NBA Off-Season News

[Celtics2021]

Harden shows up to Sixers training camp today and ...  <uhh> ...  practices.   <Crickets chirp>

Trust the process finally going to pay off this year?

[tonydelk]

Harden shows up to Sixers training camp today and ...  <uhh> ...  practices.   <Crickets chirp>

Trust the process finally going to pay off this year?

So does this make Harden the liar?  He said he'd never play for the liar Morey and here he is reporting to camp.

[Donoghus]

Harden shows up to Sixers training camp today and ...  <uhh> ...  practices.   <Crickets chirp>

Trust the process finally going to pay off this year?

I said it in another thread a few days ago but I think they should be feared more than MIA. 

Of course, they have to actually get their crap together which isn't a given.

[tazzmaniac]

Will harden actually be engaged is the question.

Sixers imo still the #3 team in the east. I just don't think their roster closes to Boston/bucks.

If they lose harden or he plays like garbagr probably take even a step back. To 5th or 6th

Maybe that is the question now but the posts have been that Harden wouldn't show up to training camp or that he'd show up fat and out of shape or that he'd show up and be disruptive.
Something might happen in the future to set Harden off but for now Harden appears to be playing the good soldier.  The Sixers really don't need Harden to be that engaged during the regular season to be a top 3 team in the East.  Good chance they finish 3rd if he doesn't play at all. 

I think the Celts have the best roster especially for the playoffs but the Sixers aren't too far off assuming Harden plays around last year's level.  Remember they were up 3-2 in the series last season and were actually 2 points ahead going into the 4th quarter of game 6 at home.  As for the Bucks, I think the Sixers roster is very on par with the Bucks roster.  However much adding Lillard and losing Holiday adds to their offense I think will be offset or more by the negative impact to their defense.  Lillard has to guard someone and there aren't good options when playing against the Celts and Sixers.   

The Sixers didn't make any big roster changes but I think their lesser moves will be positive at least for the regular season.  Of the top players on all 3 teams, Maxey has the potential for significant growth in his game which would be big for the Sixers.  The Sixers did make one potentially big impact move replacing Doc with Nurse. 

[green_bballers13]

I'm so much happier with Tatum and Brown than Embiid and Harden. Add in Holiday, Porzingis, DWhite, and Horford, and we have the best 6 man rotation in the game. I wouldn't trade our roster for any other in the league, including Milwaukee's.

[SparzWizard]

Joel Embiid asked "who says they surpassed us? when media glamored over the Bucks and Celtics' recent offseason acquisitions.

Embiid's right. We didn't surpass him and the 76ers. We were always ahead of them  They can call us when they make it past the 2nd round.

[Goldstar88]

 

However, Oubre Jr. isn’t looking to just fit in. He is looking to really put his stamp on the Sixers and stand out. “I don’t see myself fitting in,” Oubre Jr. said succinctly. “I see myself standing out. So that’s what I want to do.” – via Ky Carlin @ Sixers Wire

[gouki88]

However, Oubre Jr. isn’t looking to just fit in. He is looking to really put his stamp on the Sixers and stand out. “I don’t see myself fitting in,” Oubre Jr. said succinctly. “I see myself standing out. So that’s what I want to do.” – via Ky Carlin @ Sixers Wire

Yes Kelly! That is the spirit I'm looking for in a 76er! Take touches away from Embiid, Harden, Maxey & even Harris

[Who]

The decision from the Mavericks to demote longtime athletic trainer Casey Smith has created an extra layer of uncertainty to their situation.

"There's weird stuff going on with the Mavericks as far as not involving the roster, [but] involving the organization," said Tim MacMahon on Friday's Hoop Collective Podcast. "This banishment of Casey Smith, who is probably the most respected athletic trainer in the NBA. [He] was overseeing that whole group, basically their whole medical group. He wan an essential part of the front office. Put it this way, when the Mavericks sent a contingent to Slovenia for Luka's supermax press conference, Casey Smith was there. He's been on the bench for 20 years. He's not going to be on the bench this year. He's not going to be a traveler. It is not his decision.

"There's a lot of people... There's a combination of people being p---ed and people being concerned with the Mavericks' organization about that.

"I'm not going to get into why that decision was made because I honestly haven't gotten a straight answer. I've gotten a lot of second hand answers. And I've gotten two kind of different second hand answers, neither of which are great.

"And then you also have Scott Tomlin who has been there forever. By the way, Casey Smith and Scott Tomlin are like Dirk's best friends. Scott Tomlin, longtime PR guy, is actually going to work for Dirk. He's going to be the executive director of Dirk's foundation. Leaving right after they get home from this trip. A decision made in the wake of Casey Smith's reassignment. I don't think that decision is made, especially with this timing, if everything is hunky dory I'll put it to you like that.

"There's a lot of weirdness going on with this organization right now."

That doesn't sound good. That team has been kinda messy for a while now. They need to get their act together otherwise they risk losing Luka.

[gouki88]

The decision from the Mavericks to demote longtime athletic trainer Casey Smith has created an extra layer of uncertainty to their situation.

"There's weird stuff going on with the Mavericks as far as not involving the roster, [but] involving the organization," said Tim MacMahon on Friday's Hoop Collective Podcast. "This banishment of Casey Smith, who is probably the most respected athletic trainer in the NBA. [He] was overseeing that whole group, basically their whole medical group. He wan an essential part of the front office. Put it this way, when the Mavericks sent a contingent to Slovenia for Luka's supermax press conference, Casey Smith was there. He's been on the bench for 20 years. He's not going to be on the bench this year. He's not going to be a traveler. It is not his decision.

