In 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers revealed a new marketing campaign that “highlights the grit of the team and Philadelphia while incorporating the city’s rich tradition and iconic structures.” The moniker touted a hopeful message:

"Together, We Build.”

From a marketing view, this seemed powerful. Philadelphia is famous for its revolutionary history and overall toughness. With family roots in Philadelphia, but most of my life living in rural southern Delaware, I was eager to join this basketball community as I moved north. They were not going to be my favorite team, but I would always root for them as underdogs against most teams. I adopted the 76ers out of proximity and excitement to see NBA games often. I became a fan, I bought in to “Together, We Build.” In my mind, the 76ers were the little engine that could. 

Two years and several 76ers and Delaware 87ers events later, it seems the little engine has far to go before barreling down the road. Since taking over, general manager Sam Hinkie has employed a very obvious strategy: Take the best talent available in drafts, sort-of tank in the regular season, hope for bright skies in the future, wash, rinse, and repeat. 

I view Hinkie as an optimistic farmer in a volatile climate. He acquires the best seeds available in the off-season and plans that more fruitful seeds will come his way next season. Then, he plants said seeds and prays that droughts and floods spare his delicate crops while the masses patiently wait for wholesome harvests. Here’s the problem with farmer Hinkie; several of the seeds he chose turned out to be disappointments, meanwhile the community is STARVING for something to eat. 

In the past few seasons, the Sixers drafted what seemed to be meaningful talent, but do so with a complete disregard for building a team with chemistry. The three best Sixers players are all inexperienced big men who offer little in the way of chemistry. Even worse, Joel Embiid, who was drafted with an existing injury, may never recover for an extremely fragile foot issue. Without Embiid, the Sixers have two big men in Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel that need to operate within a few feet of the rim to score efficiently. The Sixers traded away 2013 draft pick Michael Carter-Williams as he didn’t grow as the organization had hoped, and experienced his fair share of injury time. To be fair, how could MCW grow when the rest of his team was absolutely inept?  

Individual talent shines through in basketball, but the most successful teams are praised because of their collective makeup. Hinkie’s plan moves forward without care for this. In a way, it feels like he is compiling players for a fantasy basketball league that could dominate in 2020. 

Roughly two months ago at the official 76ers Draft Party, I was surrounded by die-hard Sixers fans. It's important to note that 76ers legends were in attendance, specifically, "Chocolate Thunder" Darryl Dawkins. was unable to speak with him directly, but he was in close vicinity throughout the night. He seemed like such a warm man who was genuinely enthused to be surrounded by the community. His passing, at a relativelty young age, should remind us all that treating others with love and respect is the ultimate character trait. Dawkins legacy is cemented in positivity as a result.

During the draft, when D’Angelo Russell was chosen with the second pick, a clear wave of disappointment and shock went through the crowd. Assuming Embiid can somehow make it back from multiple surgeries, Russell would have filled the obvious void in the Sixers lineup. Okafor was drafted third as the safe choice; he is insurance for Embiid. An obvious move, but one that was a result of an unfortunate injury that sets the Sixers path to success back a few years.

Hinkie’s plan is dangerous because there are so many unknowns between now, and whenever they acquire and develop enough viable talent to contend for the eastern conference crown, let alone a title. For overall basketball fans like myself, I simply enjoy the game. Thankfully, my heart isn’t overwhelmingly invested with the Sixers because I have little heart left to give. (For the past 5 years the Chicago Bulls have ripped my heart from my chest, stepped on it, and punted it as I dare to chase it for another season.) Despite the barren roster, I will find entertainment in the game mostly thanks to nostalgia for basketball in general. That’s not the way it works for the real fans and they shouldn’t have to deal with a haphazard roster for the foreseeable future. They deserve more.

Let me tell you what it’s like to walk into Wells Fargo Center for a Sixers game. Usually, cloudy skies drape over south Philadelphia as you make your way into the parking lot. The place seems packed to someone like me who had little childhood experience at massive arenas. However, once you sit down, the overwhelming number of empty seats becomes evident. The first quarter is often the most exciting, because after that things go south quickly. The halftime show tries to salvage the atmosphere, while a very large man dances during free throws and timeouts to excite the crowd. His efforts are usually in vain, as third string point guards become starters (yes, Ish Smith started the last game I attended). To make things worse, the Sixers were playing the Wizards on that night and John Wall sat out for the first time in over 200 games. He would have played if it weren’t for the remarkably feeble roster that the Sixers trotted out. In this way, all fans were cheated of a great experience because the Sixers didn’t even warrant enough attention for the opposing team’s star to make an appearance. By the end of most games, grumbles are heard throughout the exits as fans exit into the brisk night air.

Let’s hope these experiences change, and for me, I have the patience to wait. The decision to back Hinkie’s long-term plan comes down to a fan’s tolerance level. For the life-long Sixers fans, it may be time to cut the cord on Hinkie’s plan. How could a fan justify this lengthy process, when they themselves may be gone from this Earth before seeing any of plan’s success come to fruition? 

Winning championships is the absolute goal for every professional sports organizations, however, the road there shouldn’t be like walking through a wasteland with little hope in sight. There is a fine line Hinkie is walking. The Sixers leave so much to be desired for fans, and the unknowns are starting to pile up. Sure, Hinkie may have several first round draft picks to choose from in 2016, but his ability to draft players for a system, not individual talent, should worry fans. In the meantime, fans are treated to a rag-tag squad of mostly bench players trying their best to be a cohesive unit. 

Take a long hard look at your Sixers, Philadelphia. Absolutely, there is a small chance that this team develops into a top contender in several years. Yet, the floods and droughts are always lurking, waiting to destroy an earnest foundation that together, you have been building for years.