The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae

Could The Sixers Move Dalembert to Houston?

With the unfortunate news that Yao Ming, the pride of China, could potentially never play another game in the NBA, the Houston Rockets may all of a sudden be in need of a center. Rumors circulating around the Internet says a Sammy Dalembert and Willie Green for Tracy McGrady deal could be a possibility. Mr. Rabbit is quite excited about the prospect of McGrady's expiring contract coming to the Illadelph.

Either Sixers New Coach Eddie Jordan Or His Wife Really Likes Couture Handbags

Eddie Jordan and his wife Charrisse were so happy to depart our nation's capital for the City of Brotherly Love that they decided to throw a party at their posh Potomac home complete with invitations that looked like Sixers game tickets. Okay, that's not entirely true. The Jordans actually said very nice things about D.C. and are sad to leave some good friends behind. But they did throw themselves a going away party. The oddest thing in the Washington Post's recap of the event? The names of their two dogs.

Trendspotting: Iguodala Dresses Up to Welcome Jrue Holiday

As is customary in Philly this summer, existing stars shall wear undershirts to meet the n00bs.*

Previously: Jeff Carter Welcomes Ray Emery to Philly

What They're Saying: Jrue Holiday

Andre Iguodala, Twitter: "Jrue is only 18, will be a beast...kinda like dwade a little bit...nobody heard of dwade earlier in his college career either..."

Ed Stefanski: "He's an athletic kid who will play at both ends. One thing you know if you're going to play for Ben Howland at UCLA, you're going to play defense. For a young rookie here, if you play defense that can get you on the floor."

Phil Jasner, Daily News: "THE 76ERS don't see Jrue (pronounced Drew) Holiday as an immediate impact player. They don't see him as a starter in the coming season. But they made it clear last night that they see him as their point guard of the future. For all the people who thought North Carolina's Ty Lawson or Virginia Commonwealth's Eric Maynor was the right choice at No. 17 in the first round of the NBA draft, the Sixers' boardroom gang secretly was hoping Holiday might slip through the cracks."

With the 17th Pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Sixers Take... Jrue Holiday

With each pick that came off the board as the draft wound down toward the Sixers at the 17th, it became more apparent that they would have their choice among several point guards who were high on their draft board. There was no need to trade up—Jrue Holiday was going to fall to them, along with Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, and Jeff Teague. 

Sixers fans will certainly be hoping that over their careers, the guard out of UCLA outshines the rest of the guards who were available, particularly the UNC's Ty Lawson, who went just one pick later to the T-Wolves (who will be trading him to the Nuggets, according to Ric Bucher). Teague and Maynor went with the subsequent picks. 

In any case, please welcome J-Rue the Damaja to the Philadelphia 76ers. Many had Holiday pegged as a lottery talent, and we may see a lot of him this season depending on the Andre Miller situation. Earlier today, Jrue wasn't one of the bigger blurbs that our man Andrew detailed, but you'll see he was listed with the Would Be Great If They Somehow Fell to Us list. You can bet the Sixers were thinking the same thing. 

More on the pick to come later. Until then, don't switch off the draft just yet. Via the team's twitter: "Stefanski, DiLeo and staff still pursuing "other players," stay tuned to see if the Sixers make a move for a 2nd round pick." Never mind: "Ed Stefanski has confirmed that the Sixers are done for the night, player they were looking at came off the board."

The Choice is Yours: Evaluating the Sixers' Options Before the 2009 Draft

As you may have heard, the 2009 NBA Draft is occuring tonight. As the Timberwolves man the phones trying to figure out what to do with their 27 first-round picks and Blake Griffin attempts to convince himself that he'll be the first high draft pick in Clippers franchise history not to turn out disastrously, the Sixers are indeed in the mix down at #17. With our shooter needs seemingly satiated by the recent trade for Jason Kapono, the priority turns to the two other roles currently not adequately filled on the team--a center and a point guard, with the latter currently being in far more plentiful supply.

So what do we do? Let's examine the options, in approximate order of likelihood:

Sixers Officially Announce a Return to the Old Classic Logo

  
It's official. In a move that has been anticipated for months, the Sixers have announced today that they have "re-launched their brand identity" and are going back to the classic 76ers logo worn by former champions like Julius Erving. While the new official uniforms won't be unveiled for a few more months, we're told they'll be an updated interpretation of the throwback unis they wore this year. The return to the classic logo is a smart move by the organization. Recent iterations of the Sixers logo had lost the timelessness of previous styles, with gold and swooshes replacing strong and simple lettering. And heck, if the salary cap system won't let you shed old contracts, at least you can change the on-court appearance in the most literal sense.

