Atlantic Notes: Hinkie, Faverani, Fisher

Sixers GM Sam Hinkie admits that he has made some mistakes during his tenure with the team, though he is proud of his coaching hires and some player acquisitions that he has made, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. “I think our record speaks kindly to all that,” Hinkie said. “But I think there are other things we could have handled differently.” One of those issues Hinkie wishes he’d handled differently was the team’s response to Jahlil Okafor‘s recent off the court incidents, Pompey notes. “I think it’s fair during a time when there’s a question about someone that is as important to us as Jahlil, maybe people want to hear from another voice [besides coach Brett Brown],” Hinkie said. “Brett and I have been communicating there and I often let him speak on behalf of the team, and he’s often happy to, he doesn’t mind it and I don’t mind it. Sometimes a different voice helps.”

One of Hinkie’s player acquisitions, power forward Richaun Holmes, had a solid showing in last night’s loss to the Jazz, notching 18 points, three rebounds and adding this highlight reel dunk (video link). Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

• Former Celtics center Vitor Faverani has reached an agreement with the Spanish club UCAM Murcia, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays (Twitter link). The 27-year-old reached a two-year agreement to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv back in July but was let go due to knee issues. Faverani last appeared in a regular season NBA contest during the 2013/14 season, playing in 37 games for Boston and averaging 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds.
• Charley Rosen, who has long been Knicks president Phil Jackson’s confidant, noted that the triangle offense is flawed under coach Derek Fisher’s direction, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. A source close to the Knicks informed Berman that there’s a growing sense among some players in the locker room that Fisher is viewed more as a “preacher’’ and “motivator’’ than an expert in-game tactician. “If you run the triangle, you have to make a total commitment to the triangle,’’ said Rosen. “It’s not like a part-time thing that you just use some of it. If that’s your offense, you got to commit to it. It doesn’t look like they’re really committed to it. They’re running it in a half-[expletive] way. It’s not creating the kind of shots it would normally create.’’