Tag: 76ERS

Pels’ GM: Redick is among the very best shooters in league history

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The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed free agent guard JJ Redick. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s a two-year, $26.5 million deal.

“JJ Redick is among the very best shooters and professionals in league history,” said Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. “Coming off perhaps the best season of his remarkable career, his on-the-court resumé speaks for itself. However, it was his desire to dive into the role of mentor and veteran leader that spoke most directly to us and has us most excited about our future together. We are thrilled to be able to welcome JJ and his family to New Orleans and our community.”

Redick, 6-4, 200, comes off a 2018-19 campaign where the 13-year veteran averaged a career-best 18.1 points per game for the Philadelphia 76ers while shooting .440 from the field, including .397 from three-point range, to go with 2.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2006 NBA Draft out of Duke University, Redick has appeared in 836 career regular season games with Orlando, Milwaukee, the L.A. Clippers and Philadelphia, posting averages on 12.9 points on .448 shooting, including .413 from three-point range, as well as 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest. Additionally, Redick has appeared in 110 career postseason games, averaging 10.9 points while shooting .371 from three-point range with Orlando, Milwaukee, the Clippers and Philadelphia.

In conjunction with the move, the Pelicans announced that the team has waived forward/center Christian Wood. Originally claimed off waivers by New Orleans on March 20, 2019, Wood appeared in eight games for the Pelicans last season, averaging 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds.

76ers’ Ennis on GM 7 against Raps: We would be champions if we win that game(VIDEO)

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Basketball is a game inches. A couple bounces here, and a bounces couple there can change everything. Just ask the Philadelphia 76ers. With the game tied at 90, Kawhi Leonard made one of the most improbable shots to send the Raptors past the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The ball bounced up, down, and into the basket. An inch to the left or an inch to the right could have changed the course history, so says Sixers F James Ennis.

“Lucky shot,” Ennis told Paul Gant on Friday after the introductory press conference to announce his signing with the 76ers. “He’s a good player, though. Kawhi’s one of the best players in the league, but it hit the rim like four times. I felt like if we would have won that game, we would have won the whole thing…

“If we would have won that game, we would have beat Milwaukee, and we would have won a championship because I think we matched up well against Milwaukee. We gave Toronto a run for their money.”

Ennis recently said that the Sixers would “walk to the Finals” now that Kawhi Leonard is out of the Eastern Conference. On Friday, he still sounded very confident in his team.

The East is up for grabs,” he said. “The West is a lot tougher, but I think we have a team that is elite still. We have a good coaching staff here, good coach, good players. I think we are determined to go farther than we did last year, and I know we will.”

The way Milwaukee flamed out against the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing the final four games of the series after being up 2-0, Ennis might have a point. Also, after how the Warriors broke down physically(Durant, Thompson injuries), all the top teams in the East should be kicking themselves right now, and with the West getting even stronger, the top teams in the East might be kicking themselves for a long time!

Listen to complete interview with Ennis below as he discusses why he came back to Philly, how much money he left on the table, the playoffs, and more:

 

 

 

Tobias Harris on Simmons’ jump shot: ‘He has the confidence to shoot it'(VIDEO)

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Philadelphia 76ers G Ben Simmons can do a lot of things on the basketball court. He is an adept passer and has great vision; he can get to the lane and finish around the basket, and he is a solid defender. However, the one thing that is missing from his game is shooting.

In two NBA seasons, Simmons has not hit one three-point shot in his career(0-17), and he rarely takes jump shots. Last season, Simmons was 2-21 from shots between 15-19 feet, and he was 18-71 from 10-14 feet. Most of Simmons’ points have come on drives, putbacks, or in the post.  While he was an All-Star last season, he did have issues against the Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but maybe that will change next season.

According to Tobias Harris, who inked a five-year, $180 million deal to return to the 76ers, Simmons’ jump shot has looked good this summer.

“I was out in L.A, and I had linked up with Ben to workout,” Harris said today at his introductory press conference. “We played a lot of one-on-one. He’s in the gym religiously every day, grinding and getting better. He’s in great shape. Everybody was trying to figure out why I was guarding him at the three-point line. It was really because he hit two of them. When I dared him to shoot two of them, he hit two in a row, so that’s why I was there.