"There's a lot of people... There's a combination of people being p---ed and people being concerned with the Mavericks' organization about that.

"I'm not going to get into why that decision was made because I honestly haven't gotten a straight answer. I've gotten a lot of second hand answers. And I've gotten two kind of different second hand answers, neither of which are great.

"And then you also have Scott Tomlin who has been there forever. By the way, Casey Smith and Scott Tomlin are like Dirk's best friends. Scott Tomlin, longtime PR guy, is actually going to work for Dirk. He's going to be the executive director of Dirk's foundation. Leaving right after they get home from this trip. A decision made in the wake of Casey Smith's reassignment. I don't think that decision is made, especially with this timing, if everything is hunky dory I'll put it to you like that.

"There's a lot of weirdness going on with this organization right now."

That doesn't sound good. That team has been kinda messy for a while now. They need to get their act together otherwise they risk losing Luka.

Could see the way this franchise was headed as soon as they went for Kyrie. Lucking into Luka has papered over lots of cracks

[SparzWizard]

The decision from the Mavericks to demote longtime athletic trainer Casey Smith has created an extra layer of uncertainty to their situation.

"There's weird stuff going on with the Mavericks as far as not involving the roster, [but] involving the organization," said Tim MacMahon on Friday's Hoop Collective Podcast. "This banishment of Casey Smith, who is probably the most respected athletic trainer in the NBA. [He] was overseeing that whole group, basically their whole medical group. He wan an essential part of the front office. Put it this way, when the Mavericks sent a contingent to Slovenia for Luka's supermax press conference, Casey Smith was there. He's been on the bench for 20 years. He's not going to be on the bench this year. He's not going to be a traveler. It is not his decision.

"There's a lot of people... There's a combination of people being p---ed and people being concerned with the Mavericks' organization about that.

"I'm not going to get into why that decision was made because I honestly haven't gotten a straight answer. I've gotten a lot of second hand answers. And I've gotten two kind of different second hand answers, neither of which are great.

"And then you also have Scott Tomlin who has been there forever. By the way, Casey Smith and Scott Tomlin are like Dirk's best friends. Scott Tomlin, longtime PR guy, is actually going to work for Dirk. He's going to be the executive director of Dirk's foundation. Leaving right after they get home from this trip. A decision made in the wake of Casey Smith's reassignment. I don't think that decision is made, especially with this timing, if everything is hunky dory I'll put it to you like that.

"There's a lot of weirdness going on with this organization right now."

That doesn't sound good. That team has been kinda messy for a while now. They need to get their act together otherwise they risk losing Luka.

The fall guy is Kyrie. Or, heck the moment he donned that Mavericks jersey, Kyrie calls all the shots there. It's what he does to every franchise he's gone to...full sabotage.

Luka, this is Kyrie's team now. Ya better be wary of yourself.

[Celtics2021]

However, Oubre Jr. isn’t looking to just fit in. He is looking to really put his stamp on the Sixers and stand out. “I don’t see myself fitting in,” Oubre Jr. said succinctly. “I see myself standing out. So that’s what I want to do.” – via Ky Carlin @ Sixers Wire

This is why I had next to zero interest in Oubre this offseason.

[BitterJim]

Joel Embiid asked "who says they surpassed us? when media glamored over the Bucks and Celtics' recent offseason acquisitions.

Embiid's right. We didn't surpass him and the 76ers. We were always ahead of them  They can call us when they make it past the 2nd round.

I would say that we surpassed them this off-season...

But in a "we lapped them" kind of way 

[Phantom255x]

Gut feeling, unless PHI makes the ECF this season, Embiid is gone. And it wouldn't surprise me if a team like the Warriors or Heat decided to cash in and add him. Granted, he'll also be 31 by then and probably not the same MVP-caliber of a player (side note, I was stunned to hear Embiid turns 30 soon, like I thought he was just 27-28 years old right now lol) 

I think Embiid is just trolling the media at this point. He knows the Sixers don't match up with Bucks/Celtics and probably not the Heat either, and with all the Harden drama + not having a great group behind that (Maxey is great, but only as like a 3rd option IMO and the bench is bad) it's only a matter of time. We'll see if Nick Nurse can make a difference in that group but idk.

[hpantazo]

Gut feeling, unless PHI makes the ECF this season, Embiid is gone. And it wouldn't surprise me if a team like the Warriors or Heat decided to cash in and add him. Granted, he'll also be 31 by then and probably not the same MVP-caliber of a player (side note, I was stunned to hear Embiid turns 30 soon, like I thought he was just 27-28 years old right now lol) 

I think Embiid is just trolling the media at this point. He knows the Sixers don't match up with Bucks/Celtics and probably not the Heat either, and with all the Harden drama + not having a great group behind that (Maxey is great, but only as like a 3rd option IMO and the bench is bad) it's only a matter of time. We'll see if Nick Nurse can make a difference in that group but idk.

Agreed. I can see Embiid being the plan for the Heat now that they lost out on Dame. A lot depends on what the Sixers do with Harden. I think they need to move on from him early and get a trade exception that they can use to add to the roster closer to the deadline. Even if Nurse brings out the best in them though, I still can't see them competing with Boston or Milwaukee. Embiid would be great on OKC if they decide to cash in some of their assets and go for it.