At least the Sixers made a move

At least they made a move.

Sure, it was a risk, and at this point in the season with the Sixers struggling mightily and Bynum yet to suit up for a single second, it may not look like the strongest or smartest move.   But at least they did something.

Looking back it may be easy to point the finger at Sixers' brass.  You could criticize them for making such a risky move, trading away the team's lone all-star, and banking the future of the franchise on a guy whose knees are made out of nachos.  All valid points.  But, at least they did something.

Haven't you ever been to Vegas?  Do the guys scared to spend the $60 in their hand usually walk away with two fistfuls of chips?  No.  More often than not, you need to bet big to win big, and this is exactly what the Sixers did.

The Sixers finally moved Iguodala last summer.

Plus a casino is way more fun when you take some chances.  Walking around the Stratosphere floor can be entertaining in and of itself, but it eventually loses its luster if you're not laying anything on the line.  So the Sixers decided to have some fun.  Arguably the resulting season hasn't been too fun for fans, but in all actuality, it hasn't been very fun to be a Sixers fan since the original A.I. left, so that isn't the real issue.

The team had been stuck in mediocre mode for way too long, and another season with virtually the same roster would have produced similar results.  Would the Sixers be better situated in the Conference currently if they had kept the roster in tact from last season?  It's possible.  But, were they truly going to be able to compete with the Heat or a healthy Bulls squad with that bunch?  The short answer is no, and so they did something.  The fact that it hasn't (yet) worked out aside, the move was made with the future of the franchise in mind.

After several seasons of minimal moves and the team laying dormant as a first-round doormat, the fact that the management even made such a risky move is a good sign going forward.  It shows that they are willing to take risks to improve, and are also willing to throw their hat in the ring when it comes to big names and big contracts;  something they haven't shown since Iverson's departure.

So while the trade that (finally) shipped Andre Iguodala out of town hasn't paid dividends on the hardwood yet, it lays a solid foundation for the future of the franchise; at least in terms of management's willingness to make moves. 

No D-League for Iverson

Update: Iverson: "D-League not the route for me."

Believe it or not, Iverson has passed on the opportunity to climb back into the NBA through Dalls' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends.  "I thank Donnie and Dallas for the consideration," Iverson stated via his Twitter account. "And while I think the D-League is a great opportunity, it is not the route for me."

It seems strange that Allen would pass on such an opportunity, especially after he has expressed his strong desire to get back into the League.  However, his agent Gary Moore thinks AI may still get a shot this season. 

"Hopefully, one day, he'll get an opportunity to possibly join a team and help a team – come off the bench and maybe give a team some very valuable minutes in this playoff stretch," Moore told USA Today.

Reports say Allen is working out and getting himself prepared in case such an opportunity arises.  Although this seems somewhat unlikely, additions are often made in preparation of the playoffs, so it remains possible.

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Since Allen Iverson's second stint with the 76ers was cut short in 2010, I have had one main wish as an NBA fan; to see 'The Answer' on an NBA hardwood again.  Despite his distaste for practice and at times a brazen attitude, Allen provided too many memories for Sixer and League fans alike for his career to end the way it did.

Not to mention the amount of times over the past few years since Iverson last hung his Reeboks up, that I have been watching a game and thought to myself, "This guy got a roster spot and A.I. couldn't??"  I don't want to get into naming names, but there are plenty of players who have seen some tick over the past several seasons that couldn't hold a candle to Allen (offensively), even at the NBA-elderly age of 37.

The seemingly large lack of interest by the League made a comeback seem increasingly unlikely, as Iverson toiled away in Turkey, claiming he would do whatever it took to land on an NBA roster.

Well, now it seems that there is a chance that my wish, and Allen's alike, could come true, as the Sixers' favorite son may have a suitor.  A report out of ESPN on Monday claims that the Texas Legends, the Mavericks D-League affiliate, are extremely interested in Iverson. 

The Legends have moved up the waiver wire, and now have a clear shot at Iverson, if he is interested in the return, as he has reportedly been resistant to D-League offers.

Although not quite the shining spotlight he is accustomed to, at this point, a contract with the Legends may provide Allen with the best potential outlet to get back into the League which he dominated for over a decade. 

There has been no word out of Iverson's camp yet in response to the reports, but we can only hope that Iverson considers an offer that could land him on an NBA hardwood this season.

Jrue Holiday Deserves to be an All-Star.. And he is.

Update: He made it.  The coaches' selections for all-star reserves were announced this past week, and Jrue Holiday was among the seven selected.  Holiday is the youngest Sixer ever to be selected to the game, and is extremely excited about the opportunity.  "I was damn near jumping for joy," Holiday said. "How many people get to play in the All-Star Game?"

Sixer fans hope that this is the first of many selections for the still-improving point.  Read more about Jrue's reaction here: http://goo.gl/fvNYe

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Holiday will be a 2013 AS

The starters for the Eastern Conference All-Star team were announced last week, and they consisted of the usual subjects.  LeBron, Carmelo, D-Wade, etc., etc.  Jrue Holiday wasn’t going to get the starting nod anyway, as it is in essence a popularity contest amongst fans.  Dwight Howard and Blake starting in the West with so many other worthy candidates available should give you an idea about this.  If Jrue was going to get in it was going to be because of the coaches, and they still control his all-star fate.  

Holiday is well-deserving of his first all-star birth, and this should be the season for him to take the leap.  With all-star shoe-in Derrick Rose still sidelined, and other assumed all-star Deron Williams playing sup-par, Holiday has an enhanced opportunity to stake his claim as one of the East’s top guards.

Jrue has elevated his career stats in almost every area, jumping from 12.9 points per game for his career to an impressive 19.4 this season, while upping his assits from 5.6 a game for his career to 9 per this year, good for fourth in the League.  He has been able to do this while also improving upon his shooting percentage and developing into the young Sixers’ clear-cut leader.  

Holiday has built a buzz around the League with his improved play and the next logical step on the ladder would be his first all-star berth.  Holiday is looking to become the second Sixer in two seasons to make the team, following Andre’s Iguodala’s selection last season.  

Holiday has alrerady lost the popularity portion of the voting.  Now if he participates in the game is up for the coaches to determine, but it is certainly deserved. 

Holiday Deserves to be an Alll-Star

The starters for the Eastern Conference All-Star team were announced last week, and they consisted of the usual subjects.  LeBron, Carmelo, D-Wade, etc., etc.  Jrue Holiday wasn’t going to get the starting nod anyway, as it is in essence a popularity contest amongst fans.  Dwight Howard and Blake starting in the West with so many other worthy candidates available should give you an idea about this.  If Jrue was going to get in it was going to be because of the coaches, and they still control his all-star fate.  

Holiday is well-deserving of his first all-star birth, and this should be the season for him to take the leap.  With all-star shoe-in Derrick Rose still sidelined, and other assumed all-star Deron Williams playing sup-par, Holiday has an enhanced opportunity to stake his claim as one of the East’s top guards.

Jrue has elevated his career stats in almost every area, jumping from 12.9 points per game for his career to an impressive 19.4 this season, while upping his assits from 5.6 a game for his career to 9 per this year, good for fourth in the League.  He has been able to do this while also improving upon his shooting percentage and developing into the young Sixers’ clear-cut leader.  

Holiday has built a buzz around the League with his improved play and the next logical step on the ladder would be his first all-star berth.  Holiday is looking to become the second Sixer in two seasons to make the team, following Andre’s Iguodala’s selection last season.  

Holiday has alrerady lost the popularity portion of the voting.  Now if he participates in the game is up for the coaches to determine, but it is certainly deserved. 

Time to Trade Turner?

The Sixers are clearly struggling.  Throughout the first month of the season the team did a pretty good job of hanging around and remaining relevant while they waited patiently for the increasingly-delayed return of their 'season-saver,' Andrew Bynum.  At this point in the season however, halfway through the dog days of January, the wheels have fallen off, and the Sixers are basically free-falling out of the playoff picture.  Fans are getting frustrated, fingers are getting pointed, and the inevitable trade talks are beginning to swirl.

It may be too late to save the season at this point.  Even with Bynum eying a return around the all-star break, the team may have dug itself too deep a hole by then, and if not the best they could realistically do is a 7 or 8 seed (Déjà vu anyone?).

Thus the team needs to look forward.  Many people are calling for Evan Turner to be traded, and Sacramento is a popular hypothetical destination for the former second overall pick.  While I have long been a Turner supporter; I was in favor of the team drafting him, and have waited patiently for him to develop into the multi-tooled talent many projected him to be coming out of OSU, these trade talks may have some merit.

Demarcus Cousins wants out of Sacramento

Evan is clearly showing strong signs of development this season, averaging a well-rounded 13.9 points , 6.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while being a key cog in the team's defensive strategy.  Turner is finally getting the time is often associated with high lottery picks, and while he may not be setting the world on fire, he is obviously improved.

It seems strange then that just as the kid is beginning to find his stride, people are calling for him to be exported elsewhere.  But, sports are strange, and as it stands now for the Sixers, trading Turner might really make some sense.

While Evan's increased exposure this season has shown us that his game is still growing, as is his confidence, it has also demonstrated that in all likelihood, Turner will never be a primary offensive option.  While ET brings a lot to the offensive end of the floor, his shot is suspect, and his scoring is too inconsistent, as he can go long stretches without putting the ball in the basket.  While he can serve as a solid second or third option to an NBA offense, he is not a consummate go-to-guy, meaning the Sixers still have to stack up offensively around him.  Sounds very similar to the recent Andre Iguodala situation, and we all know how well that worked out.  Turner is not the future centerpiece of the team, and while he would be a nice piece to have moving forward, not at the expense of other parts that may better fit the puzzle. 

Another sign that the Sixers should shop Turner is the fact that he is at his most effective with the ball in his hands.  Rather than a being a dangerous wing scorer who can operate within the framework of an offense (a la Carmelo or D-Wade), Turner is at his best with the ball in his hand, controlling the tempo. While this is fine in certain scenarios, the future of the franchise is clearly Jrue Holiday, who in his fourth season and fresh off of a contract extension, is blossoming into an all-star.  The franchise is very excited to have Holiday handle the rock for the next handful of seasons, as he is really starting to look like something special.  However, Holiday's ball domination leaves little room for Tuner to operate with the ball and control the tempo.  An offense cannot be built around  two ball-dominating back court players, as it seems a spot-up-shooter/slasher would better compliment Holiday, the team's biggest (certain) building block going forward.

So it seems it may only make sense to trade Turner, although not necessarily to Sacramento as many suggest. Yes, the Sixers should try to secure some solid front court production in such a trade, as they would if they acquired Demarcus Cousins from the Kings.  However, it is another Western Conference team that the Sixers should target if they want to try to trade Turner.

The Sixers had a chance to draft Derrick Favors back in 2010 when they opted for Turner, which at the time seemed like the logical move.  Well, times change, and the 2013 Sixers, spearheaded by an enormously improved Jrue Holiday could use Favors going forward, especially if Bynum is truly going to return to the team.  For the sake of this article, let's assume that Bynum hasn't completely abandoned his NBA career and will put in the work to come back at least semi-successfully, and that the Sixers will re-sign this sort-of-semi-healthy-and-still-productive Bynum for a few more seasons.  Pairing him with the young and athletic Favors would give the Sixers an extremely athletic and formidable front court moving forward.  Throw in all-star play at the point guard spot, and we would be looking at a young, explosive, and well-rounded Sixers squad.

The Jazz have several front court options and could benefit from the addition of a versatile combo guard in the ilk of Turner, while the Sixers would then be left to fill out the wing spots; a much easier task when a solid PG, PF, and C are already in place. A starting five of Holiday-Richardson-Young-Favors-Bynum would be formidable to finish this season, which is looking more and more lost with each loss, and would give the Sixers a solid core to build off of going into the off season.

This trade  is just one possible scenario for the Sixers, who have said nothing publicly about trying to trade Turner.  However, it is becoming clear that this is a move that they may need to consider as Turner's tools may not be the best fit for the franchise going forward.  

Tiger Sick of Being Single?

I wrote an article earlier today on the topic for Philly.com and couldn't really believe what I was writing, so I wanted to share with all you Around the Arc readers.

You can take a look at the original article here, but everything you need to know is below.

Tiger Woods is reportedly sick of the single life and is actively trying to remarry ex-wife Elin Nordegren, according to Fox Sports.  Woods, who hasn’t lived with Nordegren since news broke of his cheating scandal in 2009, apparently went as far as proposing over Christmas; one knee, new ring, and all.

Nordegren is reportedly considering the proposal, but wants Tiger to invest a large chunk of change into an anti-cheating clause, added to the wedding contract, before anything becomes official.  Nordegren apparently doesn’t want to repeat the past, and feels that $350 million, over half of Tiger’s reported net worth, is a fair number to apply to the clause.  

Tiger, desperate to get his ex-wife back, didn’t even balk at Elin’s excessive demand.  According to sources, he’s “ready to sign the pre-nup and set a wedding date.”  "The guy has never recovered from being dumped by Elin,” the same source stated.   “He's dated lots of models and bimbos, but none of them were more than a one night stand."

The Enquirer reports that Woods and Nordegren have even begun having a sexual relationship again; a strong sign for moving forward.  

Woods hasn’t been the same on the golf green since his split with Elin, so maybe a reconciliation will refocus and rejuvenate him, and help him get back to his winning ways.  

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Seriously??

 I don't know who is crazier, Elin for considering taking Tiger back after the national spectacle his infidelity developed into, or Tiger for being cool with singing a $350 million anti-cheating clause!

Both are clearly outside of their minds, and maybe belong together after all.  

State of the Sixers: Bynum Eyes All-Star Break

The current NBA season is reaching a pivotal point for the 76ers.  Philadelphia, currently sitting at 16-22, good for ninth in the Eastern Conference and a full four games out of the final playoff spot, is entering its longest home stand of the season.  After an impressive, yet somewhat surprising victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, the Sixers will play 11 of their next 12 games in the familiarity Wells Fargo Center. 

The 76ers need to capitalize on this home stand if they want to regain playoff positioning, especially if they don’t again want to be an eighth seed appetizer. The Sixers, currently 10-8 at home, have some winnable games coming into town and need to use such contests to turn their season back around.  With 2013 projecting to be a somewhat weak draft class, this doesn’t seem to be the season that the 7-6 should have their eyes on the lottery.  If there was a plethora of prospects entering the lottery that could address and improve some of the current issues surrounding the Sixers, that would be one thing; I’m not implying tanking, but if that were the case then landing in the lottery wouldn’t be all bad.

Since that is not the case however, it seems that the Sixers should instead focus on turning the season around and continuing to build on the playoff success of last season.  While the East’s top couple spots are spoken for, the rest of the Conference is pretty open with a lot of basketball left to play this season.  With a young nucleus expected to be around for a while, the Sixers should get these guys as much experience as possible (both playoff and meaningful regular season minutes), which will help them when the team is truly a contender (which we all hope happens, sometime soon).  Plus, who knows exactly how good this team can be once (if) Andrew Bynum returns.

Speaking of the big man, there is some news out of that camp as well.  For all the fans who gave up any hope of seeing Bynum in a Sixers jersey this season, hold your horses, as it seems the big man hasn’t given up hope on himself.  Bynum practiced today (!!) for the first time as a Sixer.  Well, he didn’t actually take part in practice, but he could be seen hoisting up some shots and polishing his post game a little; a welcome sign to pretty much everyone with any sort of stake in the Sixers.  

While this is but a baby step when it comes to getting back on the court, it serves as a sign of potential promising progress. Bynum said he hopes to return around the all-star break next month.  While many initially expected Bynum himself to be an all-star this season, his appearance on the hardwood around the break would be enough at this point.

Help for Holiday

-- the 76ers may be in the market for a backup point guard

With highly hyped big man Andrew Bynum relegated to the bench, one of the Sixers main concerns should be finding some additional front court help.  The team, as it is currently constructed, was built around a big in order to space the floor and allow him to operate on the block.  The team is full of shooters and slashers, who all seem like they would fit well in an offense with Andrew Bynum as the focal point.  Unfortunately, the season hasn’t worked out quite as expected thus far and Bynum remains unavailable. 

While the Sixers may be searching for a serviceable big man (there were rumors about Kenyon Martin a couple weeks back), it seems as though they are also focused in finding some back court help.  Jrue Holiday has elevated his play in almost every area this season, and is making a strong case for his first all-star berth.  Jrue has stepped up his scoring, becoming a go-to-guy for the team, and maybe more importantly, he has elevated his assists as well, and is now fourth in the NBA.

Jrue can’t play the whole game however, and the Sixers have struggled so far this season finding a consistent second option.  Evan Turner has been inconsistent when he takes over the point guard duties; sometimes he looks like a multi-tooled combo guard, and at other times he looks lost and not in control of the offense. 

The point guard position is of course crucial in setting up an offense and helping a team to take high-efficency shots, and the Sixers can’t afford a drastic drop in production in this area when Jrue hits the pine.  Local guard Maalik Wayns obviously hasn’t been the answer, as the team dropped him and then resigned him to a 10-day contract last week.  It seems he hasn’t provided the consistent spark the Sixers were hoping for when they signed him out of training camp.

Royal Ivey has seen a slight elevation in minutes, and while he hasn’t been playing poorly, he doesn’t possess the offensive explosion the Sixers need to supercharge the offense.  Coach Collins likes the energy Ivey brings to the court, and has cited this as the reason for his increased exposure (not lack of other options).  Ivey is an effective on-ball defender, and can play a hard-nosed brand of basketball, but with the Sixers constantly unsure of where their next basket is going to come from, they need more than a game manager in the back up point spot.

While it seems unlikely that the team would trade for a backup point guard with so many issues plaguing them  and Andrew Bynum’s future with the team extremely uncertain , there are some free agent options.  Mike Bibby and Delonte West are available, as is one-time Syracuse stud Johnny Flynn, along with some other viable options.   The Sixers certainly don’t want to commit to anyone long term, especially in a backup role, as there will be much roster uncertainty again this off season, but a move should be made in that area to sure up the team for the current season, as they still have an opportunity to compete for a playoff spot.  

Kobe & Dwight: Trouble in Paradise

The reported scuffle/almost physical altercation ( Yahoo! ) between Lakers’ stars Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as everyone inside the Lakers organization is denying that it ever happened.  However, if the report is true, and the two superstars needed to be restrained from each other following a recent loss to Philly, would it be that surprising? 

The short answer is no, and that says something.  

The Lakers have been struggling (understatement) all season, after many expected the additions of Howard and Steve Nash to fuel another Finals run for the purple and gold.  Injuries, age, and a lack of depth have doomed the Lakers thus far, and unless drastic changes are made, a June appearance for the Lake Show seems pretty doubtful.  Surprising?

Not really.  Bryant and Howard seemed ill-suited from the start; one, a tenacious competitor who puts winning above all else, and the other often criticized for his lack of killer instinct and playful demeanor on the hardwood; not exactly two peas in a pod.  For all the turmoil between Bryant and the horse he rode to his first three titles, there was always a level of respect between him and Shaq.  Shaq was going to bring it each night and Kobe knew that.  When they did get into their battles between each other, it was for reasons other than Shaq’s effort and toughness.  Thus, the two sides found success.

At no point in his career has Dwight consistently shown the ability to stay serious and be the dominant go-to-guy for his team, as the Lakers had hoped maybe he would in order to take some of the leadership load off of Kobe Bryant.  Instead, Kobe has had to force his will onto the offense as much as ever, and there is no on-court proof that Bryant trusts his newest big with the game hanging in the balance. 

At this point in his career, Steve Nash is a little too old, hobbled, and defensively-challenged to be the centerpiece to a championship-caliber team, as many assumed when the Lakers signed him this offseason.  Thus, it was known that Nash would be used largely as a facilitator, a kind of conductor of the offense, and that the purple and gold would truly go as far as the Bryant-Dwight dynamic could drag them, which up until this point, isn’t even a playoff spot. 

Recent injuries to Dwight and Pau Gasol make things even more challenging for L.A.’s second best team this season, as the Lakers have already dug themselves a hole in an extremely competitive Western Conference.  All is not lost, as there is still an opportunity for the team to get itself together, turn things around in the second half of the season and make a playoff push.  However, in order for that to happen, the team’s two biggest stars need to develop some repertoire on the court and some respect off of it, or else it will continue to be a long season in Laker Land.

Durant: Scorer Extraordinaire

Kevin Durant is one of the most efficient and unstoppable scorers I, or the League, has ever seen.  Simply said, the guy can put the ball in the basket.  Although he may not (yet) be the League’s overall best player, as a recently crowned King in Miami may have already laid claim to that title, you would be hard-pressed to find someone with superior scoring ability to KD in today’s NBA.  

Durant is a machine.  Three pointers, pull-ups, step-backs, turnarounds, drives, dunks; the dude has them all in his arsenal and can pull out any at the drop of a dime.  The three straight scoring titles should come as no surprise to anyone who has had the opportunity to watch Durant play, as he is able to score over the world’s best defenders with the same ease as a high schooler balling on his younger brother’s Little Tikes hoop.  

Dirk Nowitzki is widely celebrated as one of the world’s best scorers, as he has a great shot, great range, and an uncanny ability to hit extremely difficult, heavily defended, off-balanced shots.  Kevin Durant is like an athletic Nowitzki; he can do all of that same stuff, plus he has the ability to drive the lane, jump over you, and dunk on your head.  Durant is extremely well-rounded, and his size (Durant stands over 6’9’’) makes him unstoppable from almost anywhere on the court. A combination of that size, athleticism, and shooting ability doesn’t even seem fair.  Dirk has laregely been able to dominate offensively based off of his size and shot; imagine what Durant could do with those same two assets plus extreme athleticism. 

The three scoring titles Durant has already laid claim to (which are more than either Shaq or Kobe  has up to this point in his career; or many other legends you would think to list) have come at such an early point in his career, that it would be somewhat shocking if he didn’t secure several more throughout his playing days.  And the dude is only 24 years old!!  KD is still only impoving, and his game has expanded almost each season, as he has continued to add muscle, leading to improvements on the defensive end and on the glass.  To think that he snagged three scoring titles while still somewhat raw and undeveloped  should be a pretty scary thought for the rest of the League.  

At this rate, barring any serious injury, Kevin Durant has an opportunity to become one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history, and maybe even make a run at Kareem’s long-standing scoring record.  There’s no reason to think that he couldn’t.  Durant is poised to dominate for the next decade, and as he continues to grow and improve as a player, his scoring numbers should, if not improve, at least remain consistent with the high level they are already at.  We are witnessing one of the most prolific scorers the game has ever seen, and everyone needs to take note.

Eagles Eyeing Joeckel

Breaking away from basketball for a minute to post a piece I wrote last week for Philly.com regarding the Eagles' upcoming draft.  For a jump to the original article, click here.

There’s still a couple months until mock draft season officially begins, but after a season such as the one the Eagles have had this year, it is never too early to start looking ahead.  It is no secret that the Eagles struggled protecting the quarterback throughout the season, so offensive line support makes sense as a main focus for the team.

Several current mock drafts have the Eagles at the #4 spot selecting Luke Joeckel, an offensive tackle from Texas A&M.

You may have seen Joeckel blocking for Heisman winner Johnny Manziel, aka Johnny Football during the season, and if drafted, the Eagles are hoping he can provide the same type of protection for their quarterback, whoever that turns out to be.

Joeckel was this year's reciepent of the Outland Trophy, granted to the nation's top interior lineman, as he helped Texas A&M to the third ranked scoring offense in the country.

At 6'6'', 310 pounds, Joeckel is a physical specimen, and has a combination of size, strength, and athleticism that would make most offensive line coaches salivate.  Joeckel has so much potential in fact, that some analysts have him slated to be selected first overall.

However, other sources such as CBS, and Walterfootball.com, have Joeckel falling to Philly in the four spot, as a player with whom the team could build the future offensive line around.