“He’s made big improvements on his game; his jump shot is looking really good. He has the confidence to shoot it, and I just kept telling him there, ‘like, even in this workout when you are playing, have the confidence to shoot them and don’t get discouraged If you miss. This is where you build that type of confidence.’ So, it was a good sight to see how hard he has been working. He looks really good for a great year.”

The 76ers have reportedly offered Simmons a five-year, $170 million extension, so they believe that he will develop his jump shot. Simmons is a very good player, and if he can make a 15-footer consistently, he will be tough to guard for years to come.

Brand on Horford: ‘We have gained a championship-level teammate’

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Al Horford to the 76ers has become official, the team announced today. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s a four-year, $109 million deal.

For the 76ers, this is an opportunity to build on what they did last season. Philadelphia was a few bounces away from possibly moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals, and based on what happened to the Warriors in the NBA Finals, Philadelphia could have easily won an NBA title last season.

“We’re excited to welcome one of the NBA’s best front-court players in Al Horford to Philadelphia,” said 76er GM Elton Brand. “He has built his reputation around hard work and a tradition of winning, which are the same qualities that have formed the foundation of the 76ers. Al’s playmaking, elite defensive talents, and veteran leadership confirm why he is a crucial addition to our roster. We have gained a championship-level teammate that will not only complement our current makeup but will help grow our young core as we strive for the highest level of success.”

Last season, the five-time All-Star appeared in 68 games (all starts) for Boston and posted 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 29.0 minutes per game, joining NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only two players in the league to hold such averages.

The acquisition of Horford, 33, does two things for the 76ers. First, it weakens the Boston Celtics. Horford did a great job against Joel Embiid. Also, it allows Embiid to learn from a 12-year veteran, who is a consummate professional.

The time is now for the 76ers, and by re-signing Tobias Harris, acquiring Josh Richardson in a sign-and-trade for Jimmy Butler, and bringing in Horford. Philadelphia is looking to win a championship next season.

Brand on Milton: ‘He is an exciting young talent’

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Two games into the Vegas Summer League, Philadelphia 76ers G Shake Milton, has had his struggles. Milton has shot just 4-29 from the field and is averaging 12.5 ppg. However, he received some good news as the 76ers and Milton have agreed on a multi-year contract, the team announced today.

According to reports, it is a four-year deal.

Milton, 22, was originally selected by Dallas with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and was traded to Philadelphia on draft night.  Milton spent last season with both the 76ers and the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats on a two-way contract. In 27 games (all starts) for the Blue Coats, Milton averaged 24.9 points (fourth in the G League), 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 34.7 minutes per game.

Milton saw action in 20 games at the NBA level, averaging 4.4 points in 13.4 minutes per game, scoring in double figures three times, including a 13-point outing at Orlando on March 25.

“Shake is the perfect example of what hard work and strong player development can produce,” Brand said. “We are proud of the strides he made in the G League last season, where his game was able to blossom while gaining confidence as a pro. He has earned the right to be where he is today. He is an exciting young talent, and I look forward to his continued development with the 76ers and the depth that he provides our roster.”

At this point, many expect Milton to battle it out with recently signed G Raul Neto for minutes at the backup point guard position, and if Milton can duplicate some of the success he had in the G League, he could definitely be a key contributor for the 76ers next season.

 

 

76ers’ GM on Shayok: ‘Marial is a natural-born scorer’

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Philadelphia 76ers have signed Marial Shayok to a two-way contract, the team announced today.

In two games with the 76ers Summer League team, who are currently playing in the Las Vegas Summer League, Shayok is averaging 16.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 1.5 apg.

“Marial is a natural-born scorer who is committed to being a tough defender,” Brand said. “He’s a great person and a talented basketball player who can stretch the floor and knock down the three-point shot. We look forward to growing Marial within our programs in both Philadelphia and Delaware.”

