After nine seasons and six top ten picks, The Process brought the 76ers back to where they were before Sam Hinkie was hired in 2013.

In 2012, after the 76ers struggled to win the championship in the shadow of the Iverson era, they were disappointingly out of the second round in the seventh game. The team decided to drastically defeat the team, and Hinkie did just that, making 27 trades and getting the 76ers to eventually get Joel Embiid (third overall pick) and Jalil. Okafor’s No. 1 pick (third overall), Ben Simmons (first overall) and Markel Fultz (first overall).

It can be said that only one of these options actually worked.

So does this mean that the process has failed?

The post-Sinki regime tried to make up for the absurd tanks and saw the 76ers lose a record 72 games in a season of 82 games-deliberately-but it didn’t work.

In the past four playoffs, the 76ers have basically centered on the same core of Simmons and Embiid, and sent four completely different teams in each game. They succeeded in the regular season, but they never advanced to the second round.

After Hinkie was fired, the front office led by Colangelos, then Elton Brand and Brett Brown, and finally Daryl Morey, used the capital acquired by the Hinkie regime into several conspiracies, but the team had nothing to show, except A pair of All-Stars, one of them can be said to be Is a complete responsibility Against the Eagles in the most recent series of losses.

The NBA is an imitation league. Although some teams open up their cap space to chase superstars (such as the Nets), while others cultivate their talents where they can (such as the Bucks), more and more teams seem to be in Follow Hinkie’s tank method (like Rockets).

The Sixers are likely to trade Simmons this offseason. As our 76ers beat writer Kyle Neubeck suggested dishearteningly, And his success elsewhere will be painful for Philadelphia fans. But what is more painful is that the other team has accomplished what the 76ers seem to be unable to do-turning the tank into a champion.

In the past four eventful seasons, the 76ers have made more swings and turnovers than they have succeeded. Fultz was a disaster, and so was Okafor. Although Simmons is an All-Star and best NBA guard, he may not be suitable for getting a maximum salary contract and second-in-command on a competitive team.

Embiid’s injury-which caused his draft stock to plummet and was enough for the 76ers to bet on him with the third overall pick in 2014-may be the only thing that process advocates can put on their hats. Almost all subsequent draft picks and large transactions were unsuccessful or were shipped out of town for some reason.

Although suitable candidates around Embiid, such as Tyrese Maxi and Matisse Sebre, can make the 76ers stand out in the playoffs in the next few years-maybe in the next season, Mo Ray taking the right action on the flank of these three people may get the 76ers out of trouble-the team admits that Simmons, the first overall pick in the second year after the 10-72 humiliation, is a failure, but Ensure that the process will not be remembered as a success.

The 2021 map couldn’t be better for the 76ers. No. 1 in the East, and home court advantage (they have played elite basketball there all year). In the Eastern Conference, a key player of the opposing team is injured, and the entire NBA does not have the most popular odds. A path that does not include Miami or Brooklyn. This is their chance.

The 76ers’ path will never be clearer. The Nets will become healthy and can fully dominate the next year. LeBron James and Anthony Davis may be better next year, and teams such as the Warriors, Heat, Bucks and Nuggets may also be better.

This is their shot, with a chance to make a positive ending for The Process and the final 30 to 30.

Instead, they stayed where they were nine years ago. Out of the second round. There is no real way to win the championship.

Mediocrity seems to be the life of the 76ers.

Follow Evan on Twitter: @evan_macy