Andre Iguodala Sued By 'Hip Hop Model' Clayanna Warthen for Child Support

Andre Iguodala is the latest professional athlete to be hit with legal trouble as he's being sued by Clayanna Warthen, 23, for child support. She "seeks temporary support of $12,000 to $15,000 a month, according to the suit filed in Camden County court today." According to Andre's attorneys, they've "made all reasonable efforts . . . to resolve this matter without litigation. In spite of those efforts, the demands that were made were beyond what is reasonable."

I don't know what you do for a living, but $12-15,000 a month is tough to live the blogger lifestyle on.

The question remains, just who is Clayanna Warthen?

Philly Flashback: Big Willy Style at the Wach

Long before Will Smith turned into the Hollywood money making machine he's become as seen in such classics as I, Robot and Hancock, the Overbrook product was making "rap" videos all over Philadelphia. I surfed across this Freakin' It video off the turn of the century Willennium album in which Will rocks in front of a Wachovia Center crowd while decked out in Sixers gear. Allen Iverson also makes a cameo.

News From the Front: Reggie Evans Traded to Toronto for Jason Kapono

 

Well, while the rest of the NBA's GMs are off improving their golf handicaps and getting to know their grandkids for the first time in eight months, our own Ed Stefanski is working tirelessly to make sure that the six-game first-round exits that have embarrassed the 76ers the last two seasons do not haunt the boys to the tune of a threepeat. To that end, the first big move of the off-season has been made: lunchpailin' power forward Reggie Evans to the Toronto Raptors in return for sharp-shootin' swingman Jason Kapono--pending physicals, of course, which can no longer be taken as a given. "We are very excited to add one of the league's most prolific three-point shooters in Jason Kapono," sez Stefanski. "I want to thank Reggie Evans for his contributions to the team and we wish him only the best."

Andre Iguodala Rocks the Geek Chic

To improve on Andre Iguodala's long-range jumper, new Sixers coach Eddie Jordan had him fitted for some Ricky Vaughn specs. Worked for the Wild Thing!

Uptown, Baby: Eddie Jordan Predicts Sixers to Move On Up at Introducory Press Conference

Eddie Jordan was formally introduced by the 76ers and GM Ed Stefanski as the team's new head coach this morning. Eddie said that he viewed the team as being "ready to take the next step" and said of the team's future, "It's time to go uptown." How does Mr. Jordan plan on achieving this upwards trajectory? By "stay[ing] organized through the offense for 24 seconds, 48 minutes, 82 games. You manage a game through the offense. Defense is a big key. This team is built through defensive players already. The offense will only help them.” Fair enough, although you certainly wouldn't have have been likely to conclude that from the game six performane. Jordan also preached the values of playing team basketball and finding quality shots, saying "It's just not about perimeter shooting." Well, uh, let's certainly hope not.  

"This is the guy for us," claimed Stefanski. "He fits our need as a leader from a communication standpoint. He fits our need as an X and O guy and the development of young players. We are thrilled to have Eddie Jordan as the coach of the 76ers.” Doesn't seem like the fanbase echoes Ed & Eddie's enthsiasm just yet, but at least he's talking a good game so far. Besides, who can say no to a man who wears such classy suits?

Breaking: Sixers Hire Eddie Jordan as Coach

Comcast SportsNet just broke in to the Phillies telecast to let us know that the Sixers have hired Eddie Jordan to be the next head coach. Dei Lynam reports that sources say it's a 3-year deal.

Jordan was the top name being mentioned when the Sixers parted ways with Tony DiLeo, and he's not a surprise choice. He has a big tie to Ed Stefanski from their days with the Nets (Jordan as an assistant coach, Stefanski as assistant GM), and he was the first candidate to be interviewed when the Sixers' search began. He's previously coached the Kings and Wizards, with the latter team still owing him a little under $4 million for next season. Time will tell whether he's the guy to get the team over the mediocrity hump, or at least out of the first round of the playoffs. Most fans were probably hoping for a coach with career record over .500 to ensure the team wouldn't continue to hover around that mark, but such is way of the NBA coaching carousel. 

More to come as details are released. 

Sixers Interviewed One Of The Guys In This Picture To Be Next Coach

Your answer is here. Ed Stefanski has also interviewed Eddie Jordan, Tom Thibodeau, and Dwane Casey. Who would you like to see on the bench next season?

Own A Piece of Philly Sports History

IMG_3421, originally uploaded by Philadelphia 76ers

If you need some new hardwood in your house to help accent your Veterans Stadium dining room chairs, the Sixers will be auctioning off pieces of the Spectrum's floor. According to their flickr page, "On March 13, the Spectrum court was permanently dismantled. Pieces will be available for auction and purchase at Sixers.com"

No word on whether the Flyers will be selling bottles of the melted ice.

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