76ers trade Green, Smith
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
76ers trade Green, Smith
The 76ers have traded guard Willie Green and big man Jason Smith to the New Orleans Hornets, a source within the team confirmed. In exchange, the Sixers receive 6-foot-9 big man Darius Songaila and 6-foot-10 power forward Craig Brackins. The trade is pending physicals.
Green, 29, has been with the Sixers since the 2003-2004 season. In his 7 seasons with the Sixers, he’s averaged 9.4 points in 22.8 minutes a game. Of his 422 career games, he’s started 211. Smith, 24, is entering his 4th NBA season. He missed the 2008-09 season with a torn ACL. In his rookie year, he averaged 4.5 points a game; last season, he averaged 3.4 points a game and played in only 56 games.
In exchange, the Sixers acquire two frontcourt players in Songaila and Brackins.
"We made the move for these two players to add additional depth to our front court and to add out-court shooting, which was an area that we felt needed improving," Sixers President Rod Thorn said. "Songaila is a hard-working, veteran forward who will give us another option up front and Brackins is a rookie that we feel has a chance to develop into a very productive player at this level.
"On behalf of the Sixers, I want to thank Willie Green and Jason Smith for their contributions and professionalism during their time with us."
Songaila, 32, has previously played for four NBA teams – the Kings, Bulls, Wizards, and Hornets. The Sixers will be his fifth. He’s a member of the Lithuanian National Team. In his 7 NBA seasons, Songaila has averaged 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds. Last season with the Hornets, he averaged 7.2 points in 18.8 minutes a game.
Brackins, 22, is a power forward out of Iowa State University. He was drafted 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2010 NBA Draft. He was immediately traded to the Hornets. He has yet to play an NBA game.
Here’s how the numbers play out: Green’s contract of about $4.0 million expires at the end of this season. Smith’s contract of $2.2 million will also be up at the end of this season. Songaila’s contract of $4.8 million expires at the end of this season. Brackins will make $1.3 million this season; his contract amounts are dictated by the NBA’s rookie pay scale.
A quick glance makes it clear this trade is about acquiring Brackins. He's the main piece of this ...
--Kate
76er - We don't need to see your post 5 times to see you can't spell "fantasy", and you must not be doing very well if you've never heard of Songalia...— Phillies1120- Look out Miami, we've got your number now!!— mark1161
- Songalia has a $5 Mil expiring contract. Green also has an expiring contract and Smith's could expire (I think a club option). So we end up getting a young power forward who just came out of the draft and everyone else has a contract that will expire this year. Probably a good trade - Willie doesn't have much of a role and if just a back-up 2 guard who doesn't play great D and who's getting older every day. I expected more from Smith - I don't see too much upside with him. Now we have a second first round draft selection from this past draft (Turner and Brackins). Brackins can score inside or out, he's big (6'10") and can rebound (8.5 and 9.5 the past 2 years) . He also had 2.2 assists last year. For a big man, he had a great ouside shot - free throws at 76% and 3-pt at 31%. Sounds interesting with better upside than Smith.— Dish
- Brackins was a stay away player for me this draft, so this doesn't do much for me. Other than no more willie green— dmanns
politics. I knew it would happen. willie would have beat turner in camp. and all of you know it. we gave up too much. but brackins is a good player. very good. active atheletic 6'11". i think. has deep range potential. i want to see how he handles himself inside. the jury's out. but right now i say bad deal. good luck jason and willie.— combocancer1975- Truly a proud day in the history of the francise. The question is, why didn't this happen maybe, 7 years ago? Now all we need to do is trade that uncoordinated oaf stiff Evan Turner in a package for Melo and we might make the playoffs this year.— brmorgen81
- "Indifferent defender" - Oh Boy!— robinlupe
- Thank God Practice Squad Willie Green is gone.— Centanni28
Comment removed.- This is awesome news.. Sixers continue to easily steal the spotlight.. such a riveting franchise— 809308
- Good luck with your new team Willie!— viking13
- Langz,
Thanks for the info. It seems like the Sixers acquired another draft pick (the big man) they wanted from the June 2010 draft. Thorn did what Stiffanski could not. Go figure.— 76er - we needed Brackins' size in the front court....Willie Green was tad bit overpaid for his talent level. Songalia is just serviceable....he'll never average a double double even if he got 30 minutes of playing time. He's just not consistent. However Songalia is a good glue guy— pointblank
- Umm I don't really care about this but that's Nocioni in the photo and not Songalia— frankieb42
- Actually it was four times, Phillies 1120. I will be sure to learn how to spell fantasy (good catch), and my teams are too good and would never have a player with his stat line on my roster. He's an expiring contract who can play a few minutes in the post. Brackins is the key.— 76er
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
