Sixers make deal with Hornets
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Sixers make deal with Hornets
UPDATED:
The Sixers have traded guard Willie Green and forward Jason Smith to the New Orleans Hornets for 6-9 Darius Songaila and 6-10 Craig Brackins, a league source said. (The Sixers have now confirmed the trade.)
“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.”
Presumably, this is a move to allow the Hornets to get rid of some contracts, even if Brackins only has a low-level rookie deal. Smith is in the final year of his deal and Green is in the final year of his.
Songaila, 32, entering his eighth pro season, averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 19 minutes per game in 75 appearances for the Hornets last season. He also has played for Sacramento, Washington and Chicago in his career. He is considered a good shooter, with a career field goal percentage of .499. His contract also expires at the end of the season.
Brackins, 22, was drafted 21st overall by Oklahoma City out of Iowa State and then traded on draft day to New Orleans in the Cole Aldrich deal. He has now been traded a second time before even playing a game. Brackins struggled at times with the Hornets summer league in Las Vegas and is only 230 pounds, meaning he will need to get stronger.
Green averaged 8.7 points and 2.1 assists last season in 73 games. He played all seven of his NBA seasons with the Sixers, averaging 9.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 21.8 minutes in 422 games played with 211 starts.
Smith posted 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 57 games. He also spent his entire career with the Sixers to this point, averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 132 games played with three starts.
Doug Collins is expected to meet with the media this afternoon.
I think I'm Big Meech... Larry Hoover— CrayzeeGuy- Kate beat you to this one.— 76er
- Minor move but I like getting a career 50% shooter and a first round prospect for guys I didn't expect to be in the rotation.— Aaron B
- Doug Collins continues remaking or cleaning up this roster. His time as an analyst viewing players has served him well. It is also good to see that he either has a better clue or more power to do this than his predecessors. Surely, Stefanski had little clue in evaluating personnel.— dross
Seriously? This is headlining sports? Go Phillies.— Mr. Underhill- Thank god Willie Green is gone.— B in DC
- Garbage in and garbage out...ladies and gentlemen your Philadelphia 76ers.— booman55
crayzeeguy is blowin money fast
Good move coach. You have a solid rookie to mold and added good veteran shooting depth. I hope you can get them all on the court. Cant wait to see what you come up with here. Good luck.- they'll still suck— spittooncj
I would have accepted used basketballs & chewed gum for those 2 stiffs but this is much more suffice.- No, they are not the 70-sucksers. They are the 76'ers and they will be much improved— WantToKnow
- This helps NO ... Songalia (250Lb russian who can't block a shot) wasn't he here last year??? Brackens who knows ... seems small for his frame. Gives young backcourt more mins I suppose especially if Iggy is kept at forward. Question is wht give up expiring contracts that lead to flexibility?— batmann1
- This trade is awful. Songalia is everyone's worst generalization about a soft Euro-style player without any particular skill to make him effective in any area of the professional basketball court. Brackins is a goon! At least Willie had a jumper and played some D, could come in off the bench and make a few shots. Smith was just killed by Eddie Jordan. He could have trended up, but he got stuffed by a truly incompetent coach. Still, he's got way more potential than Brackins!— auntesther
- What's the Sixers season ticket sales office phone number??— Rocco Balboa
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
