Broken Foot, Broken Promises

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

As Sixers fans, we’ve been asked to accept a lot of things on faith over the last couple years. We’ve been subject to a boatload of losses and nearly as many articles by the general media calling us dupes for buying into a plan so contrary to normal NBA practices. However, generally speaking, it’s been acceptable because this is what we were told was going to happen. The team was not going to accept mediocrity and decisions would be made until a true superstar was acquired in order for the Sixers to reach legitimate contender status. Aside from some minor quibbles you could make, subsequent moves made have all been along that line of thinking. Fans still felt like we were all in this together; we were on the inside.

Until Monday.

News was released Monday by Bob Cooney (via at least two sources) that Joel Embiid had re-broke the navicular bone in his injured foot. This information was startling because it was not at all the same thing as the Sixers’ ‘less healing than anticipated‘ statement last month. Even after the team announced that Embiid would need another surgery, there was still no indication that another break had occurred. The fact that so much time had gone by with such a crucial bit of information seemingly hidden from the public is disturbing.

Now, I understand keeping organizational information secret when it provides you a competitive advantage. I’m not one of those people that believes Sam Hinkie should hold a public press conference explaining every single move he makes or hold a weekly state of the Sixers address. However, it was already decided Embiid was getting surgery; there’s no added benefit to keeping fans in the dark about why this was the case. If it’s a complicated situation involving opinions from multiple doctors, explain as much. We’re all big boys and girls, we can take it. The fanbase has been incredibly patient with the entire Embiid situation from day one; heck, his pre-game warm-ups when he was still considered a year away from playing were treated as must-see viewing experiences. Providing the full story when such a major change transpires is the least management could do.

Unfortunately, this latest development provides yet another notch in the belt of Hinkie detractors. It’s now at least the second time the Sixers have flat out lied about an injury. If you recall, a few weeks ago, the team was ordered to pay $3 million to the Pelicans for not disclosing the full extent of Jrue Holiday’s injuries prior to the trade between the two teams. Add in more minor gripes like the reports of other GMs being turned off by his ‘smartest person in the room’ attitude, and some agents trying to get their clients away from the organization, and the entire situation becomes murkier.

For fans to continue to buy into such a radical undertaking like this ‘7-year’ rebuild has turned out to be, we need to at least feel like we’re all in it together. The Sixers would like us to be patient and trust Sam Hinkie and management have the proper plan in place for this all to work out, but it’s a two-way street. ‘Trust the Process’ is all well and good, but ‘Trust the Fans’ needs to be a rallying cry as well.