THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
The 76ers just finished their night practice, which was closed, for the most part, to the media.
We spoke with head coach Maurice Cheeks afterwards.
Most importantly, there were no injuries. Cheeks said it was a good, hard practice with a lot of running. While there was no official scrimmaging, there was plenty of 5 v. 5 in controlled settings.
Of note: Kareem Rush, who looked to be on the "first team" during the morning session, also played with that same unit tonight. When asked if Rush was out there "with the four starters," Cheeks said there "are no starters yet."
When asked if Cheeks had relayed that messaged to Elton Brand, Cheeks relented, smiling, and said, "Oh, Elton is a starter."
That's not breaking news, by any means, but Rush playing with that first group is a good indication that the coaching staff is seriously evaluating his potential within this roster.
Other than that, Cheeks said, the team went through plays, a few revolving around Brand, a couple incorporating center Sam Dalembert.
If you're looking for more detailed info from Day 1, posted below is a video, the chat transcript from earlier today, and quotes from the morning session.
Now I'm going to go eat a steak at Outback. Until tomorrow ...
-- Kate
We're in the middle of the first day of the 76ers' season ...
The end of morning practice (10-12) was open, after which we held an hour-long Live Chat. For anyone who missed the discussion, have no fear, I have your link. Click here.
We'll have a video posted at approxiamately 4 p.m. of the end of today's morning session as well as interviews.
And for all those interested, we'll be running the Live Chats during training camp daily at 1 p.m. You can find the link on the Sixers page, but I'll also try and post it here in the morning.
Be back later with more detailed info ...
-- Kate
Okay, so the 76ers are about 50 minutes into their first practice of the season here at Penn State. Doors are closed until about the last 30 minutes, but I'll be sure to get some details up as soon as I have them.
In the meantime, here's the link to an online chat we'll be having about the Sixers at 1 p.m.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/29931479.html
-- Kate
The 76ers will bring back former player and coach Aaron McKie as an assistant coach, this according to a source within the organization.
McKie, who was most recently released by the Grizzlies in May, will join a Sixers’ assistant coaching staff that includes Jim Lynam, John Loyer, and Jeff Ruland.
The Sixers are expected to make the official announcement on Monday.
McKie, who graduated from
Because the Lakers still held McKie’s rights -- despite being a coach with the Sixers -- he was involved in a sign-and-trade with the Grizzlies.
On June 22, McKie was arrested for lying on a gun-application form. McKie received probation in the case.
-- Kate
The 76ers officially announced their Training Camp roster. The final tally? Nineteen players will be at Penn St. from Sept. 30-Oct. 5 ... and possibly beyond. The two surprises here are Andre Emmett and Justin Reed. The full roster, including all 19 players, is listed below. Also, I posted at length earlier this afternoon about today's luncheon with coach Maurice Cheeks. (Can't let that work go overlooked!)
Here is the official release from the Sixers, written not by me, but by the Sixers. Roster below.
Just finished with the 76ers Media Luncheon at the Wachovia Center. Head coach Maurice Cheeks talked about all things Sixers. The thing about this year's team -- and you can even pick up the vibe at events like this -- is the level of excitement about what the Sixers might become this season. I wasn't at last year's media luncheon, but someone sitting near me who was remarked that the energy had done a 180-degree switch.
I wanted to get Mo's thoughts up here on Deep Sixer ASAP.
Topic: How does last year's success, the run to the playoffs, help this team?
Cheeks: "The way we played toward the end of last year, we need to carry it over. Not to let it be that year and be done, but carry it over."
I spoke with Kareem Rush this afternoon. He was flying to Philly tonight. He said he's been in and out of town the last few weeks: looking for a place and working out with the team.
He sounded excited for the season. The key point I took from what he said was that he was excited because he believed Philly could be the place where he could show -- in addition to his long-range shot -- a more well-rounded game.
Again, here we go with the University of Colorado ...
But, Rush played for Missouri and they came to town once a season. The Tigers, with head coach Quin Snyder, were darn good in those years. Rush could score. Yes, he could also shoot the heck out of the ball, but he certainly wasn't one-dimensional. In our conversation today, Rush made it clear he wants to do his job with the Sixers -- make treys -- but also believes it can be a place where his game expands.
