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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
What's Next For Christmas?

There was a theory circulating that, if the 76ers were going to carry a 14th man, Dionte Christmas might fit the bill.

The theory suggested that a 14th guy should have a special skill, and Chrstmas is a good shooter, something the Sixers have lacked in recent seasons.

Nice theory. Didn't work. The Sixers waived Christmas, the undrafted rookie from Temple, and forward Brandon Bowman, leaving them with 13 players. Teams can carry as many as 15 players, with 12 eligible to play in any given game. And the Sixers had already improved their shooting by trading for Jason Kapono and, to some degree, by trading for Rodney Carney.

But if Chrstmas was crushed by the news, he hasn't shown that to Andre Buck, his agent.

''I told his father that Dionte's the best I've ever seen at handling a situation like this, in terms of the process,'' Buck said. "It's tough, because it's not a friendly process; there are always guys out there that teams are looking at. And there are guys who were in the NBA last season that are looking around.

''We're not sure yet about what we're going to do. The 'D' League is an option, and if the right offer were to come from Europe, that would be an option, too. We plan to be patient, to take a few days.

''All the feedback I've gotten says Dionte is more than good enough, but more teams are carrying fewer players, and teams don't always want to carry an (extra) rookie who might not contribute right away. All of those factors come in to play.

''But as I said, he's really handling this well. In that respect, he makes my job easy.''

 

Posted by Phil Jasner @ 5:44 PM  Permalink | 15 comments
15
Comments   
Posted 06:28 PM, 10/21/2009
catnameddomino
To be honest, I would definitely take Christmas over Carney. That's not to say that I think Christmas is an all-star in the making, but they already know what to expect from Carney. He's never justified being a first round draft pick and he's been hurt for practically the whole preseason. When will he even be able to contribute this year? I realize that Christmas would spend most of the season on the bench or on the injured list, but it looks like he has more long range potential and it isn't like the 76ers are going to win anything this year anyway.
Posted 10:19 PM, 10/21/2009
jpeters
Cheapo Snider doesn't want to pay for a 14th man on the roster. No surprise here. And no surprise that the fat bald slob, aka Eddie Stefanski, makes a boneheaded move. This team can never have enough shooters. Carney has shown jacksquat since being in the NBA that he can shoot. If you have below average people running the show, you're going to get below average results. Hope Christmas catches on somewhere and succeeds.
Posted 12:43 AM, 10/22/2009
petergou
Come on , Dionte deserved a chance with the 76ers. They'll probably call him back at some point his year when Carney gets hurt yet again . . . but let's focus on the Phillies for now! Woo hoo!!!!!!!
Posted 12:50 AM, 10/22/2009
eroger
I guess we won't have a merry Christmas this year.
Posted 03:01 AM, 10/22/2009
Throwback
Christmas will be back with someone. Carney won't make it through the season. A submarginal ballplayer.
Posted 08:32 AM, 10/22/2009
phillyfaninbeantown
He was worthy of the 14th spot. What would he cost 500K? Imagine if he were to contribute. Good Luck Dionte we will see you in the NBA soon.
Posted 05:05 PM, 10/22/2009
anvil22
It would of been nice watching a home grown kid get some playing time, instead we get to watch a reject first rounder make the team. You know they'll barly make the playoff. I did not watch them for 2 or 3 years now I guess I won't miss nothing this year again.
Posted 05:05 PM, 10/22/2009
anvil22
It would of been nice watching a home grown kid get some playing time, instead we get to watch a reject first rounder make the team. You know they'll barly make the playoff. I did not watch them for 2 or 3 years now I guess I won't miss nothing this year again.
Posted 08:41 AM, 10/23/2009
brian stewart
Now that Dionte got busted for a gun possession he won't have to worry about the NBA but he probably will be the best player on the prison team.
Posted 09:42 AM, 10/23/2009
longshanks
The Eagles probably have a job for him.
Posted 10:05 AM, 10/23/2009
Irish Frank
Drive around with a loaded weapon - great way of coping!
Posted 10:28 AM, 10/23/2009
cuso20
Whats Next for Christmas. Meetings with a P.O.
Posted 11:14 AM, 10/23/2009
NISL83
it's so easy for ppl to point the finger and not know the truth. as the article read it wasn't his car and not his gun!! get a clue...haters...better yet get a life and let this young man cope with his mistake w/o the uneccessary drama. At least let the story marinate and play out before judgement/prosecution be casted. Ugh!
Posted 11:41 AM, 10/23/2009
Ballgame
Hopefully this issue with the arrest can be explained and he doesn't suffer consequences. He is not the type of person that would do this. Anything but. As for making the Sixers, he should be on the team. But we have Ed Stephanski who is one of these GM's who thinks they're brilliant in judging talent then thinks they're brilliant when they finally unload the talent. Rodney Carney? Please. another "talented" guy that the mediocre GM's fall in love with. He's now failed to produce twice. So our genius brings him back. You're brilliant Ed. Keep up the mediocre work.
Posted 12:07 PM, 10/23/2009
JonKap
Lets not prejudge. Christmas could have easily been lent Speight's car and was driving erratic as he was not used to the car. He might have had no clue about the gun. Also, maybe his license was just left at home, big difference than driving without having a license to begin with. Also, could have been driving just fine but was profiled in a fancy car. We have no details yet.
About Sixerville Blog
Phil Jasner joined the staff of the Daily News in 1972. He has covered the 76ers and the NBA on a full-time basis since 1981. He won the 2004 Curt Gowdy Media Award, presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to the sport during his career; he was a finalist for the award in 2001, when he also received a lifetime achievement award from the Professional Basketball Writers Association during the NBA Finals. He is a past president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association and the Philadelphia College Basketball Writers Association. Along the way, he has covered high school sports, the Big 5, the Eagles and the NFL, the World Football League, the North American Soccer League and what was then the Major Indoor Soccer League. He is a proud graduate of Temple University, and spent his early professional days at the Pottstown (Pa.) Mercury, Montgomery Newspapers (Fort Washington, Pa.), the Norristown (Pa.) Times-Herald and the Trentonian.

Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for almost 20 years, working in the sports department the past 12 years. This is his first season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he has been the La Salle beat writer for the past six seasons.

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