A native of Ottawa, Shayok led Iowa State in scoring as a senior with 18.7 points per game, en route to All-Big 12 First Team honors.

As a Cyclone, he notched career highs in scoring, rebounding (4.9), assists (2.0), field-goal percentage (.496) and three-point percentage (.386), while leading Iowa State to a 23-12 regular season record. Shayok would then carry Iowa State to the Big 12 Tournament title, where he was named MVP, and a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

 

76ers’ Brand on Josh Richardson: He’s one of the best two-way players in NBA

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The Philadelphia 76ers have made it official today as the team has acquired Josh Richardson as part of a four-team trade involving Miami, Portland, and the L.A. Clippers.

As part of the deal, Miami acquired Jimmy Butler and Meyers Leonard, Portland received Hassan Whiteside, and the L.A. Clippers obtained Maurice Harkless, the draft rights to Mathias Lessort and a protected first-round pick from Miami.

“We are thrilled to welcome Josh to the 76ers family,” Brand said. “He has worked diligently and improved each season. As one of the NBA’s best young two-way talents, Josh’s ability to space the floor while also effectively guarding multiple positions at an elite level will bolster our lineup immediately. We look forward to seeing Josh’s continued development as we strive to win a championship for the city of Philadelphia.”

The 76ers are getting a very talented player in Richardson. He appeared in 73 games (all starts) for Miami last season, averaging career highs of 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 34.8 minutes per game. For the fourth straight year to begin his career, Richardson increased his scoring, rebounding and assist averages. A career .368 shooter from three-point range, Richardson has connected on 120-plus threes in each of the past two seasons, including a career-high 164 in 2018-19.

Obviously, the 25-year-old Richardson will not be the shooter that JJ Redick was for Philadelphia (signed with Pelicans), but he can shoot the three at a decent clip, and he is a much superior defender. He’s young and should only get better, which is good news for the 76ers.

76ers sign C Norvel Pelle to two-way contract

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The Philadelphia 76ers and C Norvel Pelle have agreed to a two-way contract, the team announced today.

Pelle is currently participating in 2019 Philadelphia 76ers Summer League Minicamp and spent the 2018-19 season with the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. He appeared in 36 G League games (26 starts) and averaged 11.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks (fourth in the G League) in 22.8 minutes per game. Pelle’s .703 field-goal percentage led the G League, while he posted 13 double-doubles, including a 20-20 performance. Following the season, Pelle was named to the 2018-19 G League All-Defensive Team and finished third in voting for Defensive Player of the Year. In May, Pelle was selected to the NBA G League Elite Camp, a league-run, three-day scouting event featuring the NBA G League’s top prospects from the 2018-19 season.

Prior to joining the Blue Coats last season, Pelle participated in 2018 Philadelphia 76ers Training Camp. A native of Antigua and Barbuda, Pelle began his professional career in 2013 with the Blue Coats, which chose him with the No. 6 overall pick in the NBA Development League draft. All told, Pelle has played internationally in Italy, Lebanon and Taiwan, including time with the Lebanese national team.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have a maximum of two players under two-way contracts in addition to the players under standard NBA contracts. A two-way player for the 76ers will provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Delaware Blue Coats – but can spend up to 45 days with the 76ers, not including any time spent with Philadelphia

Are 76ers better today than they were at the end of last season?

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The Philadelphia 76ers were very active on the first day of free agency. They reportedly re-signed Tobias Harris to a five-year deal, traded Jimmy Butler(signed four-year deal with Miami) to the Heat in a sign-and-trade for Josh Richardson(deal still being worked on), and signed Al Horford to a four-year contract. Also, Mike Scott re-upped with the team, and JJ Redick has moved on to the Pelicans. These deals can’t be official until July 6.

So, at this point, Philly’s projected starting lineup is Ben Simmons, Richardson, Harris, Horford, and Joel Embiid. That is an excellent lineup, and this lineup has the potential to be very good on the defensive end. All the starters will be at least 6’6″ or taller. However, is it better than what they had to finish last season? Not so sure.

