Barkley weighs in on Sixers

NEW YORK - NBA Hall of Famer and former Sixer Charles Barkley is impressed with the way the current Sixers are playing for coach Doug Collins, but he is not backtracking on his statement that the Sixers would've been better off throwing games and missing the playoffs.

"I do think that," Barkley said yesterday at media forum on the NCAA Tournament broadcast partnership between CBS and Turner Sports. "They are going to get a good draft pick and they are going to have the same team next year."

But what about a young team growing for gaining playoff experience?

"Oh stop that," Barkley said. "Come on man. Look at all the moves teams have made in the Eastern Conference. [The Sixers] are going to be in the exact same boat next year. They are better. They have done a very good job. But in the big picture, they are going to be in the first round and be done."

So what's a mediocre franchise to do?

"They are going to have to trade players and get younger. I just don't believe that you should stand pat," he said. "I don't think you try to be the sixth, seventh or eighth seed and then lose in the first round of the playoffs.You have to get cap space to get younger and get better."

But the Sixers have one of the youngest rosters in the league, except for Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala.

"Yeah, you mean the two highest paid players?" Barkley said.

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