Sixers CEO vehemently defends team's slow rebuild

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia 76ers have more official and unofficial catchphrases attached to their elongated rebuild these days than victories.

''Trust the Process.'' ''Tankadelphia.'' ''Since 1776.''

No, Philadelphia hasn't been losing since 1776, though the winless Sixers are on a 17-game losing streak dating to last season.

This year's marketing campaign is designed to connect a young, spirited franchise with the city's revolutionary identity.

Not even the British took lumps like this crop of Sixers.

Under team president Sam Hinkie, the Sixers have been open and unapologetic about a plan aimed at contention that includes trading veterans, shedding salary and gobbling draft picks. And yes, losing games, all for the shot at a championship future.

But some fans once on board with Hinkie's grand plan may now be tuning out a team that seems farther away from contention than they were in 2013.

Philadelphia's 17-game losing streak matches the fourth-longest mark in franchise history. Three of those lengthy losing streaks have come since the start of the 2013-14 season.

Scott O'Neil, in his third season as CEO, looked beyond the losing for hope in the next few years. He sees No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor already putting up big numbers and second-year forward Nerlens Noel blossoming into a solid NBA player. Throw in Nik Stauskas and Robert Covington - and two players from the 2014 draft who have yet to play - and the Sixers (0-7) could have some keepers once they emerge from the fog of failure.

''We've got (Joel) Embiid and we've got (Dario) Saric, who said he's coming. We've got four firsts,''' in the draft, O'Neil said on Tuesday. ''I want to scream, like, 'Are you guys kidding me? I would scream it.' When people say, 'You're set back. You're too slow,' I'm like, 'Have you guys lost your (bleeping) minds?' Like, seriously, this is it.''

It's a gamble the Sixers are willing to take - even if the losing is painful and plentiful.

''There's some element of hope in this business,'' O'Neil said.