One of the issues Philly had before they brought in Butler, was not having a guy who can beat you off the dribble and effectively create their own shot. Butler did that for the 76ers. He was a guy you can give the ball to and ask him to make a play, which was on full display against the Raptors in the playoffs, where he led the team in points per game(22.0) and assists per game(5.6). He was Philly’s best player in that series. People forget it was Butler who tied the game up late in the fourth quarter before Kawhi Leonard hit that miracle shot to close out the series. With Butler taking his talents to South Beach, it’s going to be imperative for Ben Simmons to step up. Simmons, who made his first All-Star team last season, can do a lot, but since he has not developed his jump shot yet, he can’t be your closer. Also, Harris is a good offensive player. However, while he is solid off the dribble, he is not Butler, and for as good as Embiid is, he is not a guy who can get a shot off the way Butler can late in games.

It’s going to be interesting to see how this new lineup works for Philadelphia. It’s definitely more versatile and more athletic, on paper than what they had last season, but in terms of better, time will have to be the judge of that. Remember, this team was a couple of bounces away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals and beating the eventual champions, the Toronto Raptors.

Obviously, they will add more pieces to this roster, but for now, it’s too close to call on whether this starting five and team will be better than what they had last season.

I guess we gotta see how this all plays out!

Sixers’ Udoka: ‘I am excited to get to work and help this extremely talented roster’

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Philadelphia 76ers have hired Ime Udoka and Joseph Blair as assistant coaches, the team announced today.

“I am excited and proud to welcome Ime and Joseph to our program,” said 76ers Head Coach Brett Brown. “The depth of basketball knowledge and experience that each brings to our bench will be integral in furthering the success we have enjoyed over the last two seasons.”

“Our players will continue to develop and improve under their direction and they will help me strive to guide our team toward our ultimate goal of winning a championship.”

Udoka joins Brown’s staff after spending the last seven seasons on San Antonio’s bench under Gregg Popovich, where he was part of a coaching staff that led the Spurs to the 2014 NBA title over Miami. In both 2013 and 2014, Udoka served as the Spurs’ Summer League head coach.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with Brett in Philadelphia,” Udoka said. “He has done a great job building a respected program and I look forward to joining his staff. This is a wonderful opportunity and I embrace the challenge of taking the next step in my career. I am excited to get to work and help this extremely talented roster continue to achieve success at the highest level.”

Prior to coaching, Udoka enjoyed a 13-year playing career, including seven seasons in the NBA. He appeared in 316 games (80 starts) for San Antonio, Sacramento, Portland, New York and the Lakers, averaging 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game. He posted career highs with 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 2006-07 with the Blazers. He also played professionally in Spain, France, Argentina, the NBA G League, the United States Basketball League (USBL) and the International Basketball Association.

A Portland, Oregon native, Udoka earned NBA G League First Team honors, as well as the Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award in 2005-06 while playing for the Fort Worth Flyers. Udoka has played internationally for the Nigerian national team in several FIBA tournaments, earning bronze medals at AfroBasket 2005 (Algeria) and AfroBasket 2011 (Madagascar). He played college basketball at the University of San Francisco and Portland State.

Blair most recently served as the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, and led the team to the 2019 G League title over the Long Island Nets. He originally joined the Rockets organization as an assistant with Rio Grande Valley in 2015, after spending two seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Arizona.

“I’m honored and excited to work alongside Brett, this staff, and team, as well as being a part of such a historic, respected, and energetic organization,” Blair said. “I look forward to learning, growing, and adding value, all while producing positive results for the city and the organization.”

Blair’s professional career spanned from 1996-2009 and included stops in France, the USBL, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Russia. He also performed with the Harlem Globetrotters. Blair spent four years at Arizona, where he averaged 14.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game for the Wildcats as a senior. Following his collegiate career, he was drafted No. 35 overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by Seattle.

More than 15 years ago, Blair founded the Blair Charity Group, which seeks to change the lives of the country’s most vulnerable youth. The group and its partners, through the Arizona Basketball Academy, provide access to world-class basketball camps and clinics for thousands of underserved youth in southern Arizona.