Here's the story: (And let's keep in mind, ladies and gentlemen, this has been proofed not by a myriad of editors, but only by me.)
At the University of Missouri, Kareem Rush will tell you, he wasn’t just a shooter, he was a scorer.
As Gonzo mentioned this morning in his Page 2 column, and we mentioned here two days ago, 76ers point guard Andre Miller has a new agent. Miller has one season (at about $10 million) left on his current deal.
I spoke this morning to Miller's new agent, Andy Miller. I did not mention how similar his name was to his new client's, but I did try and get a feel for when we might know more about Andre Miller's future as a Sixer.
Andy Miller said he has, so far, only contacted Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski to introduce himself as Andre's new agent. Miller -- the agent -- said the two parties have yet to discuss business except to agree they should sit down sometime soon and, well, discuss business.
There's a possibility that meeting could happen in State College during Training Camp (Sept. 30 - Oct. 5). But it also could be postponed until after the team returns.
Andy Miller said he has "no preconceived notions" about where this deal is going.
Speights at it "every day." Andy Miller (who will henceforth be the Miller mentioned) also represents Sixers' first-round pick Marreese Speights. Miller said Speights has been working out in Philly most of the summer. Speights, by all accounts, had a strong performance at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. I asked Miller how the time in Vegas helped his client.
"I know what it did for him," Miller said. "It gave him a whole new sense of confidence. He knows he belongs."
Miller said Speights is excited for camp, excited for the opportunity, even if Speights "doesn't know what to expect."
Miller also represents veteran Donyell Marshall, who signed with the Sixers at the end of the summer. Marshall is a native of Reading, PA. Miller said he spoke to Marshall yesterday and he expects his client to be back in Philly for the long haul in a day or so.
Royal Ivey, let's not forget. You'll remember -- goodness it seems like a long time ago now -- that Royal Ivey was the first free agent to sign after the Elton Brand deal. The 6-foot-4 Ivey signed on July 24. Of course, post-Ivey, the Sixers signed Kareem Rush, Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala, Theo Ratliff, Donyell Marshall ...
But back to Ivey. I spoke to his agent, Keith Glass, who said his client initially signed with the Sixers because he believed in where the organization was headed. (Glass said Ivey had two or three other NBA teams offering.) What does Ivey think now that the summer has ended and the dust settled?
"Royal knows all the additions have only made the team stronger," Glass said. "He's really encouraged with everything going on down there."
Glass said Ivey worked out five, six days a week this summer: lifting and playing. He also ran a free basketball camp in his hometown of Queens, N.Y. The camp, which Ivey held in the middle of August, had around a 100 kids.
Glass said Ivey worked out in Atlanta and Austin, Texas (Ivey's a former Longhorn).
"Royal called me last Thursday," Glass said. "He was in Philly looking at places ... He's very excited."
Smith update. Jason Smith, who tore his ACL in August, and had surgery last Wednesday, is just beginning the long rehab process. Smith, the Sixers first-round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, tore the ligament in his left knee during an NBA-approved camp in Vegas.
Smith's agent, Marc Bartelstein, said his client is back in Philly, working with the Sixers' staff. (The surgery was performed in New York City.) Bartelstein said right now Smith's rehab consists of range-of-motion exercises as well as swelling reduction.
"It's a big hurdle getting that surgery done," Bartelstein said. "Mentally, he's great, because now everything he does is working toward recovery."
On a previous blog post, someone requested info on which training camps the Sixers' 'renounced contract' guys (Hill, Ollie, etc.) would be attending. Here's the deal: NBA teams must release complete training camp rosters by Media Day (the Sixers is Sept. 29), but most teams will be releasing rosters this week, usually by Wednesday.
-- Kate
Oh, and ... I know nobody cares about the University of Colorado -- you guys made that clear -- but chalk this up to continuity: The Buffs did, in fact, beat nationally-ranked West Virginia the other night. Although, like I said, I know nobody cares.
