On May 29, The Ringer’s Ben Detrick dropped a bombshell story about Sixer’s GM Bryan Colangelo. In his article, Detrick accused Colangelo of running five burner accounts on Twitter. The accounts had tweeted out player’s confidential medical information, criticisms of current Sixers, and details from front office meetings. Some of the accounts had also taken to Twitter to bash former Sixer’s GM Sam Hinkie and to defend Colangelo’s honor (and large collars).
Since the story broke, Colangelo hax admitted to running one of the accounts, and rumors have begun to circulate. Many believe, based on cell phone numbers and the accounts’ information, that Colangelo’s wife, Barbara Bottini, is behind the other four accounts mentioned in Detrick’s article. Other journalists have acknowledged that the Sixers believe she is behind the Colangelo Twitter controversy.
In addition to the Twitter sleuthing, erroneous conspiracy theories have begun circulating throughout the internet. Some joked that Celtics’ GM Danny Ainge is sabotaging the Sixers’ offseason. Others believe that a source inside the organization leaked Colangelo’s purported accounts. A bigger, more outlandish theory is claiming that former GM Sam Hinkie, beloved by the Philadelphia fanbase, discovered Colangelo’s antics using his background in A.I. computing, in retribution for Colangelo’s disapproval of his tenure.
The Silver Lining
Amidst all of this insanity, though, there lies a silver lining for Sixers’ fans. Assuming that Colangelo does lose his job, it seems more likely that LeBron James would choose to sign with the Sixers in free agency. LeBron James and Bryan Colangelo’s father, Jerry, have a broken relationship. This stems from feuds between the two in 2010 and 2015. Twice, Jerry Colangelo has questioned LeBron’s commitment to Team USA basketball and threatened to kick him off of the team. LeBron publicly noted his disagreement with Colangelo, but it quickly fell out of the spotlight.
While Jerry is no longer a member of the Sixers’ front office, his influence lives on in his son. Therefore, LeBron may feel more inclined to join the team this offseason if Bryan is no longer here. In any case, Colangelo’s Twitter blunder will have significant effects on the Sixers’ free agency acquisitions. As of now, only time will tell what Colangelo’s fate with Philadelphia will be, but until the Sixers’ “investigation” wraps up, fans can continue to conspire and to poke fun at Colangelo’s abnormal collars.