Thorn talks Sixers at the trading deadline
As the clock ticks toward Thursday's NBA trading deadline, what will the Atlantic Division-leading Sixers do?
Thorn talks Sixers at the trading deadline
Bob Cooney
As the clock ticks toward Thursday's NBA trading deadline, what will the Atlantic Division-leading Sixers do?
In an interview with the Daily News, team president Rod Thorn didn’t say the Sixers wouldn’t do anything, but it sure sounds as though nothing will happen.
“There’s always a lot of talk going on at this time of the year, we’ve talked with most of the teams throughout the league,” said Thorn. “Right now to say if anything is going to transpire or not, you just don’t know. I couldn’t say one way or the other. You listen to everything and try to see if there’s something that could help your team without breaking it up.”
Around the All-Star break, when the Sixers had lost eight of 10 games and were offensively mired in muck, a move didn’t only seem like a good idea, but probably necessary. Now, with Evan Turner bringing new life back into the offense and the return of Spencer Hawes on the horizon, staying status quo seems to be the way they’ll go.
Since Turner’s addition to the starting lineup four games ago, the team is averaging 101.5 points a game, is getting to the foul line more and seems to have a new energy about them. In Sunday’s game against the New York Knicks, coach Doug Collins basically used a seven-man rotation, obviously showing how much he wanted to win the division game. When Hawes returns, the rotation will probably be bumped up to eight, with Lou Williams, Thad Young and Nikola Vucevic probably getting almost all the meaningful minutes off the bench.
It will be different look for the team, even if it doesn’t mean a trade is coming.
“With what has transpired over the last three or four games and now with Spencer coming back, coach has said we want to see how these guys play together, and we’re all anxious to see how they are going to play together,” Thorn said. “So far, with Evan in the starting lineup, it has worked out very well and we want to continue to do that. With Spencer coming back, though he’ll be limited to an extent at the beginning, I’m looking forward to seeing how this team is going to play.”
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Read more from Thorn in tomorrow's Daily News.
Why didn't we pursue Montae Ellis?? A realgo to shooter.— florida philly fan- Please no to Kaman and definitely no to McGee. McGee has incredibly low basketball IQ even if he has some very good athletic skills. We are fine with who we have IF Hawes will be back for good.— Bobby V
- Vuc looks to be the answer. When Hawes returns the key is not slowing down Vuc's development. There is no question that Hawes beings another dimension to the Sixers offense. But you have to wonder about his durability over the long haul.
The Sixers are going to eventually need a banger inside.
S— Dexter 
Comment removed.- You guys gotta be joking about wanting this knucklehead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feRfn_mA_OQ— cflip12 - Josh Smith?— BuddyBall92
- Comment removed.
- Collins won't find a true point on his roster because none of their guards know how to run an offense. Williams is too selfish to ever pass the ball and is nothing but a sniper anyway. That is why the offense runs through Iggy but that is not the answer either.
The best available point guard in a trade is the starting point guard for the Raptors. His team may stink but he is a very good/true point guard. The raptors will move him.— timhoff - Would love a veteran big like a Marcus Camby, but don't think he is going to be moved. Antawn Jamison would be a nice addition for a playoff run but we don't have the salaries to make that match. I also really like Jason Thompson who is a local product, but not sure the Kings are looking to move him. I really can't see them making a blockbuster deal, but if you could move Noc and possibly Brackins for a player who is expiring after this season then I think you would have to be a buyer.— Mattb
- All depends if this group of owners/mgt is serious about winning in this town with this team. Chris Kaman is the obvious trade choice to make the team win. He can score, rebound, and make the team more viable vs. other teams with an inside presence.— drhoffman
- Sure we would all be happy if we got McGee, but can you picture the Wizards parting with one of their few talents for a 20-something-ish pick? Not even the Wizards are that dumb. We can go on and on about getting fabulous young talents for cheap all day long, but it won't mean a thing if they're not even for sale at the price. In fact, thousands of armchair GMs around the country are surely clamoring to get Jrue or ET for a mid-first round pick at this moment. Are we selling? Didn't think so.— goeagles87
- Please do not talk about Kaman. He is not what we need.
He is not what anybody needs.— spear1 - hawes: last year it was his back, now he's coming back from an achilles. guess it's good it's not the same thing, but not good that it's one thing after another. and sometimes Vuc looks like he's got it, and sometimes he disappears. we need a reliable banger.— rzzzzz
- I dnt think we're in a position to swap pos. player for a pos. player and upgrade. I.E. we can't get a quality Big for one of ours. And if we add another player to that we'd be losing what they bring to the team. Only players I think we can do anything with without losing a player we can replace are Noc., Brackins, Battie, and Meeks. Dnt think we get fair value for anybody else. If we were losing maybe you take a chance but we're winning.— XmarksTheReturn
- Hey Rod.... no guts... no glory!!!— jmb53
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- You are all ritaards (hangover), Hawes is a nice offensive big man that can shoot, pass, and has some post moves. He will improve team rebounding just with his size and provide some post-op D. The sixers O had much better flow with him in lineup. He certainly is not D. Howard ,Bynum... but we need a big man- 7'0 on this team to give balance- Vuc is a decent back-up, but Hawes is much better.— jttemp2000
- Agree, the Sixers should be going hard after Javale Mcgee. He is a top 5 defensive center and would probably only cost a first round pick which will be in the 20's anyway.— Njtod10
- JaVale McGee gives you what you need in the post. Forget Spencer, the last two years have shown that he can't stay healthy— blaqjaq
- JaVale McGee gives you what you need in the post. Forget Spencer, the last two years have shown that he can't stay healthy— blaqjaq
- If do anything it might be best just to go for a cheap big man having to only give up only noc + brackins, picks, and maybe meeks— cflip12
- When Hawe's comes back, he'll be limited to probably 20-25 minutes a night - so whatever you're getting is just gravy. So I think you slip him in where you can. The sixers play better with Hawe's on the flood, so anything is welcome.— speener
- No reason to mess with the chemistry of an exciting young team.
Only if Hawes cannot go, is there a reason for a trade. And then the obvious target would be Chris Kaman of the Hornets. We'll see ...— FishFryFrank - Sixers you need a quality BIG MAN that can play everynight not HAWES for CRYING OUT LOUD an idiot can see that— davised3
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.
