As Liberty Ballers’ Jake Pavorsky noted on Twitter, Hollis Thompson was the sole member of the current squad who suited up during the 2013-14 campaign, the first under now-former general manager Sam Hinkie. (That was also Nerlens Noel’s first year in Philadelphia, but he missed that entire season to rehab from the torn ACL he suffered the prior February while still at Kentucky.) Brian Seltzer of the Steam website highlighted where Thompson ranked among all Sixers since head coach Brett Brown came aboard four years ago:
Originally signed 9/24/13, Thompson held following ranks during Brett Brown era:
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) January 4, 2017
#1 256 gp
#1 6,233 min
#2 2,016 pts
#2 357 3fgm
#3 800 reb https://t.co/KJtbRRd9fO
Certain Sixers fans didn’t take kindly to the news of Thompson’s release:
40% of my heart is breaking https://t.co/5euE7DcYpu
— Michael Levin (@Michael_Levin) January 4, 2017
A team in desperate need of shooting cutting a good shooter on contract Thompson was on is nonsensical unless bigger moves are coming
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 4, 2017
Others were rather non-plussed:
Are you surprised Sixers fans hold such strong opinions about an undrafted free agent-turned-10th man who’s a career 41.7 percent shooter and never averaged more than 9.8 points per game in a season? You clearly haven’t been paying attention to the past three years of Philadelphia basketball, which bred irrational feelings toward should-be end-of-bench reserves who had even one productive NBA skill. When cycling through the likes of Adonis Thomas, Casper Ware, James Nunnally and Sonny Weems on 10-day contract after 10-day contract, a certain fondness develops for anyone who rises above the muck and becomes a keeper.
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What’s next for Thompson? That remains to be seen. He’s a career 38.9 percent three-point shooter but struggles with much beyond catch-and-shoot long-range bombs. Some NBA team may take a flier on him in the hopes of turning him into their version of Danny Green. (The injury-ravaged Cleveland Cavaliers, who are desperate for warm bodies at this point of the season, could be a logical landing spot.) If no team claims Thompson, he shouldn’t have any trouble continuing his professional basketball overseas, where a number of former Georgetown Hoyas reside.
Regardless of what awaits him next, one thing will always be true: Hollis Thompson is one with the Process, and the Process is with him.