Report: Kings receive permission to speak to Sam Hinkie

The man behind the now-infamous "Process" is apparently in high demand around the Association.

The Sacramento Kings received permission to speak with former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie concerning a possible front-office role, according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Zach Lowe.

Other undisclosed teams have also reportedly reached out to Philadelphia in order to engage with Hinkie.

Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has been looking to bring in an executive to oversee general manager and vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ranadive has also reportedly been under pressure from the franchise's minority owners, as well as the NBA itself, to make the front office more professional.

It's unknown whether Hinkie - who coined the phrase "Trust the Process" while Philadelphia spent several seasons seemingly tanking to acquire assets and draft picks - is even interested in joining the Kings, or what his exact role would be.

Since he has a non-compete agreement for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, Sacramento needed permission to open the lines of communication.

Hinkie did business with the Kings in the past, acquiring Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, a future top-10 protected first-round pick, and the right to swap two future first-round picks in exchange for the rights to two European prospects, as well as a second-round pick during the summer of 2015.

Hinkie stepped down from his position with the Sixers on April 6, 2016 after three years on the job, with the team winning 47 games over that span. He was replaced days later by current GM Bryan Colangelo, the son of new chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo.