Sixers interested in Kendall Marshall

The Sixers have expressed interest in free agent point guard Kendall Marshall, according to a source.

Marshall, 24, was a lottery pick in 2012, but has been unable to find a home in the league. His brief career has included stints with the Suns, Lakers, Bucks, and even the 76ers D-League affiliate, the 87ers.

Joel Embiid has little trade value

Not that the Sixers are actively looking, but if they did want to try to trade potential-full, yet consistently-injured center Joel Embiid, they wouldn't find much of a market.

Embiid,21, is facing a second consecutive season on the sideline and an increasingly uncertain future, and despite his lofty draft position just a year ago, the Sixers would be hard-pressed to find anything close to equal value in a trade involving Embiid.

Dario Saric plans to join Sixers in 2016

Finally, some good news for Sixers fans.

Dario Saric, the team's second lottery pick in the highly-hyped 2014 Draft who is currently playing in Turkey, revealed to Sportando that he plans, or at least hopes, to join the Sixers next summer.

"Next summer, I will probably, finally, go where I want, to the biggest basketball league in the world," Saric stated. It is imperative to do more next year with Efes (his Turkish team), and then it's time for America."

When will we see Embiid play?

You can't help but wonder, if, had the Sixers known of the uncertainty and multiple-season-spanning length of Joel Embiid's road to recovery, they still would have selected the center with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

It has been over a year since his selection, and the team still does not know when exactly, if ever, Embiid will suit up for the Sixers.

MJ x Ballin Ben

Michael Jordan gets access to everything early. He is well known for pulling out specialized Jordan Brand shoes months, or even years before they are released to the public, which makes sense, since it is his brand. But it doesn't stop there. His Airness apparently has access to NBA team logos decades before they are even officially introduced.

The above image, recently shared by Slam, is of Michael Jordan at the 2002 All-Star game in Philadelphia. On his jersey is a cartoon version of Ben Franklin dribbling a basketball. It's a cool logo. So cool in fact, that the Sixers recently adopted it officially as a secondary logo; a full 13 years after MJ was seen rocking it at All-Star Weekend. The fact that the G.O.A.T. sported the logo at one point adds a level of historic intrigue to an already-cool logo. Maybe one day we will see it on a Sixers uniform.

Sixers optimistic about Embiid

Joel Embiid missing his second consecutive season to start his career is not an ideal situation for anyone; not for the young player itching to hit the hardwood, and not for the organization that took a big risk selecting the seven-footer from Kansas with the third overall pick in the highly-hyped 2014 NBA Draft.

Things don't look great for Embiid's future prospects as an NBA player at this point, there's no way to sugarcoat it. Not too many successful careers have begun with consecutive seasons on the shelf due to injury issues.

Embiid is however, still very young at only 21 years old, and he could still potentially have many productive seasons in the league, if only his injury issues are resolved.

Sixers not done making moves

On a conference call with media members on Wednesday, Sixers GM Sam Hinkie revealed that the team was far from done making moves as the season 2015-16 season approaches.

"We're still heavily engaged in trade negotiations, as well as in free agency," Hinkie explained, while also admitting that all of the big names are already off of the market. Any player that the team added in free agency at this point would likely not be much of a needle-mover.

Jahlil Okafor viewed highly by peers

Jahlil Okafor enters his rookie season with the Sixers with some high expectations, not just from media members, but also from his peers.

NBA.com released its annual rookie survey this week, which polls all of the rookies, and the class had some favorable feelings for Okafor.

Joel Embiid surgery successful

Joel Embiid underwent successful bone graft surgery on his right foot Tuesday afternoon in New York. His expected recovery time is 5-8 months, but he will miss the 2015-16 season in its entirety.

Embiid took to Instagram following the surgery to assure fans and followers that the procedure went well and that he remains excited for the future.

Via Instagram

Jeremy Lin scored a lot of points in his first four starts

Just a quick reminder that if NBA scoring was measured in a player's first four career starts alone, Jeremy Lin would be the most prolific scorer of all time.

Sixers preseason schedule released

Sixers season is approaching, and the team announced its preseason schedule on Monday.

The seven-game set includes a two-game tango with the Wizards, as well as two contests against the Nets, and games against the Cavs, Knicks, and Celtics. Out of the seven games, two of them will take place in Philadelphia; against the Cavs on 10/8 and against the Wizards on 10/16.

Preseason action gets underway on October 6.

Via the Sixers

Joel Embiid surgery scheduled (finally)

There's a great scene in the movie Captain Phillips where Somali pirate Muse boards the Maersk Alabama and informs Captain Phillips that 'I am the captain now.'

Now, replace Muse with Joel Embiid, Captain Phillips with Nerlens Noel, and the Maersk Alabama with the Sixers, and you get a basic understanding of what happened prior to Embiid's latest setback.

76ers Report: Joel Embiid Update

In a new episode of the 76ers Report, Jeff McMenamin and Michael Kaskey-Blomain discuss the latest on the Joel Embiid surgery situation, as well as the Sixers' recently released season schedule and the departure of Malik Rose.

Listen to the new episode below, via Blogtalkradio. 

Check Out Basketball Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with State of Independence on BlogTalkRadio

Catch up on past episodes of the 76ers Report here. 

2015-16 NBA rookie debuts

There is a whole lot of potential among the top five picks from the 2015 NBA Draft. Jahlil Okafor has drawn comparisons to Tim Duncan, while D'Angelo Russell is said to have the upside of a Dwayne Wade.

Every career has to start somewhere. Here is where the top picks will be making their debuts:

Image via NBATV

The top two picks, Towns and Russell, will start their careers out against each other, as the Wolves will take on the Lakers on October 28. That game will be on ESPN. The other three top rookies will be relegated to League Pass for their respective debuts. All five rookies will play their first game on the 28th of October, so fans eager to see them all better get their remote ready.

Sixers fans will need League Pass this season

The NBA schedule was released on Wednesday, and apparently the league doesn't think that there is much national demand to see the Sixers.

The boys from Philadelphia are one of three teams that do not have a single nationally televised game on the schedule for the 2015-16 NBA season. No ESPN for the Sixers. No TNT, no ABC, and no NBATV. Thus, Sixers fans outside of the Greater Philadelphia Area will need to invest in NBA League Pass if they want to see their hometown team play.

Kevin Durant advises Joel Embiid

Kevin Durant knows a little bit about injury issues. The former NBA MVP missed 55 games last season dealing with a Jones fracture in his right foot that eventually required bone graft surgery; the same procedure Sixers center Joel Embiid is expected to undergo in the near future.

Thus, it is not so surprising to learn that Embiid, who faces the prospect of being sidelined for a second consecutive season, reached out to Durant to get some information and advice on the process.

Joel Embiid surgery delayed, but still expected

Joel Embiid has not yet had a second surgery on his troublesome right foot, but he is expected to in the 'near future,' according to a report from CSNPhilly.com.

The Sixers announced nearly a month ago that the surgery would likely take place within 7-10 days; a timeline that obviously didn't pan out. Updates on the surgery have been non-existent since the initial announcement, leading to some speculation that Embiid and the Sixers were at odds on the issue.

Jahlil Okafor and Dario Saric have a history

When Dario Saric eventually joins the 76ers, potentially next summer, it will not be his first time competing with Philadelphia's most recent prized pick, Jahlil Okafor.

Back in 2013, both Okafor and Saric participated in the FIBA U19 World Games in the Czech Republic. Okafor represented the United States, while Saric played for Croatia. Both players were named to the All-Tournament Team along with familiar faces Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon, and Vasilije Micic, whose NBA rights are also owned by the Sixers.

Image via fiba.com

Between Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Robert Covington the Sixers are already forming a formidable frontcourt, and the eventual addition of Saric will only further bolster the team's depth. Although the two didn't play on the same team in 2013, it can't be a bad thing that Saric has some background experience with one of his future teammates.

Nik Stauskas a Sixer because of DeMarcus Cousins?

Nik Stauskas is a single season removed from being a top-10 pick in the highly-hyped 2014 NBA Draft. Coming off of a stellar collegiate career at Michigan where he was named the 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year, many considered Stauskas to be the best pure shooter in the deep draft class.

After one inconsistent and uninspiring season in Sacramento however, Stauskas found himself shipped across the country, with an early 'bust' tag attached to his name.

76ers Report: What is going on with Joel Embiid?

After a brief hiatus, Jeff McMenamin and Michael Kaskey-Blomain are back to discuss the Sixers' summer on a new episode of the 76ers Report. The guys discuss the Sixers annual Beach Bash in Avalon, New Jersey, and ponder what exactly is going on with Joel Embiid and his second surgery.

Listen to the new episode below, via Blogtalkradio:

Check Out Basketball Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with State of Independence on BlogTalkRadio

Catch up on past episodes of the 76ers Report here.

Damian Lillard could lead the league in scoring next season

Perhaps no team went through a bigger off-season makeover than the Portland Trail Blazers, as the team will look completely different next season. The makeover wasn't necessarily an attractive one however.

The Blazers, who were bounced in the first round of the Playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies, lost four out of their five starters (!) from last season. Nic Batum is now a Charlotte Hornet. Wesley Matthews kept it in the Conference and will now serve as Dirk Nowitzki's newest sidekick in Dallas. Robin Lopez signed on to help Phil Jackson resurrect the Knicks, and of course, former-franchise centerpiece LaMarcus Aldridge is now a San Antonio Spur. The lone remaining starter is 2x All-Star Damian Lillard, who is fresh off of inking a new max deal with Portland.

Joel Embiid and the Sixers not seeing eye-to-eye?

With August officially underway, it has now been almost a month since the Sixers announced that their prized pick of the highly-hyped 2014 Draft, Joel Embiid, would be having a second surgery on his injured right foot and would most likely be missing a second consecutive season as a result.

The news was a big blow to fans of the franchise eager to see him play, and of course to Embiid himself, who has been itching to play since he was selected by the Sixers last June.

2015 Beach Bash brings the Sixers to the Shore

The Sixers held their annual Beach Bash at Jack's Place in Avalon, New Jersey on Saturday afternoon, and the event had no shortage of support. Hundreds of dedicated Sixers fans braved near-ninety degree temperatures to spend their sunny Saturday playing games, winning prizes, getting autographs, and mingling with fellow Sixers supporters.

The line for Jahlil Okafor's autograph stretched around the corner and down Ocean Drive, while Robert Covington wondered around, taking pictures with eager fans, ice cream in hand. Inside Jack's, respected Sixers veterans World B. Free, Darryl Dawkins, and Doug Overton served as guest bartenders to the twenty-one-and-over crowd, while the Red Hotts provided a lively musical backdrop.