Still Hunting For A Guard
The 76ers' acquisition of Jason Kapono from Toronto doesn't affect their search for a guard in the June 25 draft.
Still Hunting For A Guard
Acquiring Jason Kapono from Toronto in Tuesday's trade for Reggie Evans addresses a need for the 76ers, but it doesn't affect their search for a guard with the No. 17 pick in the first round of the June 25 NBA draft.
''I think we're going to look for the best guard available, which is what we've been talking about all along,'' president/general manager Ed Stefanski said during a telephone conference call today. ''(New coach Eddie Jordan) is more concerned about (getting) the best player at one of those (backcourt) positions.''
But Jordan, Stefanski said, was clearly pleased about adding Kapono, an outstanding three-point shooter, to the roster.
''Eddie had a big smile on his face when we told him we got (Kapono),'' Stefanski said.
Unrelated . . .
The Sixers, via their web site, are letting us know that Jason Smith has been cleared to escalate his rehabilitation from the left knee surgery he underwent Sept. 17, 2008.
President/general manager Ed Stefanski said Smith is ready for ''basketball work without any limitations'' after being examined by Dr. David Altchek, the attending orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital For Special Surgery in New York.
Smith, who will wear a brace for 2-3 months, will begin with individual skill work and shooting drills, taking incremental steps toward resuming 5-on-5 activity. There is no timetable for the progression. After the press conference to introduce new coach Eddie Jordan, Smith said he planned to be ready for training camp in October.
Smith missed all of this season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Aug. 6, 2008. Altchek performed successful surgery Sept. 17.
And . . .
The Sixers have also scheduled a second group of prospective draftees for tomorrow morning at Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. The group: Dionte Christmas, Temple; Darren Collison, UCLA; Wayne Ellington, North carolina; Jack McClinton, Miami, and Marcus Thornton, LSU.
I hear Andre Miller is going to the Pistons...— raindarr- Makes sense. They miss Chauncy plus they have $$$$ for Andre and more. He'll be missed. I think he hid alot of sixers blemishes. And Lou is a scorer not a point— rgoldberg
- What they need is a center!!!— saanmom76
Comment removed.- i would not mind having Andre come back at the right price. You can not invest big money and years on a pt guard whose best years are behing him.— dogbullet2000
- Just Draft Tar Heels— Phillies Fan 4 Life
- Just trade Dalembert for Lebron...duh.— toccheyhockey
- Go get the Chicago Bull who shoots the lights out--Ben Gordon. Instant 40 pts a night at the two guard.
- the problem is that no one wants the overpaid junk on our team: Dalembert, Green, LouWill. The sixers currently have 9 guys under contract, plus whoever they draft making 10, which means they still need to sign 2 FAs--question is, who will they be able to get? Mike Bibby? Ben Gordon? Matt Barnes?— BJG83
- Hey, maybe the WNBA can use Sammy!!!— DJ
- Isn't it really(and only then accurately) called a successful surgery when the player returns to their prior or better performance levels?— Mark1npt
- I said weeks ago Miller was going to the Pistons. There is no way he signs here for a loser coach like Jordan. The 76er's by far are the weakest franchise in the city with the weakest talent and management and the bleakest future.— The Marco Islander
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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.
